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Comment by PostOnce | Hacker News Reader

Your first point, sad as it is, reminded me of this article I read, which gives clarity on how child soldiers are made in a way that I haven't read elsewhere, despite reading books on exactly that subject

https://acoup.blog/2019/08/16/collections-this-isnt-sparta-p...

Not related, but I'll just close by saying I didn't have the same respect that I now have for rotating shafts at industrial facilities until I saw some industrial accidents on the internet. Lo and behold years later, as a programmer, I'm working at a factory automating some things and there it is, an un-shrouded rotating shaft connected to a fairly large motor, right there at ankle level. Stink was raised, shroud was installed.

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Some months back I saw footage of a lathe accident in a Russian factor (it was on Reddit but possibly the footage was linked from LiveLeak). Similar to you I have developed a much stronger respect for heavy machinery.

It's even made me more careful when I use obviously much smaller power tools at home. Tools like circular saws, mitre saws, and even angle grinders have the ability to irreversibly change your life (or worse) in the blink of an eye if not handled with care and respect.

Just thinking about that video again has made me feel slightly queasy, but there's no doubt seeing it has done me a huge favour.

Circular saws, mitre saws are sold with protective elements where I live. To respect, but it won't jump out and hurt you.

Angle grinders are next level, fundamental "respect or you'll be maimed" stuff.

Angular momentum is not as fundamentally easy to judge and is easily underestimated.

> Circular saws, mitre saws are sold with protective elements where I live. To respect, but it won't jump out and hurt you.

That's true but they're not sufficient to protect against all injuries if you don't take proper precautions. And, as far as circular saws go, you're flat out wrong about them not jumping and hurting you: if they bind up in the wood that's exactly what can happen in the worst case. It's called kickback.

SmarterEveryDay prototyped an anti-kickback mechanism for circular saws[1] that I hoped would inspire some mfgs; it's crazy that we haven't seen more safety innovation in handheld power tools 10+ years after SawStop became widely viable.

1. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OdW7vhYYSdM

Table saws will remove fingers instantly. And will also throw things at you if you drop them on the blade.

Thank you for sharing that article on child soldiers. The parts I did read were both enlightening and disturbing.

I’m tempted to search for industrial lathe accidents next but I think that will have to wait till tomorrow.

Good for you! I can't stand the dismissive attitude toward unprotected rotating shafts.

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