Stupid Things I Have Done

[WinterDeere]

Hey Engineer42, you just reminded me of the time I accidentally dipped a finger into a solder pot, essentially a small cistern of molten tin-lead solder. Trouble is, even after removing my finger from the vat, it was still covered in scalding hot molten metal, and I was in the basement shop with the closest cold water up a flight of stairs to the kitchen. Definitely one of my less pleasant injuries.

I don't remember how I got the cooled and hardened metal off of my finger, my mind must have blocked that out in the 25+ years since it happened.

 

[riptides]

Hey Engineer42, you just reminded me of the time I accidentally dipped a finger into a solder pot, essentially a small cistern of molten tin-lead solder. Trouble is, even after removing my finger from vat, it was still covered in scalding hot molten metal, and I was in the basement shop with the closest cold water up a flight of stairs to the kitchen. Definitely one of my less pleasant injuries.

I don't remember how I got the cooled and hardened metal off of my finger, my mind must have blocked that out in the 25+ years since it happened.

At least it sounds like you did not try to taste it. Natural reflex and what not....

Ugh.

 

[scootr]

Knit Cut-Resistant Gloves​

24 products
Knit cut-resistant gloves meet ANSI/ISEA 105 standards to protect hands from cuts, abrasions, lacerations, and punctures when handling sharp items. Spun yarn construction makes knit gloves formfitting. ANSI/ISEA cut levels indicate the level of protection provided. Higher numbers indicate more cut protection but they generally have less dexterity than gloves with lower levels of cut protection.

• Light-Duty Cut-Resistant Gloves with Polyurethane Coating
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• Medium-Duty Cut-Resistant Gloves, Uncoated
• Medium-Duty Cut-Resistant Gloves, Uncoated with Impact Protection
• Heavy-Duty Cut-Resistant Gloves with Nitrile Coating & Impact Protection

 

[newbury]

Reminds me of a far past event. Senior year in high school I was a stableboy for a girls camp in Vermont. End of season they threw a big party on an island in Lake Champlain for the staff and counselors. Mostly young college age females. Sitting around the campfire, it was late, went to impress a particularly good looking counselor by picking up a live coal out of the fire to light her cigarette.
Trick is to lick your fingers, dip them in ash, try not to get a cherry red piece of oak, go for pine.
It worked, but the fingers were sensitive for days.

 

[jjeff]

Knit Cut-Resistant Gloves​

24 products
Knit cut-resistant gloves meet ANSI/ISEA 105 standards to protect hands from cuts, abrasions, lacerations, and punctures when handling sharp items. Spun yarn construction makes knit gloves formfitting. ANSI/ISEA cut levels indicate the level of protection provided. Higher numbers indicate more cut protection but they generally have less dexterity than gloves with lower levels of cut protection.

• Light-Duty Cut-Resistant Gloves with Polyurethane Coating
• Light-Duty Cut-Resistant Gloves with Nitrile Coating
• Medium-Duty Cut-Resistant Gloves, Uncoated
• Medium-Duty Cut-Resistant Gloves, Uncoated with Impact Protection
• Heavy-Duty Cut-Resistant Gloves with Nitrile Coating & Impact Protection

I still have an old beat up pair of leather gloves with a kevlar liner.

 

[WinterDeere]

Senior year in high school I was a stableboy for a girls camp in Vermont... Mostly young college age females.

What I got from this post is that you missed telling us several better stories, than someone burning their fingers.

 

[newbury]

What I got from this post is that you missed telling us several better stories, than someone burning their fingers.

one of the best UNANTICIPATED benefits was absolutely top notch restaurant quality food 3 to 4 times a day. Taught me that rich girls eat well and that with a full regime of competitive horse riding and sailing for exercise can stay fit and trim.
Surprised the camp is still there

 

[jjeff]

Reminds me of a far past event. Senior year in high school I was a stableboy for a girls camp in Vermont. End of season they threw a big party on an island in Lake Champlain for the staff and counselors. Mostly young college age females. Sitting around the campfire, it was late, went to impress a particularly good looking counselor by picking up a live coal out of the fire to light her cigarette.
Trick is to lick your fingers, dip them in ash, try not to get a cherry red piece of oak, go for pine.
It worked, but the fingers were sensitive for days.

A stableboy, college girl counselors, sounds like a very inappropriate movie I saw years ago. Bam chicka bow wow Lol

 

[JethroB]

A stableboy, college girl counselors, sounds like a very inappropriate movie I saw years ago. Bam chicka bow wow Lol

Lady Chatterly?

 

[Jstpssng]

My uncle had really good luck with a bucking chainsaw. It took his glasses off his nose and the next year it cut his shoe laces. Both times he needed a few stitches but he decided a couple of butterfly bandages was good enough.

Lucky man.

 

[BravoXray]

Use a cutting torch on a big steel bar while wearing Sketchers shoes.

FIY, blobs of molten steel barely slow down going through a Sketcher before they go through cotton socks and onto your toe.

 

[MossRoad]

Nice!

I set my stomach on fire in welding class burning practice pads. I had my flannel shirt tucked in. Spark landed by my belt buckle. Couldn't figure out why there was still a glow after I stopped welding.... it was the flames climbing the shirt under my helmet.

SLAP! SLAP! SLAP! PAT! PAT!



(PRO TIP: Don't wear flannel shirts when MIG welding)

 

[BravoXray]

I also have a scar on my left eardrum from an errant spark that landed in my ear when I was doing some cutting under a truck a long time ago.

 

[mrmikey]

I also have a scar on my left eardrum from an errant spark that landed in my ear when I was doing some cutting under a truck a long time ago.

Ditto, gouging a plow front tilt cylinder off a tandem truck decades ago....feels good doesn't it...not. Took a good 3-4 years for the hole to close, until that happened going swimming with out a plug in the ear was a guarantee for an ear infection. Same with winter cold wind blowing.

I had my flannel shirt tucked in.

Remember those thick plaid shirt/jackets you used to be able to buy. After the first wash they developed a fuzz that would flash up at the slightest spark. Wouldn't burn any amount of time, just a sheet of flame for a couple of seconds that would scare the crap out of you. It was fun at work with the newbee mechanics as they weren't aware of it (I was a weldor so you knew what to expect). We'd come up behind them with a lighter and touch it to the bottom of the jacket.

 

[FriendwithTractor]

We had several large lilac bushes that had become more like trees, so this fall they got the ax. In trying to remove the branches, I had utilized a 7' stretch of steel chain with hooks on the end. (Remember that, because I sure didn't)

In the end, we get the branches tucked away in the scrub and I couldn't find the chain. So, like any other warmblooded male on this planet, I promptly forgot about it.

Next weekend, I decide to take the ZT out to mulch some leaves. Things are going well and then CLANG BANG! and the mower stops abruptly.

Found it!

Fortunately, it doesn't look like anything is seriously damaged, other than a nasty nick in the blade which will buff out.

 

[MoKelly]

This is yet another dumb thing I have done that doesn’t put me at danger, but costs me time.

We recently got a place in Florida for the winter. We use Directtv stream. We can use it at both places. But - apparently only Samsung TVs let you obtain the app to watch.

So, I get the Samsung TV. I look on the internet to see how to get the app. I follow the instructions and nope. The instructions say to access the TVs internet search, type Directtv stream, then downloaded the app.

I try 10s of times. Always get some error message. I get frustrated. It takes forever to type in stuff on a tv search with the tv remote. Uggg!!

So, my lovely wife sees me struggling. Maybe even heard me say a few words showing frustration.

She comes over and takes the remote. Presses the Home button. Toggles to the APP icon. Presses a few more buttons and finds the Directtv app. Downloads. Done. 2-3 minutes.

Gives me the remote back and smiles.

Smartest thing I could have done was ask her first!

 

[jjeff]

Nice!

I set my stomach on fire in welding class burning practice pads. I had my flannel shirt tucked in. Spark landed by my belt buckle. Couldn't figure out why there was still a glow after I stopped welding.... it was the flames climbing the shirt under my helmet.

SLAP! SLAP! SLAP! PAT! PAT!



(PRO TIP: Don't wear flannel shirts when MIG welding)

Cuz it looks like this? Maybe my wife is correct saying I save to much well worn junk? To help my constant destroying of clothing I've had these bibs for over 15 yrs and a green f.p smock, hindered my spontaneous combustion activities.

 

[MossRoad]

I also have a scar on my left eardrum from an errant spark that landed in my ear when I was doing some cutting under a truck a long time ago.

What?




Ouch!

 

[MossRoad]

Cuz it looks like this? Maybe my wife is correct saying I save to much well worn junk? To help my constant destroying of clothing I've had these bibs for over 15 yrs and a green f.p smock, hindered my spontaneous combustion activities.

My burn was a bit bigger than that... think belt buckle to 2nd button from top and a nice arch to each pocket. Singed all the hair off my chest and left me with minor 2nd degree burn about the size and shape of a steam iron from my belly button to sternum. Looked like I got ironed!

 

[WinterDeere]

(PRO TIP: Don't wear flannel shirts when MIG welding)

Yikes. I would bet that I'm wearing a heavy cotton flannel shirt of one variety or another more often than almost anything else, when out in the shop welding. The rest of the time I'm wearing denim or Carhartt coveralls, both of which come with tags citing their own flammability.