GeneralKayoss
ArboristSite Operative
Not exactly arboricultural but this happened to me about 2 1/2 years ago. Using a table router with a 1/2" spiral bearing bit. I was cutting small rails off of a pattern out of 3/4" Starboard (a heavy dense marine plastic). They were roughly 12" long x 1" wide. A combination of things went wrong here, I accidently used the wrong spiral bit, I grabbed the one we usually use on acrylic, with less taper. My pattern also didn't have any knobs or handles on it and was only 1/2" plywood... you can see where this is going. Anyways, trimming a few pieces I noticed the bit was very grabby, wanting to get overly aggressive trying to snatch the part. I thought "I'll do one more and check this bit and make sure it's the right one" I was pretty sure it wasn't at that point already. It was the next one that got me. Guess I had a little too much meat left in one place and it grabbed the part and flung it, dragging my finger right into the bit. I had 15 years experience in a woodshop and using routers at this point - never get comfortable and let your guard down. Needless to say but I'm a lot bigger on safety now! Here were the results: