pdmarsh

Good one, Jetts! You know, when this happened, one of the first things to enter my mind, after "Oh shoot!," was that this would not have been so bad with a wood prop. As it was, I was using a new composite prop.

Thanks,
Paul

GRANT ED

After a club member lost two finger from a spinning prop. (Not my club but close by). My club made some plane holder's which are basically two post's sticking out the ground. The modeler then puts the tail of the plane behind the post's and voila. The model can't move forward even at full power. The only problem being that dosen't stop people putting their hand's in a spinning prop.

rajul

My Feedback: (58)

I ALWAYS use my plane restrainer from Midwest without fail.

I suggest that you place it in front of the wings rather than the horiz stab. The horiz stab is a weaker structure (don't ask me how I know).

jettstarblue

Speaking of which, I made a few sets, got some 1/4" solid aluminum rod, cut it up, and after making a 90deg. bend 4" from one end, ground the other to a point. Stick it through some soft foam, and duct tape it on. Took all of 30 mins. and under 10 bucks to make a couple sets!
They never ware out, go in the flightbox, and you can even put them in the hardest ground.

Jetts

rajul

My Feedback: (58)

I have a stake and a mallet in my car just in case the ground is too hard !

SigKavalier

Yeah and never forget to turn on your plane, and then start the motor. Wonder why you have no throttle control and then decide to hold the spinner to kill the engine. Might have worked on something smaller than a OS .40 max. Instead I just got burned by the friction so now I have several smooth spots on my index finger, and thumb.

rwh

Our club has about 20 benches and we all start and tune our planes at "hand level". It just depends on what you're used to. It seems normal to me, but sometimes new guys are shocked to see us running the planes on the bench.

I got a lot of nicks and cuts as a newbie, but now I can't remember how long it's been since I got a cut.

rajul

My Feedback: (58)

Folks, use a restrainer or at least get a buddy to hold down the plane. Just imagine a razor blade spinning at thousands of rpm and a few bhp. If that's not enough to make you change your mind, then make sure you have a torniquet and a roll of bandages in your flight box. That's assuming you haven't passed out when the inevitable happens

probligo

Found any vampires yet?

Sorry, just too hard to leave.

I decided years back that engines don't like me. I fly gliders as a result.

jettstarblue

Master Airscrew 12X6- back of two knuckles down to the cartilage.
Master Airscrew 10X6- tip of two fingers, 8 stitches.-(my brother)
Master Airscrew 9X6- major slice, probably needed stitches.
Master Airscrew 11X6- hand starting, two middle fingers cut to the bone.

JZ "Zingers" all sizes- many encounters, no damage other than a couple of broken props.

Moral of this story- (no not that I'm not real careful Homer, I guessed that!)

WOOD PROPS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Jetts

rajul

My Feedback: (58)

Hey probligo, the only vamps I see around here suck fruit juices. They found out some time ago that there are other alternatives that are healthier than blood. LOL ......

rajul

My Feedback: (58)

No wonder they call them Master Airscrew, they really screwed you up didn't they ? LOL

BTW, props are props, don't matter if they are made of wood. The same precautions apply.

jettstarblue

RIGHT ON RIGHT ON!
PROPS IS PROPS, AND THEY ARE ALL DANGEROUS!

The wood ones just tend to break, or splinter, where the black plastic ones..........we all know.

Jetts

bighawg

We had a guy cut his finger clean off on a Royal .40 one time. Good thing he was flying with a buddy! Grabbed the finger tip and off to the ER they went!
The engines don't have to be big, do they?

tunnelvishon

After reading the above threads i have noticed a few things

- experience has nothing to do with lower accident rates
- safety devices and features are all prone to Murphy's law...given time
- because you can't see something (spinning props) doesnt mean its not there
- wood is denser, stronger and more repairable than flesh

I picked up my electric glider after a bumpy landing and the motor glitched on for a second for no apparant reason...errant signal, shorted switch, failed failsafe on esc or any other reason could have caused it. I treat my gun as if it has no safety on...even when the safety's on... same with my plane. Had i picked up my plane like I see so many others do it...with my wrist exposed over the folding props...well I don't want to think about it. (I play the piano for a living)

The prop was spinning
I reached for my wrench
I walked without looking
Tripped over a bench
My sleeve was flapping
My long hair was a mess
What happenned next...
Well you take a guess
Some call it luck
Others...hocus pocus
Its really about how
You keep your focus

pdmarsh

Very good points, nupeswv, especially the last -- "keep your focus." My little accident was pure carelessness, or, lack of focus!

Thanks,
Paul

P.S. -- Good ryhme, too.

zxcv11

Mmmm....I hate to admit, but I do feel a bit better after reading through this extensive post. 3 weeks ago I was tuning my OS .40(front mounted needle)......all it took was 1/2 a second of non-concentration (people yapping at me) and brap....stopped that sucker with the exact same 3 fingers as pdmarsh!!
8 Stiches in the ring fing....down to the bone and tendon, 3 stiches in the middle with a split fingernail( don't that feel lucky) and 6 stiches in the index, plus about 3/4 of the tip with nail taken cleeean off. DOLT!! And as with other distiguished choppers, mine WAS with a Master Airscrew(my...what clean slices they make...lol). I think a bit of common sense and TOTAL concentration is the only "way 2 fly" around any props. Better safe 'n sorry!!Plus, I'm moving to a rear mount needle, and have gone to a glider for a bit ..lol...at least till the rest of 'me nail grows back!!!
PS-check out the pic, it's healing nicely!!

pdmarsh

Wow, zxcv11, the similarities are unreal in damage done! On the one hand, I'm amazed at how well the body heals. On the other hand, I'm surprised how long the internal pain lingers. It's been about two months since my accident and, if I press just right on my finger tips, I still feel a bit of pain inside the fingers. I still haven't put back my wedding band. When to doctor and nurse (yup, it took two people) worked off my ring, the pain was more excruciating than the original injury. They really should have cut it. As it is, I had to send it to a jeweler to be resized. I guess the point is that the consequences of a few seconds of misfortune have lingering effects.

Sorry to hear of your accident, but glad it wasn't worse than it was.

Paul

zxcv11

Couldn't agree more PD...the finger that went to the tendon is still hurting like a SOB. Feels as if I might have fractured something maybe, while the fingernail, which I thought would be the worst, it's just fine now!! Well....my pride's still a bit tender... too

rajul

My Feedback: (58)

Get well soon guys. Sorry to hear about your predicament.

I was wondering if wearing leather gloves could have at least prevented the prop from "cutting" into the skin, although there will be some trauma from impact. Anyone has experience being hit by a prop with leather gloves on ?

LarryC

We've had several new guys starting at our club recently.
I've telling then to think of their prop as a pair of steak knives
at 10,000 rpm. Or as a 10" skilsaw without a blade guard.
It gets them thinking, but we all need to be reminded from time to
time how quickly a fun afternoon can go bad.

Good luck to all,

Larry

tunnelvishon

I really don't think leather gloves are a good idea. First of all gloves have a tendency to get caught in things and then yank your whole friggin hand into it. I know this because as a machinist we are forbidden to wear them around spinning cutters and machines. Secondly, by adding this false sense of security...it may work against you in that you will tend to be less careful thinking the gloves will save you.
Just my 2 cents worth here.

jdoyle

We have tables at our club but #1 rule is no starting motors on the tables!!!!!!
They are just for working on the planes and then you start them on the ground and they must be tied down before starting and seeing these storys now we know why!!!!!
JIM