Wrench Slip Arc, Lost ring finger Options

[76-914]

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/agree.gif) Neg is always removed first.

[Rand]

Agreed. Think about it being a negative thing you want out of the picture so you never forget which to remove first. A short is definitely a negative thing we don't want.

Or for some people it helps to remember which way electricity flows... FROM negative. It wants to be positive and do work. Stop it at the source first.

Misinformation causes a lot of trouble.

[ctc911ctc]

To clarify - the quote you took supports your point of view. Installing a battery, wrench the positive and then negative. Removing power or battery - remove the negative.

For no other reason than you want to wrench the POSITIVE first so if you slip the wrench you are not then holding a filament.

I disagree.

I see lots of people disconnect the positive cable. If you do that, you risk sparks and/or a direct shorted battery if your wrench touches ANYTHING while disconnecting the cable.

If you disconnect the negative first, the only possible way to short out your battery is to hit the positive post with the other end of the wrench. And if you keep a plastic post cover over it (or even just some painter's tape) you can't short out the battery.

[gereed75]

Steve a. What VAW squadron were you in??

[Mark Henry]

Negative is "first off and last on" is what I was taught.

[914_7T3]

Negative is "first off and last on" is what I was taught.

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/agree.gif)

This is where connecting the positive first gets you when the wrench lets go.

[carr914]

Almost had ring finger sliced off by wedding ring when it got hung up. Just cut it to the bone. Got away with stitches only. At the phone company we were not even allowed to wear watches or any jewelry.

My Father in Law lost his Ring Finger when his ring caught something. I wore a Wedding Ring for about a month till I caught it on something and cut the finger severely

[raynekat]

A friend of mine was climbing down from the top of his pickup camper, slipped, grabbed for the ladder better, fell, but his ring got hung up on the ladder striping the skin off his finger. They sewed it back on but he can't wear the ring on the finger anymore.

I never wear my ring except on special occasions. My wife completely understands.

[get off my lawn]

My ring has been hanging on my keychain for a really long time.
decades.

Plus it's a size 14 and won't fit my fat finger anywho.

[whitetwinturbo]

When I was a youngster, I helped my dad move a fridge down a staircase. We lost control and his ring finger got smashed against the wall and the appliance crushing the ring. He used pliers to make the ring "roundish" again to get it off his finger thus allowing blood flow to begin again. He never wore the ring again.

[infraredcalvin]

I know I’m in the minority on this, but my ring is thrashed, because there have been so many instances whee I tried to grab something before it shut or just plan not getting my hand out quick enough. My ring has saved my fingers more times than I care to count.

[Arno914]

...imagine a wrench slip arc on a Tesla... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/w00t.gif)

This is a very good thread. From time to time it is valuable to be reminded how important safety is.

Work safely.

[Sycolyst]

Back when I first got out of school I was working as a management trainee for a garbage company and was filling in on a residential route. I jumped off the back of the truck and my ring caught the compactor lever. The truck kept going and pulled me down the road by my ring finger. Needless to say, it wasn't pretty and I don't wear a ring anymore.

[Root_Werks]

This whole thread is giving me the willies..creepy stories!

[914_teener]

Since I.m a "hold on to my finger type of guy".....

Silicone ring hunh....this sucker is at least an ounce of AU.....

I'm thinking of quitting while I.m still ahead after this thread.

[Mikey914]

I also learded to take my ring off. I slipped wrench tightening a nut on my 951 head and caught a stud. Really hurt, and started swelling right away. I had a tin snip, and cut the simple gold band fairly easily. I figured I could do it or pay a doctor to so just did it. Since then my wife bought me a tungsten ring, so I just take it off now.

[r_towle]

You guys have creepy stories

[mepstein]

My ring always sits in my wife’s jewelry box except for anniversary dinners. I’ve never worn jewelry so she had no expectations I would wear a ring.

[fiacra]

I also learded to take my ring off. I slipped wrench tightening a nut on my 951 head and caught a stud. Really hurt, and started swelling right away. I had a tin snip, and cut the simple gold band fairly easily. I figured I could do it or pay a doctor to so just did it. Since then my wife bought me a tungsten ring, so I just take it off now.

I've lost count, but I've taken somewhere around 50-100 rings off injured hands/fingers over my career. There are nice techniques for getting a ring off without cutting it. I'm sure you can find a youtube video where you use dental floss, but I use a length of suture silk. Just remember if you have a hand or upper extremity injury to get your rings off right away because once your fingers start to swell you have a whole new problem. If you must wear a ring, make sure it can be taken off with ease. If not, get it resized. Our finger joints enlarge with age and if you never remove your ring you might find someday years after your first put it on that even though it feels loose on your finger that you can't get it off over the knuckle. Some jewelers will cut rings off for you, but you can also get a ring cutter easily and cheaply online.

Bottom line....I recommend people never wear rings on their fingers, but if you do please take them off when you are working with your hands, have an awareness that you need to get them off right away if you injury your upper extremity (as an example a shoulder injury can cause delayed hand swelling), and make sure they can come off your finger if you haven't taken them off in a long time.