Nearly an amputation

[Ivar Dahl-Larsen]

The warning goes out to every one who sometimes chop wood for lighting up in the oven. Be careful, keep a dull axe in these preChristmas times when coldness strikes.

One dame down, flat on the floor. Not much help from that one! Having been in the medical business and far from Doctors without borders, I had to try and keep the edges of the wound together and stop the bleeding. Here's the result. I hope it grows back in shape, so I do not have to stare at the bone anymore. A true Norseman to the bone!

 

[Pete Askew]

I have a matching thumb at the moment! Don't release the locking collar on a 40 kg drill press head when your thumb is next to the safety collar. Just the pad sliced open and it is healing nicely but it's a bit tricky to do things without an opposable left thumb - that's clearly why dogs and cats don't take many photos!

So, Ivar, what on earth did you do?

 

[Ivar Dahl-Larsen]

Good to see that you are doing good. I positioned a thin piece of wood on a wooden platform to part it in two with my newly sharpened axe in the basement. It was for small pieces of wood to make fire in the oven upstairs. You know, first some newspaper, not good for anything else, some thin sticks of wood piled up against a log plus some logs on top. That's how I make fire in the oven. As I held the thin piece with left hand, being confident that my handling the axe like a real norseman with the right hand, should result in a nice thin split I raised my hand and chopped the piece and as the axe hit the top of the stick slightly, my hand did not get away. Hit it where the pointing finger settles on the hand and cut right through as wide as down to where my palm starts. Need not go to any more details, but the bone was laid open. Havent removed the bandage yet. Have to keep it in place for it to grow back into some sort of shape. I'm ok though, just a painful hand and useless for some time. So take care out there whoever sees this.

 

[Pete Askew]

Ouch! That could have ended worse than it did though. I use dry trimmings from the shrubs in the garden for kindling (and small scraps from the workshop). Logs we split with a Swedish log splitter and, occasionally, a maul. Scraps from the workshop do for medium size stuff and we have a stock of split logs from a Maple and a Damson that were felled next door and blew over in a storm respectvely. The wood-burner is burning nicely as I type and Paradise is Here by Nathalie Marchant is spinning on the turntable (and sounding glorious).

http://www.amazon.co.uk/AGMA-10024-...8&qid=1448312867&sr=8-6&keywords=log+splitter

 

[John Holland]

Ouch - that is going to leave a mark. I think I'll stick with my electric oven and gas furnace (I can't qualify as a real norseman anyway).

 

[Pete Askew]

Wimp!

 

[Pete Askew]

But one that can count to ten with his shoes and socks on!

 

[Ivar Dahl-Larsen]

Ouch! That could have ended worse than it did though. I use dry trimmings from the shrubs in the garden for kindling (and small caps from the workshop). Logs we split with a Swedish log splitter and, occasionally, a maul. Scraps from the workshop do for medium size stuff and we have a stock of split logs from a Maple and a Damson that were felled next door and blew over in a storm respectvely. The wood-burner is burning nicely as I type and Paradise is Here by Nathalie Marchant is spinning in the turntable (and sounding glorious).

http://www.amazon.co.uk/AGMA-10024-...8&qid=1448312867&sr=8-6&keywords=log+splitter

Well that looks cozy and it is quite nice here too, but painkillers are needed tonight I think.

 

[Ivar Dahl-Larsen]

Ouch - that is going to leave a mark. I think I'll stick with my electric oven and gas furnace (I can't qualify as a real norseman anyway).

It is probably going to be a visible scar, but I'll have a peep tomorrow.

 

[John Holland]

Proper form - to avoid potential for amputation

 

[Ivar Dahl-Larsen]

Proper form - to avoid potential for amputation

You are quite right John, I normally do it that way, but these were small sticks, trying to make them thinner. By the way, the wound has to be stitched it seems. It's all laid open again.

 

[Julian de'Courcy]

Ouch that looks painful and hope you are well into recovery Ivar.
Ivar a blunt axe for splitting is actually more effective and a sharp one only for chopping. But you horny Vikings are well aware of this I am sure, unless you are a townie.
Get better soon

 

[Ivar Dahl-Larsen]

A certain part is on the recovery as the finger thank you Julian, but other parts are, as someone would claim, in a chronicle condition beyond recovery. There are times when I have to agree to such a fact. Thank Odin. And definately no townie, scouts honour!

 

[Brian Moore]

Now I know what the axe comments in other posts were about. Sorry to see you two lads (@Ivar D. Larsen and @Pete Askew) have wounded yourselves. Hope you are both mending well. I know some good pain killers if you still need any. (Made in Scotland,...comes in 750ml or larger bottles so you can have plenty on hand,...er, no pun intended.)

keep a dull axe in these preChristmas times when coldness strikes

Having done a little woodworking, I have learned that an er,...axiom,....among the woodworking brethren is that sharp tools are safe tools. Dull edges cause problems. Maybe this doesn't apply to the axe, which is a tool I have seldom used.

 

[Ivar Dahl-Larsen]

Thank you for your concern Brian, it seems to heal as it shall. Axes are for Vikings only and no townies as Julian calls you lot.