I don’t know about you guys, but it seems to me that every time I start a new project/scene on my layout, I end up getting some sort of injury. Tip of thumb sliced off was the worst one, but I’ve had a couple of burns from dripping solder as well as the usual small cuts. Is there anyone else in this same boat?
I remember reading an article, perhaps in MR, that said that people who injure themselves with power tools often reported that they had a “bad feeling” just before the accident. Sometimes when working on the layout with a potentially dangerous tool or product I have had that “bad feeling” and I try to quit right then and there. I have also learned that if I enjoyed my week night dinner, such as with an after work martini or glass or two of wine with the meal, that maybe that is not the night to be doing real precise work since I am likely to slop it up a bit.
Dave Nelson
Duck-unders when you’re reaching 70.
Not fun at all! For some reason, they really worked WELL about five years ago, LOL! [:-^]
Tom [:D]
When I was building a section of the layout I had it upside down on the floor installing levelers on the legs. I was standing in the middle and decided I could do better by moving to the side but forgot about the wood support I had running from one leg to another. Instead of tripping I did a summersault landing on my shoulder damaging the rotator cuff. This happened two years this coming November.
I still only have limited use my right arm and it’s really going to be a pain, no pun intended, when I install the switch machines.
Bob
Duck-unders after you reach 70. My 3 deck layout with helixs hidden away under the benchwork looked really good when I started on this layout in 1983. At age 73, not as much fun. A derailment or deadspot under there holds the promise of a gash or two on my bald head, my arthritis acting up, and a trip to the chiropractor.
Bob
Thats why some people should collect stamps, worst case scenario paper cut
Nah, extreme chainsaw juggling would be. (juggling chainsaws while skydiving [:-^])
Duckunders are bad, even at 20. Ya can’t exactly look behind you when you’re trying to get up. I’ve skinned my back a few times doing that.
What take the cake for me: I tired to clean out those testors paint bottles (that you used to be able to buy at wal-mart) by pour enamel thinner in it, then lighting it… Outdoors, on an oily workbench (Was reall a oily piece of plywood on top of a trash can). Not only burned when I picked up one that I though had cooled, but cut when it hit the ground and broke, and burned and cut again trying to put the fire out (on the weed growing between the patio bricks). Worst part was when I started to walk back to the house (carport about 25 feet away from the house) the water hose was laying 2 feet from the spot where I dropped that jar.[banghead]
So lessons learned:
- Don’t burn out glass jars to clean them
- Don’t put fires out when barefoot
- Don’t go into areas with broken glass barefoot.
- If working with fire, remember where the hose is.
- Soaking aforementoined jars in a can of engine parts cleaner works just fine.
Hardhat, fire extiguisher and a few other accoutrements of self defense are necessary when attempting any work on a certain fellows layout as he operates more like a ‘train wreck’ than a person who knows what he is doing----any time I’ve gone down there someone leaves with lacerations, contusions, concussions or some other injury-----even a broken wrist was suffered by moi—having discovered a loose partition—and falling on said wrist—[:(][xx(]
A few years ago I was trimming some Atlas code 100 flex track ties on our local club layout. Well, the Exacto knife slipped, and I sliced my left index finger rather badly (probably should have gotten stitches, but I didn’t go to the ER as direct pressure seemed to take care of everything). The amazing thing was just before the knife slipped, I was thinking to myself, I probably shouldn’t be doing this this way!
Moral of the story: If you think you are doing something stupid, you’re probably right!
-Kosmo
That’s one good thing about the forums; I can usually count on it for my laugh of the day. Thank you, Kosmo!
The usual cuts/burns/abrasions with the worst being having a knife slip while cutting a piece of plastic and going all the way through my left hand, into the palm and out the back. It healed up with no complications.
This issue was on not so long ago - so please no bragging about who suffered the most … [swg]
And a word of warning - your friendly neighborhood insurance broker might read this thread - up go your rates for health & life insurance!
"Moral of the story: If you think you are doing something stupid, you’re probably right!
-Kosmo"
Over the years I’ve formed the habit of stopping as soon as I feel frustrated. There have been too many destroyed items for me to mention and stopping and going back upstairs has been the solution. 
I don’t know about that…
Some of the old goats at one of the HO club I am a member of can slide under the layout far better then some of the younger members…At 61 I can still slide under a duck under-------------with a lot of groaning.[:O][(-D]
At the other HO club I am a member of installed a lift section to eliminate the 2 duck unders,.
I tore my rotator cuff skiing. I had the surgery, and it came back very well. Something to think about.
Roger’s suggestion that we stop working on the trains when we feel frustrated is a good one. Even if we don’t hurt ourselves, we’re likely to mess something up. In general, we don’t have deadlines in this hobby, so there’s no need to rush.
Back when I was a teenager I was doing some wiring under the layout with a soldering iron. I found a convenient place on the benchwork to hang the iron by the cord as I stripped and twisted together the next wires. After all, you wouldn’t want the iron on the floor - you might set your hand on it or even sit on it, right?
Hmmm… what’s that funny smell??? It’s melting hair!!! Yeooww!! I had leaned back just close enough to scorch my hair but not close enough to feel the heat right away.
Now I have a soldering gun so it turns off… and I set it on the floor far away and lean over to pick it up.
George V.
The job’s not done until somebody is bleeding.
I have added this to my signature.
Tom
Fortunately, I have never had a serious injury, but I have had my share of scrapes, cuts, smashed thumbs and burns. I quit when I’m tired or frustrated. I don’t use the radial arm saw after dark. I always wear safety glasses with power tools. I use a GFCI with corded tools in the basement.
Enjoy
Paul
Soldering under the layout while wearing shorts is my latest blunder. Anybody know where you can get upside down bifocals? Seriously.[:)]