Oops…..with the log splitter [graphic]

Well, while it’s embarrassing for me to post this if it causes someone to slow down a little to avoid my really dumb accident then I will have succeeded .

I was running my gas powered hydraulic log splitter(in the horizontal position) but from the opposite side than normal. My right hand is normally on the control lever but I was on the opposite side because I had staged the tractor so I could pull the bucked rounds from the bucket onto the splitter. In too big of a hurry to reposition the splitter.

Everything was going along well and went back to get the last few rounds from the woods and got setup to finish them off quickly.

Well, on the second round as I was pulling the control lever with my left hand I happened to slip my right hand between the round and the splitter “foot”. Before I realized it I had smashed my right pinkie finger about flat as a pancake.

A trip to the Urgent Care and X-ray and many stitches later the results are below. So, DONT BE THIS GUY!!

Good news is that even though there are three broken bones in the finger, no surgery will be required. I wouldn’t have had surgery anyway as at my age I will not miss the use of it and it just prolongs the recovery.

 

Thank you for posting, safety is so important, we need reminders like this. I sure hope that heals up quickly and doesn’t hurt too bad.

 

Thanks for posting…

watching a few woodyard YouTube channels and surprised there isn’t more accidents.

speedy recovery. Any idea the time the doc says for healing?

 

Ouch

 

Ouch.. good reminder though

 

Daggum, that doesn't look good. Even when you are being careful, chit can happen. Hope you get normal use back.

 

That has got to hurt, throbbing pain. The safety reminders here are so important. We all learn by the experiences of others. I had to give up burning wood, but still make mistakes doing some things I wish I hadn't. Keep the finger clean so you don't get infected.

 

I hope you can wipe left handed..

In all seriousness, glad it was 'just' the pinky finger and not worse!

 

Any interesting combinations of expletives ?

 

Ouch X 3!

 

I’d think most of us have gotten lucky more than once! I have a tendency to try to “short stroke” as much as possible. Sometime the split isn’t complete and pinches back! Hope it heals up quick!

 

Sorry to hear about that happening. Glad it's the pinky finger though. Played the thumb game a couple times and I'd rather have both pinkys hurt instead.
Hopefully you heal quickly!

 

Dang , you did good on that one.
Hope you heal up fast and thanks for posting as a reminder to all of us to be careful.

 

Perhaps not relevant here, but relevant to playing with dangerous or heavy equipment...where I work, injuries are not usually papercuts....
I've knocked off when fatigued. Or slowed down and or asked for a second set of hands.
As I age, I notice fatigue more readily, perhaps because it occurs waaaay sooner than I wish. At which point on the woodlot, I change activities.
My bad habits (in saw handling) become my default habits when tired or rushed. At work and with saws, I'm trying to be aware of the shortcuts and rule bending, and quit doing those as a habit.

I've had a few close calls at work. Slowing down and being as rules compliant as I can, has been useful.

JD guy, you'll heal up fine, and quicker than you think.

 

A safety measure I have to repeatedly make myself do is hook my left thumb under the handle. For whatever reason my natural tendency is to lay it on top of the handle. It makes me cringe to see the cool thing to do on YT is one hand your saw through the cut. People say there’s nothing there to cause kickback, but it leads to inexperienced folks wanting to cool cut. Never doesn’t exist with saws and tree work. I’ve seen a kickback injury to the face and it shook me. center cut with lots of missing tissue and teeth. It’s cool to be an old sawyer with your original face, limbs and appendages.
Stay focused and safe out there folks and to the op welcome to the crooked finger club.

 

Hope you heal up soon!

 

Ouch, Hope that heals quick!