Knucle busters and being careful

I just returned from the hospital after 5 hours and some minor surgurey (they called in a Hand Specialist) to repair some tendon damage that occured when I smacked my hand on a cross member (non P car) while breaking a nut loose and opened up a 3/4 inch gash accross the top of my ring fingers middle joint.

Normally I would have just put on a butterfly bandage and gone on with my day but it was over a knuckle and kept opening it up and the blood would not stop.

The one thing that I want to pass on is if you smack a joint and it gets infected down in the joint there is a good possibility that you can loose that finger.....the specialist told me.

so be careful... the worst thing that I could have done is the butterfly bandage in this case.

[This message has been edited by H20911 (edited 03-31-2001).]

Also, of course, never push a wrench. Always pull.

Glad to hear your hand is okay.

That is one of the two things I hate most when working on cars or anything else for that matter. Hurting myself, no matter how small it always slows you down.

Of course the other thing is having to do something over. You know, when you get it all back together, and you find something that should have been put in first, talk about slowing you down.

That is a good point about the infection. I think most of us would stick a band-aid on it and drive on.

Any time I do "knuckle busting" work, I put on a pair (or at least one) thick leather gardening type glove (learned that trick the hard way, might I add!).

Bill Wagner

There are Kevlar gloves available now that prevent cuts and knuckle busters, they are much easier to work in than heavy leather gloves. Kind of a light knit glove.

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Robert Stoll
83 SC
83 944

I usually get my butler, Jeeves, to do this frightfully dirty work for me.


April fools!

you learn not to hurt yourself by hurting yourself. it's just one of those dues you have to pay as you learn the mechanic trade. you always have to think about where your hand is going to go when that bolt comes loose, or that wrench slips. when you push a wrench in a potentially dangerous (to you) place, do it with an open palm. when you pull, make sure your face/ teeth are out of the way. you will hurt yourself occasionally, there's no way around it, but try to think about your every move, and eventually it becomes routine.

I recently picked up a pair of Mechanix gloves. They fit tightly and are thick enough on the knuckle side to have already saved me quite a few times. I think they are now sold at most parts stores. Best $20 I have spent in awhile!

Nick.

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Nick Shumaker
1982 911SC Coupe
nickshu@yahoo.com
PCA -- Rocky Mtn. Region

After 15 years of turning wrenches I can tell you Jack is right, always pull, and of course use Snap-On.

Reminds me of our woodshop teacher Mr. "Stubby" Streeter. How to get a nickname...

I wear bicycle gloves, the ones without the fingers. I buy them for the thickness on the backside (i.e. no stringbacks) and for the tightness and thinness of the frontsides. You can always stretch them by soaking them in water and wearing them; that's why I get them tight.

Jw

there are some instances where you can't pull. what do you do then?

When you gotta push . . .
then just make sure you ASSUME that the wrench is gonna slip or the bolt is gonna break loose suddenly, and prepare accordingly!
Like make sure there is nothing that your hand is gonna hit.
Or, pad where its gonna hit.
Or, use a breaker bar!

Pulling can be a hazard too. I remember about ten years ago working on a TR7. Pulled up hard on the wrench, bolt broke loose, back of my hand hit the corner of the battery box punching a nice triangular hole in the back of my hand. Hurt so bad I got nauseous and had to sit down for a long while. Still have the scar to remind me.

Kurt V
72 911E

I'm sitting here looking at two nice burns on each hand I received while spinning off the oil filter on my Volvo. I usually use leather gloves, but was in a hurry... nothing like a hot manifold to wake you up.
regards,
jlex.