Actually just search 'string ring removal trick'. That will turn up tons of videos. There is a 'stuck ring removal' tip from one of those youtube tips videos that everyone should know. Get some dental floss or good string, and put the end through under the ring, with the main floss out towards your finger tip. Then wrap it in a close wrap spiral around your finger, going out toward the tip. Once you have it as far as you need, then pull that other end, and the spiral going under the ring will screw the ring forward while drawing the skin down under the ring as you pull on the string. Cheap and easy, and doesn't destroy the ring. I've only tried it a few times here and there, and it seemed to work well. Swelling is mostly water, so it will probably still work even when your finger is very swollen, but there might be a limit. At any rate only takes a minute or two to try. 'Remove ring with string' in a search of course will turn up tons of videos etc. Just one of those things that is simple and handy to have in mind once you've seen it.
I'm a hand surgeon, and I have dealt with all of the injuries you mentioned here (and have spent sometimes more than an hour getting those titanium rings off...) Thanks for spreading the message!
I started wearing silicone rings back almost 10 years ago while I was a volunteer firefighter/EMT and read stories about how hard it could be to get titanium and carbon steel rings cut off of people. I, too, had a titanium wedding ring at that point - I now keep it on my keychain.
A silicone ring can still pull your hand into something, you simply dont need a ring of any kind when working with hand removing tools. Your workpiec gets pulled into the saw, the workpiece snags your silicone ring and now your hand is in the blade too. Your wife would rather you keep your hands and be able to work, she will understand why you dont wear a ring at work.
Add no necklace, no ear rings … just don’t wear jewelry at all. Or long hair for that matter. I had a friend that got partially scalped by a drill press grabbing ahold of his hair.
@@randyl2550 Long beards too! I saw video where someone get their beard ripped off when they foolishly reached over a running lathe. The hairnets and beard nets they use in food service may make you look or feel a little silly, but the look beats the injury, hands down.
Exactly and you don't have to be a professional or have a hectic accident to realize that. I have always removed everything that might hurt me before working in a shop.
My father never wore a ring. He was a jet engine mechanic in the Air Force. He said he saw too many airmen rip their fingers off while working on an engine. Your commentary is spot on.
In the USAF I saw a guy jump off a truck, caught his ring, and ripped his finger right off. We all heard his ring bouncing off the pavement and then the yelling. I never wore a ring again after that.
I've known people who've seen degloving happen and when I explained it to my wife she immediately bought me a silicone wedding ring. It's in Stihl colours so I actually kinda like it!
Wow, she really wants you to wear a ring, eh? I understand. I just let my husband not wear his ring at work. He wears it when he is not at work. He’s a floor layer, he does floor preparation, grinding, floor boards, engineered boards, etc, and it’s just not worth him losing a finger. I didn’t even know you could get silicone wedding rings! Well done, Mrs……boiled elephant. 👍🏽
My husband had a friend who was wearing a ring when the two of them jumped a wrought iron fence. The friends ring caught on one of the metal spikes and his finger is ripped off. Years later, after my husband became a mechanic, he always refused to wear a ring at work. I am so glad he did.
Similar to me. I worked on barges and I jumped down in to the hold. Unfortunately my ring caught on a piece of damaged steel near the deck. I was lucky that my gold ring cut through because of the sharp steel and left my finger intact. Still caused a lot of damage and I have never worn a ring since that day (50 years).
As a kid in 1991 I was using a power drill while wearing headphones. That drill caught the headphone wire, tore them off my head and slammed them into my no-no place faster than you could blink. I was singing soprano for a week! Needless to say, that was a great lesson about clothing and accoutrements.
Even just raking leaves I would feed the headphone wire through the back of my shirt down to the Walkman (yeah, I'm old) to avoid having them yanked off by the rake handle.
My sister was making a cake when she was about 14. Her hair caught the beaters and it pulled her head into the mixer so fast and hard it pulled a patch of her scalp off. No cake for us that night!
I have long hair and it was loose while I was using an electric drill. The hair got caught in the air intake and wound up in the electric motor. Fortunately it was long enough that all it did was irreparably tangle the motor and singe that lock of hair a bit. But it was an eye opener - I never wear it loose in the shop anymore.
@@cavalieroutdoors6036 A Yale student was killed in 2011 when her hair was caught in a lathe and pulled her in with her neck against the project and asphyxiated her.
@@jeffpicken5057Omg... what a terrible way to go. I'm assuming nobody was nearby. I'd rather it just break my neck and get it over with than have to sit there realizing what was about to happen.
I've seen it happen twice in my life. First time I was a young boy and my buddies brother accidentally caught it on a piece of overhead railing. I never saw the injury but they had his had wrapped up like they had to reattach an amputation. Huge bandage with a sling. Second time was at work and one of the guys setting up machines in the production shop. He caught the ring on a spinning drill chuck. It tore his finger up pretty bad. I often give these utubers working in their shop with rings and watches on, I'll give them a piece of my mind because they shouldn't be so careless.
I used to when I was younger and being dumb. I knew better, but I guess it just didn't really sink in until a buddy that I worked with told me to stop being an idiot, and described in vivid detail how he saw a former co-worker get degloved on a lathe, and how they had to dig his finger out of the chip pile. He said the paramedic washed it off with saline and rolled it up, then unrolled it onto the bone like a condom cover with super glue.
I caught my wedding ring on a staircase bannister as I was running down them. Feet went up over my head as I stopped dead. I was lucky, the ring only cut into my finger, the medic I saw said I was very lucky to have gotten away without degloving. The ring was stainless steel and had to be cut off by a jeweller some days later because of the swelling. I hope that your video gets to and helps as many people as possible, thanks for making it
I too learned this lesson the hard way. My ring turned sideways inside my finger. I am still in awe of the surgeon's skill that put my finger back together. It is still on my hand and it still works. If you work in the trades, go get a silicone ring right now.
@@Appleleafy yeah but idk what the point is of getting a silicone or other crappy ring just for your manual labour job it’s not like you are using it or admiring it. Just leave your wedding/engagement or other decorative jewelry at home it’s literally that simple lmao
My grandfather was an automotive mechanic. Once a screwdriver touched the cars battery and his wedding ring which went red hot instantly. Seared his flesh and hospital had to cut the ring to save his finger. Love your advice!
Decades ago while working for one of the "Big-Three" automakers on the press lines we were strongly encouraged to leave ALL jewelry at home. The only thing jewelry leads to in industrial and commercial settings is added injury and heartache. Great video Stumpy!
Ironically I had my ring hang on a lip of steel from a press while working for one of the 'now' big three. (they weren't back decades ago) I haven't worn one since.
I didn't know, that it is such a big issue. But after reading through comments, I see that people are really confirming your point. And crazy thing is that thus time nearly no one disagrees, which is unheard of in the online world!
because women and they them arent there to give asparagus pisces comments so we know how moon feels and 2ndly they cant handle man work so they wont even click
My woodworking teacher, back when schools still offered shop classes, showed us all graphic pictures of injuries like deglovings to scare us into following the safety procedures. Lots of traumatized teenagers after that, but everyone then took it seriously. Funny to think back on, how times have changed.
😊As an electrical apprentice, many years ago, we would be sent home without pay if we were found wearing any jewellery. Since then, I've never worn any form of jewellery. A friend lost his finger, tightening a car battery terminal. The wrench was touching his wedding ring, and the ring touched the negative chassis. It instantly vaporised as it became a 1000 plus amp fuse.
I looked it up and couldn't find anything. If that is a law then it's a dumb fucking law and you should look at watch the video. I don't think it is though and I'm going to need even a tiny bit of a source @@adendronH
I bought a silicone ring for my husband. He says it is super comfortable! I made sure to get him one with the channels. I've recommended silicone rings to many people, but they just don't listen!
G'day I was inquiring as to the price of the ring you brought, rough $$$ is fine and where about did you get yours, as I've never heard ofvthat and I haven't replaced mine after I had it cut of due to finger being rather swollen than it could handle, Thank you for your response as it is extremely helpful, Cheers 🍻 Matt Maryborough Queensland Australia 🦜🦜🦜🦜🦜🦜🐨🐨🐨🐨🐨🐨🐨🦘🦘🦘🦘🦘🦘🦘🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺👋👋👋👋
I've had mine for over 2yrs. Its something that I've also used when boxing too. Nice to be able to keep it on no matter what I do, except bathing the dogs. I have only worn my proper ring a couple times for special events.
25 years ago my physics teacher was missing his ring finger. Said he caught his wedding ring on the top of his SUV while loading luggage and hopping down. Ill never forget that! Hope youre still with us and doing well mr.derf!
@@jesseerickson662Likely not.. if you're not a tradesman but it's a common mistake made when starting out in the trades. Obviously it can happen in day to day life but its far less common.
@D-proGram_Yousef I've been a tradesman for thirty years and never seen such a thing, heard stories. Although I knew a guy who cut his finger off with a worm drive skill saw to collect the insurance money. He didn't get it the first time, it just ripped and mangled it, so he had to do it again. 😅
Happy you made a video about this. It's crazy the amount of injuries happen from wedding rings. It was a huge problem in the Military as well when I was in.
Switched to a silicone ring - after all things - catching my metal one on a door latch. Was jolly glad I learned the lesson with such (relatively) little pain.
@@Jwellsuhhuh Of course 🙂. It’s purely a personal thing - it was my wedding ring/band, and I feel it is “honouring” (for lack of a better word) to my wife to wear my ring when out and about. I’d long taken my ring off (when I remembered) before doing DIY etc - but would routinely forget to put it back on (or forget where I left it). This particular incident too - as mentioned - involved of all things a door latch. I was just passing through! So I decided to keep my metal wedding ring securely at home (and for special occasions), and switch to a silicone one for 24/7 use. I could make up some lame story about being constantly flocked by young women when they think I’m unmarried - but it’d be a complete lie. Funnier perhaps, but a complete lie
@@testmcgee9230 It's certainly not my preference - as far as rings go. But I (for me) prefer it over both not wearing any wedding band ... and much more than risking a finger injury! They are quite weird to get used to. I'm not sure, even after many years, it feels "not weird" :D
@@wallyhall thanks this is really interesting to hear as it seems like emphasis is placed on the comfort of simply “having a ring” vs enjoying the visual aspect of it. That and also avoiding getting flocked are reasonable justifications for the silicone.
Thanks for sharing this - I have /always/ been "religious" about safety in these ways - having sawed a finger up the middle about 1/4 in in high school drama workshop - back before i had forebrain function. Thankfully fully healed. If this saves someone even bit of injury, it's worth it. My dad worked for Illinois Bell, and their pocket notebooks had a series of safety tips that were always with me. " There is no job so important, no service so urgent that we cannot take time for perform our work safely" Yes - the face shield is across the shop - and I'm only going to ... actually, let's go get it ...
I crushed my gold band years ago while working on my car, but I was able to quickly take a hammer and tap it more round to get it off my finger. I always took my ring off after that, but for the past four years I have worn silicone rings. They are so much more comfortable than my real gold band that I wear a gold silicone ring when I dress up and most people never even notice.
My brother worked in housing and steel construction for a long time. His wedding band was one of the titanium or carbide rings, and it was deformed slightly when some idiot lowered a prefab house section on his hand. I think if he had been married and in those trades today, he'd stick with that or the newer silicone ring.
Tbh they probably just don't say anything even if they do notice. I don't disagree with anything you said, but when I'm going through the trouble of formal attire, I'm probably gonna wear my fancy ring, no matter how uncomfortable, just like my partner is probably going to go through the trouble of wearing nice earrings and a necklace, heels, etc. I'm not too worried about any traumatic injuries from a formal attire event.
We had this poster in shop class that said “take off your jewelry…or the machine will do it for you.” It included a picture of a finger with a ring ripped half through it.
In 1996 I was a painter, I was almost at the top of a 40 foot ladder and it started to go over to the right. I was doing the "Fireman Slide" maneuver ( grab both sides and slide down quickly ) and my wedding ring snagged on something and broke my finger. I had only slid down about 8 feet when it happened. If it had happened further down the ladder It would have most likely ripped my finger OFF. I ended up falling after my finger broke. I NEVER wear a ring at work anymore.
@@dudeonbike800 Oh it did. I cheated, she cheated and then divorced. Turns out that people in their 20s don't know enough about life to live it properly. I waited another 20 years before attempting it again. This time I knew the woman for 6 years BEFORE we even dated. After a couple more years we married and have been HAPPILY MARRIED for over 15 years now. But I still don't wear a ring at work.
Wow. I'd never really thought about taking my wedding ring off while I was working in my shop. I've never caught my ring on anything. I've never hurt myself on my table saw, either. Even so, I still bought a SawStop saw. So, removing my ring while I'm working in my shop just makes sense, and I'm going to start doing that. I appreciate your commitment to shop safety, James. I've learned a ton from your channel, not only on safety, but on wood working in general. What you do here is invaluable.
Great video about an important subject. I worked in the electrical field for 50 years and kept my wedding band on my key ring. Also, I knew a semi-truck driver who was jumping down from his cab, caught his wedding ring on the door latch and ripped his finger completely off. He had just stopped to re-fuel, but ended up in the emergency room. Thx.
Sounds similar to a story I heard about a woman who was walking on an icy sidewalk, and when she slipped, she got her ring snagged on the top of the ornamental fence and unplugged her finger along with tendons. Eww and owww!
used to have an apprentice on the job named nips. we had a no jewlery rule on the job, but he didnt think his nipple rings counted cause they where under his shirt. ripped one off when he was lowering his genie lift and a piece of greenfield had the cut end catch on it and take the ring and a couple inches of skin.
Hi, as a young Para I was posted to the Persian Gulf in the early 60’s. Our platoon officer took us to some rock formations in Bahrain to practice our cliff climbing and rappelling techniques. One of my soldiers slipped ( no ropes on climbing up) and caught his ring on a ledge and lost his finger. From that day to this I have not worn my wedding ring, in my profession you get only one warning if you are lucky. I am a quick learner so I survived 20 years of soldiering. Cheers mate. Harera
I haven’t worn a wedding ring for years, but I decided to wear one and because of a fear of injury. I went with a silicone one and I’m so happy that you are bringing this to everybody’s attention. Thank you.
In the Air Force mechanics are required to remove all jewelry - rings, studs, necklaces, etc. They did show us some gruesome fotos of some accidents - separated fingers, huge gashes, etc. And this was over 50 years ago.
@@ellinganderson5434 We have the same picture and probably same presentation in the AF. Got tired of throwing my ring in the toolbox, each time, and once they went to Consolidated Tool Kit (Shadow boxed tools for inventory), if they saw a ring in the box it was flagged as FOD. So left it home, and haven't worn one to this day, 50 years later. My wife knows where my heart is, so we are good. 🙂
I was thinking that you had another hand injury, glad to hear that was not the case. Also, I can't believe it was in 2019, does not seem that long ago.
Factory worker: I trained people at the last factory and the number of people who are convinced they're the exception... So I GRAPHICALLY describe a what desleeving looks, and feels like.
watched a video of a guy getting pulled in and wrapped around the spindle of a lathe.... Now I can't get "As a machinist, YOU are the squishiest thing in the building" out of my head.
I started talking my ring off when doing repairs to my ranch fencing after it got caught on the barb wire. No major injuries, but it was painful enough to get me to take my ring off.
Smart, smart advice! As always, great safety tips. My dad lost the tip of his finger to a snow blower many decades ago because of his wedding ring. He never wore any kind of jewelry while working again.
I switched to a silicone ring about 5 years ago for the very reasons you outline. I was usually diligent about removing my ring when working around machines or electricity...but not always. I was fortunate that I never suffered a serious injury through the years. Thank you for the reminder and the heads up to all the viewers that will benefit from your experience.
One of the only woodworking youtubers who has something to say, rather than making sponsored “buy this tool” lists and pouring plastic epoxy into slabs. From choice of subject matter and even your sponsors it’s evident that you care about your viewers and the companies you choose to work with.
I remember my goddaughter got her ring really stuck and she cried. Her mother took her hospital then finally took it off. Your workshop is so amazing and very organized. My grandfather was workshop and it was kinda not bad. lol his workshop was very good worker. Everyone loves him. His last made the jewelry box before he died. I still have it and love it. 🥰 Thank you for sharing about the ring issues. 😉👍🏻
I wear a silicone ring daily. I wear my actual wedding ring when we go out. My wife was not happy at first, and it took some lengthy explanation for her to understand the actual safety issues. I got her one to wear as well for when working outside.
You go, bro. Jewelry is for "going out" not working or at home. No one to impress, there. Remind her to stick to silicon in the kitchen, too. The difference between a deli slicer and a circular saw is miniscule, not to mention that electric knives =are= wild saws.
Dont need a Silicon Ring , even with that you can get bad insured. Just wear NO Ring. I really don’t understand the Problem not to wear a Ring. Maybe some People dont like their Fingers hmmmm .
Ex wife used to get really angry that I'd take my wedding band off every day at work. Same thing, I had to explain to her the dangers of wearing jewelry on a construction site.
@@bluediabolo1 i still remember when i was young my dad got a job at a factory. first day he came home without his ring on as he forgot to put it back on after work. can still see the dent on the door where the meat tenderizing hammer hit when he ducked. he quit that job and got a job at a car dealership. there was no way my mom was going to let my dad not wear his wedding ring. they ended up divorcing a few years later when mom caught him cheating on her for the 4th time.
I learned about wearing jewelry in Air Force basic electronics class at Kessler AFB in 1974. Not just rings but any on your hands and arms. Also loose clothing. If you've ever seen a gold ring melted into a finger you won't soon forget it. Keep up the good work Stubby!
Thanks! Convincing my wife this was a "real' problem was difficult. She eventually just put mine away for safe keeping since I wouldn't wear it. After 38 years, we renewed out vows and I now wear a silicone ring.
I switched to a silicone ring a long time ago because I do a lot of work with my hands. Even now I will remove it if I’m doing more than a quick little thing..
I remember when I was about 8 years old, my dad worked as an aircraft engineer for Ansett Airlines in Australia. One weekend he took me in to his work for a look around the hangers etc. The one thing I remember clearly from that visit nearly 50 years ago, were all the posters around the various workshops that read "TAKE OFF YOUR RING, NOT YOUR FINGER" (and the nice gruesome photo on the posters) 😂
Great advice. Back when I worked in the semiconductor industry we had a rule about metal jewelry including watches and rings due to high electrical potential in the area. One day a corporate guy came in for a tour and didn't follow the rule. A high voltage arc (looked like lighning) jumped into his ring and out his shoulder! I haven't worn a ring in 30 years...
As an ER doctor who performed LOTS of hand surgery, I wish everyone understood the various reasons to not wear rings. Being an ER doc gave me a ringside seat into seeing how others get in trouble. ERs could teach many lessons and prevent many problems. Learning is best when vicarious, not personally acquired through The School of Hard Knocks.
I had a good friend in the Navy that was an electronics tech as was I. He got a screwdriver in the wrong place and welded the screwdriver to his wedding ring. Taught me a lot that day. I don’t wear my ring when I do any hand work.
@@jamessholts3635 No, I also think he refers to the diameter of the ring. I'm no expert but to have sizes (much like shoes and clothes) makes perfect sense to me. Why would the width matter apart from visual impact?
I used to work with a guy who apparently shorted his gold wedding band across the terminals on a some sort of large battery while working on a vehicle. He said the ring basically liquified and melted through his finger (down to the bone on one side). He had an impressive scar almost all the way around that finger. I do occasionally swap mine for one of those silicone bands. Might have to look at some of those new patterned ones.
My friend did exactly the same, he was working with a spanner and it accidentally touched the battery. The ring instantly turned red hot. Fortunately he recovered and there was no lasting damage.
I used to want a tungsten ring. Since I learned about how they're not easily cut, I've since decided I'd only get a soft metal. Love the way they look, but it's not worth the risk.
I had to take off my wedding ring when I worked at a rubber extrusion plant. It kept catching on frayed ends of overused trays etc. I took it off and attached it to my necklace (corrected from previous post using neckless).
I always take off my wedding ring & leave it in a particular place in the house. That way, I'm into woodworking mode & when I've cleaned up after I'm done and put ring back on, I'm done messing around with tools . Same with my dad's WWII dog tag. 70 yrs. old with all my digits (close call a couple of times though🤔. Great advice.
This cautionary tale resonates with me, I work in a bank now and my clients are always asking about my finger tattoo of a ring on my ring finger, I have to explain to them that I worked in a workshop and I was scared of losing a finger because I wore a ring. They are amazed at my commitment to getting a tattoo as a ring but silicon rings were not a thing years ago.
I love my wife with all my heart but I’ve never worn jewelry. In 22 years with her I’ve worn the ring 5-6 times on special occasions. After this video; my stance is solidified.
I have a stainless steel wedding band I made myself. I wear it most of the time... But not while crafting. I always take it off to protect the ring. The protection for me is a bonus. :-) I believe "no rings" is a requirement at my makers space, too.
44 years as an electrician. I have snagged my ring on ladder rivets, or a screw head, and thought about how easily it could have done major damage had I lost my balance and snagged my ring on the way down
James, I was a software developer... And I don't know about others, but I could never use a ring, because it would bump into my own fingers all the time! But yeah, for working with machinery... It's definitely not good. Either way, I have some flight controller boxes which are perfect for keeping a ring when needed. I gave one to my father and he uses it exactly for that. Anyway, stay safe there with your family! 🖖😊
The sheer number of stories on the comments here about incidents of either first person, spouse or close friend is absolutely incredible. I've always known the rules and why around machinery and electrical work but it's just amazing how often this actually happens.
FYI tungsten rings while incredibly hard i.e. difficult to scratch without corundum or diamond, they are very brittle. So to break off a tungsten ring you just get any pair of pliers handy and clamp down on opposites sides of the circle, then turn 90 degrees and clamp again. Breaks everytime. Easier to remove than gold or silver rings. That said, I wear silicone rings for work.
They aren't always pure tungsten, thickness varies and you can't always get agrip through the swelling. But its worth trying if you are in that situation.
I work on a cattle ranch, and pretty much everyone I know in the industry does not wear rings (or any other jewelry) due to entanglement risks. And everyone knows someone who lost a finger due to wearing a ring. Evidently, there is an argument *for* the tungsten rings, which is that they are brittle, and can easily be broken off in a swelling/entrapment situation. Most of the negative reviews on Amazon for tungsten rings is people breaking them by hitting their hand on a door or table or something.
_Some_ of the _cheap_ ones are brittle (because they're poorly made). Many of them (even many of the cheap ones) are not at all, though, and you'd be hard pressed to break them without seriously damaging your finger (more) in the process, if you could manage it at all. (and you won't know which kind yours is until it's too late and it doesn't break like you expected it would...)
As a shop teacher, I made a scarf cut right through my band and two other radial cuts a third of the way through from the inside, 120 degrees apart. That way, if it snagged on an object, the ring would rip off without taking the finger with it.
My dad was a dentist, actually made his and my mother's wedding bands from scrap dental gold lol....he never wore his, or I guess rarely. Also being a woodworker and overall tool guy, he didn't wear it specifically because of the risk around tools. Myself, I wear mine but I have often thought of changing to a rubberized ring like a lot of other folks I know just to not catch it on stuff seeing how I am around those moving machines so often.
My uncle nearly had his finger ripper off when he was working in a shop and his ring got stuck on something.. He was badly injured, but got to keep his finger. This was back in the 80's so he was very lucky.
@@loistverberg900 better a broken finger than one that has to be amputated. A broken finger mends in a few months with minimal PT after fir to regain full use, a finger reattachment has a relatively low success rate and even when successful it has an even lower success rate for full motor control restored after PT.
I don't even do woodworking but I love watching your vids because you are very thorough with your explanations and your very safety conscious. Thank you.
Same here! I think the closest I've gotten to woodworking in the last two decades is carving fake wood grain into pine and balsa for tabletop gaming terrain.
When I did EMT training over a decade ago, we had to learn to use ring cutters to address finger injuries. My instructor always harped on and on about how horribly dangerous titanium or other very hard metal rings are because they cannot be cut by ring cutters the same way softer metals like gold and silver can be. We were told those rings had to be surgically removed, and were far more likely to result in amputation.
I always wear Groove Ring, which have those grooves on the bottom. They're silicone or something and expand and won't catch or deglove since they just tear off. Probably will be one of the best $30 I ever spent. The design I got looks pretty similar to my tungsten ring so nobody ever notices. It's great and way more comfortable. I find myself wearing that version 95% of the time now. I only put on my real wedding ring if we're going somewhere fancy and dressing to the nines.
I've had a silicone ring for years. I love it. It's super comfortable to wear and there is no risk at all. I have replaced it once when it got torn and was just a couple bucks. Mine doesn't have the channels, but is thin and just as narrow as a normal sized ring and I've never had issues with moisture. I pretty much never take it off. The thicker rings I think have more issues and need the channels.
Many many years ago, i was in 2RTR ( UK Tank regiment) you were allowed to wear rings, up until someone else in a different reg degloved his ring finger....He was loading the main gun, rested his hand on the breech as the gunner fired, breech recoiled, took his ring and flesh with it. From then on, no rings allowed.
It is not just rings that need to be removed. I am an electrical engineer with 50 years experience. Almost 40 years ago I was doing a simple repair on a dishwasher (installed by someone else years before) at a property I owned. I was trying to stop a small leak where the city water connected to the input valve assembly. This connection was on the front right side of the unit. The AC power connection was on the far left front. A steel rail ran between the two. I was using two wrenches to counter tighten the copper pipe to the valve, when one wrench came loose and my left hand suddenly jerked left. I was wearing a watch with a twist-o-flex band which caught on the metal rail and guided my left hand into the hot electrical connector almost 20 inches away. Fortunately the watch took most of the damage and i was left with only moderate second degree burns. If i had not been wearing the watch, my hand would have been pulled almost straight out when the crescent wrench popped loose. Why did i have power on you ask? Because the place was poorly wired by the builder, and killing the dishwasher breaker also killed every light in the room and it was night-time when i found the leak, and had no flashlight trying to do the energency repair. There were also no GFI breakers in that building at that time.
I usually work remote from home now. But when I work in the field I do a lot with tractor trailers, forklifts and large freight. My wife bought me silicone bands for when I'm out working because she's known men who had severe injuries.
I just celebrated 19 years of marriage. When we looked for rings I went to a local jeweler & asked about titanium. He asked why, and I told him what kind of work I did. He refused to sell me a titanium ring. He said his wife was an ER nurse & there wasn’t a hospital in the county that could cut that ring off if I got injured. …. I’ve never owned a titanium ring.
LOL that is such BS. Any standard saw/cutter being used to cut rings will work. I've seen tungsten carbide rings get cut off in emergencies. I'm certain a titanium ring will (especially since the alloy used in retail rings are softer than commercial alloys).
i'm certain they can cut the ring off. if they have to run down to harbor freight they can get something that can do it. whether they have the tool on hand to do it quickly is a different story
@@johnpaullogan1365 just what do you think you can buy at Harbor Freight that can cut through titanium?! Not to mention, do it safely without damaging your finger.
Machinist here, you are getting titanium confused with adimantium, the imaginary metal that wolverine has on his skeleton, lol. Titanium is strong, but it's not very hard. Hardness is what makes something hard to cut.
My Uncle lost his entire ring finger when his wedding ring caught on the top of a chain link fence he was jumping over when his keys accidentally got locked behind the gate at work. Be safe, don't wear a ring, don't get married
Degloving is a constant threat to any male wearing any ring. My Dad's male patients suffered many ring finger degloving incidents from wedding rings, and doing some fairly innocuous things, too! The "degloving" injury is as horrific as it sounds, and recovery is lengthy, and nerves sometimes do not regrow correctly. And this is the reason I won't wear my own wedding ring unless it's a special occasion. My wife is a nurse, and she doesn't wear her ring, either. :)
Are women somehow biologically immune to degloving? I wasn't aware of that... (There are lots of people who are female and do exactly the same sorts of work with their hands that "males" do, you know.)
took a small chunk out of my gold wedding ring a few months after I got married. It caught on a stand on my way down. Took it off and haven't wore one in the 57 years since. Wife wasn't happy when I came home not wearing it but when I showed her the missing piece she was ok with it.
Close call, thankfully soft metal. At least you had a nice example for her. Socially they are useful and that is where women generally think. Having an anecdote is useful for her to explain to her friends 'why she doesn't want you wearing one'
A couple years after getting married my dad had his ring get hung in/on a cattle trailer door. It bent the ring, broke his finger, and had to be cut off. In the following 40+ years of marriage he never wore another ring of any kind.
I don't mean to sound judmental or anything but how did you _not_ know why people don't wear rings/watches/piercings/etc while at work? Is the US's safety regs that far behind? Did your previous workplaces not notify you? I just don't understand how this info gets lost. I fear that some people are going to ignore a bunch of items blocking a fire exit or use frayed Kevlar slings.
Maybe only behind where they are, or they never paid attention to their safety training. We got taught to not wear jewelry or loose clothes and wear long hair up in a bun or net, etc when working around these things in my college automotive class that you have to take before any others, my high school automotive and welding classes, and my middle school woodworking class.
I considered getting a tungsten or titanium wedding ring, but a jeweler friend told me to go with gold because it's easier to cut off in an emergency. Turns out that was good advice. Also I will be taking it off when working in the shop from now on. Thank you for the warning!
I had my left middle de-gloved in my early 20's. I was wearing gloves and it involved a rope. So I don't wear rings, jewelry, loose clothing etc when using my power tools, shop tools, working on equipment.
My father got his finger caught in a door when I was young, he was wearing his wedding ring at the time. He was extremely lucky to not lose his finger. Nasty injury. I'll never forget the scream he made when it happened.
In high school a girl was hoping the chainlink fence to get to the track before the coaches could open it. Her ring caught the fence, and her finger popped off. The medics were like “this is more common than you’d think.” I’ve been nervous about rings ever since.
My wife and I have been wearing silicone rings for years. We try to travel a lot, we go hiking a lot and just go out and about in the world often enough that we figured the risk of losing one of our more valuable wedding rings (her ring is valuable anyway. haha) was too high. We just have a handful of these rings, and we go from there. Like you, we still wear our "proper" rings when we are doing something a little more formal like a date night. When we were looking around for my ring, I was taking this kind of stuff into account as well, I ended up getting a ring made of wood. Since woodworking and playing guitar are my two passions, I got a wood ring made out of the same woods as my guitars. A wood ring isn't for everyone, but I am able to actually break my ring off with my bare hand if an emergency like this would arise, and that's gives me a bit more piece of mind.
Thank you stranger, I don't think I ever came close to an accident like this, but who knows, I might have and never thought anything of it. Regardless of the past, you defenitely taught me something today and perhaps you might even have spared me of a gruesome incident in a distant future that will now, hopefully, not happen.
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Actually just search 'string ring removal trick'. That will turn up tons of videos.
There is a 'stuck ring removal' tip from one of those youtube tips videos that everyone should know. Get some dental floss or good string, and put the end through under the ring, with the main floss out towards your finger tip. Then wrap it in a close wrap spiral around your finger, going out toward the tip. Once you have it as far as you need, then pull that other end, and the spiral going under the ring will screw the ring forward while drawing the skin down under the ring as you pull on the string.
Cheap and easy, and doesn't destroy the ring.
I've only tried it a few times here and there, and it seemed to work well. Swelling is mostly water, so it will probably still work even when your finger is very swollen, but there might be a limit. At any rate only takes a minute or two to try.
'Remove ring with string' in a search of course will turn up tons of videos etc.
Just one of those things that is simple and handy to have in mind once you've seen it.
I use groove ring. It has a lifetime warranty and is replaced for free if it breaks or if you loose it. No questions asked
I'm a hand surgeon, and I have dealt with all of the injuries you mentioned here (and have spent sometimes more than an hour getting those titanium rings off...) Thanks for spreading the message!
I started wearing silicone rings back almost 10 years ago while I was a volunteer firefighter/EMT and read stories about how hard it could be to get titanium and carbon steel rings cut off of people. I, too, had a titanium wedding ring at that point - I now keep it on my keychain.
A silicone ring can still pull your hand into something, you simply dont need a ring of any kind when working with hand removing tools. Your workpiec gets pulled into the saw, the workpiece snags your silicone ring and now your hand is in the blade too. Your wife would rather you keep your hands and be able to work, she will understand why you dont wear a ring at work.
No ring, no watch, no loose sleeves, no neck tie (I'm a mechanical guy too). Thanks for taking time to tell people these things.
Add no necklace, no ear rings … just don’t wear jewelry at all. Or long hair for that matter. I had a friend that got partially scalped by a drill press grabbing ahold of his hair.
@@randyl2550 Long beards too! I saw video where someone get their beard ripped off when they foolishly reached over a running lathe.
The hairnets and beard nets they use in food service may make you look or feel a little silly, but the look beats the injury, hands down.
this is the best plan and safety is always written in blood
Absolutely 👍
Exactly and you don't have to be a professional or have a hectic accident to realize that. I have always removed everything that might hurt me before working in a shop.
Every shop teacher back in Highschool told us to take off rings and watches before using tools. This was back in the late 1960's
SAME ABOUT 12 YRS OLD 1980
Same here....and I still have all my fingers and 2 thumbs.... (don't forget those!) 😊
I got one tattooed on because I was rock climbing, bmxing etc lots. Divorced 10 years later :/
I got yelled at by my community college machining teacher. Remember it well today!
They still do
My father never wore a ring. He was a jet engine mechanic in the Air Force. He said he saw too many airmen rip their fingers off while working on an engine. Your commentary is spot on.
Same here, I was also an Air Force engineer.
In the USAF I saw a guy jump off a truck, caught his ring, and ripped his finger right off. We all heard his ring bouncing off the pavement and then the yelling. I never wore a ring again after that.
F-16 Avionics myself 2005-2010. I don't wear rings at work at all.
@@bubbaoriley7864he got chicken finger
Dad had their engineer slip going down the stairs and deglove his ring finger when it caught, never wore a ring after that
I've known people who've seen degloving happen and when I explained it to my wife she immediately bought me a silicone wedding ring. It's in Stihl colours so I actually kinda like it!
Stihl 💯💯💯
Good ol' orange and black 👌🏻
She's a keeper! Cares more about your safety than anything else
Wow, she really wants you to wear a ring, eh? I understand. I just let my husband not wear his ring at work. He wears it when he is not at work. He’s a floor layer, he does floor preparation, grinding, floor boards, engineered boards, etc, and it’s just not worth him losing a finger. I didn’t even know you could get silicone wedding rings! Well done, Mrs……boiled elephant. 👍🏽
Showed this video to my husband. We had never thought about that before. He works with tools all day. Thank you so much!
My husband had a friend who was wearing a ring when the two of them jumped a wrought iron fence. The friends ring caught on one of the metal spikes and his finger is ripped off. Years later, after my husband became a mechanic, he always refused to wear a ring at work. I am so glad he did.
Duh
The same happened to my dad jumping from his truck's trailer when he was in his 20s. Still, at the age of 50, he has phantom pains.
Similar to me. I worked on barges and I jumped down in to the hold. Unfortunately my ring caught on a piece of damaged steel near the deck. I was lucky that my gold ring cut through because of the sharp steel and left my finger intact. Still caused a lot of damage and I have never worn a ring since that day (50 years).
@@KiemPlant thanks for sharing!
@@rogerwilson6367 thanks so much for the story!
As a kid in 1991 I was using a power drill while wearing headphones. That drill caught the headphone wire, tore them off my head and slammed them into my no-no place faster than you could blink. I was singing soprano for a week! Needless to say, that was a great lesson about clothing and accoutrements.
Even just raking leaves I would feed the headphone wire through the back of my shirt down to the Walkman (yeah, I'm old) to avoid having them yanked off by the rake handle.
My sister was making a cake when she was about 14. Her hair caught the beaters and it pulled her head into the mixer so fast and hard it pulled a patch of her scalp off. No cake for us that night!
I have long hair and it was loose while I was using an electric drill. The hair got caught in the air intake and wound up in the electric motor. Fortunately it was long enough that all it did was irreparably tangle the motor and singe that lock of hair a bit. But it was an eye opener - I never wear it loose in the shop anymore.
@@cavalieroutdoors6036 A Yale student was killed in 2011 when her hair was caught in a lathe and pulled her in with her neck against the project and asphyxiated her.
@@jeffpicken5057Omg... what a terrible way to go. I'm assuming nobody was nearby. I'd rather it just break my neck and get it over with than have to sit there realizing what was about to happen.
How anyone can hear the phrase "degloved finger" and not put their ring away in the shop is beyond me.
I'm thinking of taking it off permanently after hearing that. :D
I've seen it happen twice in my life. First time I was a young boy and my buddies brother accidentally caught it on a piece of overhead railing. I never saw the injury but they had his had wrapped up like they had to reattach an amputation. Huge bandage with a sling.
Second time was at work and one of the guys setting up machines in the production shop. He caught the ring on a spinning drill chuck. It tore his finger up pretty bad.
I often give these utubers working in their shop with rings and watches on, I'll give them a piece of my mind because they shouldn't be so careless.
I used to when I was younger and being dumb. I knew better, but I guess it just didn't really sink in until a buddy that I worked with told me to stop being an idiot, and described in vivid detail how he saw a former co-worker get degloved on a lathe, and how they had to dig his finger out of the chip pile. He said the paramedic washed it off with saline and rolled it up, then unrolled it onto the bone like a condom cover with super glue.
Wait till you hear the phrase "degloved penis".....
The Moment you educate yourself on degloving, its over. Its also something that can Happen while climbing.
I caught my wedding ring on a staircase bannister as I was running down them. Feet went up over my head as I stopped dead. I was lucky, the ring only cut into my finger, the medic I saw said I was very lucky to have gotten away without degloving. The ring was stainless steel and had to be cut off by a jeweller some days later because of the swelling.
I hope that your video gets to and helps as many people as possible, thanks for making it
My wife and I switched over to matching silicone wedding rings. It's cheap, comfortable, and the fact that they're identical is pretty nice.
They perfectly reflect your marriage I guess?
They would perfectly reflect yours@@miskatonic6210
@@miskatonic6210 More a reflection of youir brain substance I guess.
@@miskatonic6210 What does that even mean?
@@ranielvincecabarrubias6118 It means the person who said it is bitter.
I too learned this lesson the hard way. My ring turned sideways inside my finger. I am still in awe of the surgeon's skill that put my finger back together. It is still on my hand and it still works. If you work in the trades, go get a silicone ring right now.
This should be highlighted, another horrid injury along with them crushing and staying.
Same reason my dad an IE wore a clip on tie to work everyday as the workplace had a dress code.
Just don’t wear a ring 🤯
just wear a ring which can be clipped apart
@@Appleleafy yeah but idk what the point is of getting a silicone or other crappy ring just for your manual labour job it’s not like you are using it or admiring it. Just leave your wedding/engagement or other decorative jewelry at home it’s literally that simple lmao
My grandfather was an automotive mechanic. Once a screwdriver touched the cars battery and his wedding ring which went red hot instantly. Seared his flesh and hospital had to cut the ring to save his finger. Love your advice!
That's exactly what happened to my grandfather and he never wore one after that.
Decades ago while working for one of the "Big-Three" automakers on the press lines we were strongly encouraged to leave ALL jewelry at home. The only thing jewelry leads to in industrial and commercial settings is added injury and heartache.
Great video Stumpy!
Ironically I had my ring hang on a lip of steel from a press while working for one of the 'now' big three. (they weren't back decades ago) I haven't worn one since.
I always leave my nipple rings at home 😂
Taking off my ring and ordering silicon rings right now. Thanks, love your content.
I didn't know, that it is such a big issue. But after reading through comments, I see that people are really confirming your point. And crazy thing is that thus time nearly no one disagrees, which is unheard of in the online world!
because women and they them arent there to give asparagus pisces comments so we know how moon feels and 2ndly they cant handle man work so they wont even click
I disagree.
I couldn’t resist hehehe.
Don't be naughty, Hans!@@hansmemling2311
My woodworking teacher, back when schools still offered shop classes, showed us all graphic pictures of injuries like deglovings to scare us into following the safety procedures. Lots of traumatized teenagers after that, but everyone then took it seriously. Funny to think back on, how times have changed.
😊As an electrical apprentice, many years ago, we would be sent home without pay if we were found wearing any jewellery. Since then, I've never worn any form of jewellery. A friend lost his finger, tightening a car battery terminal. The wrench was touching his wedding ring, and the ring touched the negative chassis. It instantly vaporised as it became a 1000 plus amp fuse.
I did that once too. Gets hot REALLY fast! Haven't worn any rings since. Plus, they drive my autism crazy. Can't get used to the feeling.
My father-in-law burned his finger in a similar manner while changing a tractor battery.
@@adendronHhow would it be the same thing?
@@adendronH what do you mean I don't know, you're the one making the stupid claim
I looked it up and couldn't find anything. If that is a law then it's a dumb fucking law and you should look at watch the video. I don't think it is though and I'm going to need even a tiny bit of a source @@adendronH
I bought a silicone ring for my husband. He says it is super comfortable! I made sure to get him one with the channels. I've recommended silicone rings to many people, but they just don't listen!
I wear mine pretty much 100% of the time now. It's just too easy to forget to take it off for one of the million tasks that could really hurt you.
G'day I was inquiring as to the price of the ring you brought, rough $$$ is fine and where about did you get yours, as I've never heard ofvthat and I haven't replaced mine after I had it cut of due to finger being rather swollen than it could handle,
Thank you for your response as it is extremely helpful,
Cheers 🍻
Matt Maryborough
Queensland
Australia 🦜🦜🦜🦜🦜🦜🐨🐨🐨🐨🐨🐨🐨🦘🦘🦘🦘🦘🦘🦘🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺👋👋👋👋
I wear one. It takes about 2 days to get used to it. A three pack on Amazon is maybe 12 bucks and they each last a year or two
@@jerbear7952 awesome info,
Have an absolutely fantastic Long Easter weekend
Cheers 🍻 🍻🍻🍻🍻🍻🍻🦘🦘🦘🦘🦜🦜🦜🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺
I've had mine for over 2yrs. Its something that I've also used when boxing too. Nice to be able to keep it on no matter what I do, except bathing the dogs. I have only worn my proper ring a couple times for special events.
25 years ago my physics teacher was missing his ring finger. Said he caught his wedding ring on the top of his SUV while loading luggage and hopping down. Ill never forget that! Hope youre still with us and doing well mr.derf!
That’s exactly how my co worker lost his. Snagged the side mirror while hopping out of the truck.
I can hardly believe that a finger would pull off so easily.
Almost sounds like I could walk up to someone and pull their fingers off.
@@jesseerickson662Likely not.. if you're not a tradesman but it's a common mistake made when starting out in the trades. Obviously it can happen in day to day life but its far less common.
@D-proGram_Yousef
I've been a tradesman for thirty years and never seen such a thing, heard stories. Although I knew a guy who cut his finger off with a worm drive skill saw to collect the insurance money. He didn't get it the first time, it just ripped and mangled it, so he had to do it again. 😅
Happy you made a video about this. It's crazy the amount of injuries happen from wedding rings. It was a huge problem in the Military as well when I was in.
Switched to a silicone ring - after all things - catching my metal one on a door latch. Was jolly glad I learned the lesson with such (relatively) little pain.
Can you explain why you choose to wear an alternative ring instead of just not wearing one at all?
@@Jwellsuhhuh Of course 🙂. It’s purely a personal thing - it was my wedding ring/band, and I feel it is “honouring” (for lack of a better word) to my wife to wear my ring when out and about. I’d long taken my ring off (when I remembered) before doing DIY etc - but would routinely forget to put it back on (or forget where I left it). This particular incident too - as mentioned - involved of all things a door latch. I was just passing through! So I decided to keep my metal wedding ring securely at home (and for special occasions), and switch to a silicone one for 24/7 use.
I could make up some lame story about being constantly flocked by young women when they think I’m unmarried - but it’d be a complete lie. Funnier perhaps, but a complete lie
I find it super bizarre that men wear rubber rings.
@@testmcgee9230 It's certainly not my preference - as far as rings go. But I (for me) prefer it over both not wearing any wedding band ... and much more than risking a finger injury!
They are quite weird to get used to. I'm not sure, even after many years, it feels "not weird" :D
@@wallyhall thanks this is really interesting to hear as it seems like emphasis is placed on the comfort of simply “having a ring” vs enjoying the visual aspect of it. That and also avoiding getting flocked are reasonable justifications for the silicone.
Thanks for sharing this - I have /always/ been "religious" about safety in these ways - having sawed a finger up the middle about 1/4 in in high school drama workshop - back before i had forebrain function. Thankfully fully healed. If this saves someone even bit of injury, it's worth it. My dad worked for Illinois Bell, and their pocket notebooks had a series of safety tips that were always with me. " There is no job so important, no service so urgent that we cannot take time for perform our work safely" Yes - the face shield is across the shop - and I'm only going to ... actually, let's go get it ...
I crushed my gold band years ago while working on my car, but I was able to quickly take a hammer and tap it more round to get it off my finger. I always took my ring off after that, but for the past four years I have worn silicone rings. They are so much more comfortable than my real gold band that I wear a gold silicone ring when I dress up and most people never even notice.
My brother worked in housing and steel construction for a long time.
His wedding band was one of the titanium or carbide rings, and it was deformed slightly when some idiot lowered a prefab house section on his hand.
I think if he had been married and in those trades today, he'd stick with that or the newer silicone ring.
Tbh they probably just don't say anything even if they do notice. I don't disagree with anything you said, but when I'm going through the trouble of formal attire, I'm probably gonna wear my fancy ring, no matter how uncomfortable, just like my partner is probably going to go through the trouble of wearing nice earrings and a necklace, heels, etc.
I'm not too worried about any traumatic injuries from a formal attire event.
@@MonkeyJedi99 Who's the idiot, a guy lowering a prefab house section or the guy that puts his hand in it's way or under it?
Enso makes beautiful bands in metallic colors. If you’re looking for something that mimics the look of real metal, I think they are the best.
HVAC business owner got his tattooed. Very smart for a guy who is reaching into sharp metal boxes all day.
That was almost my choice but the silicone rings have worked perfect
Inked? Nope.
I'd far rather go through the pain of a tattoo than degloving 🤢
Yeah I would have never thought about this, thanks for the info! Will continue to take my jewelry off during any physical activity.
We had this poster in shop class that said “take off your jewelry…or the machine will do it for you.” It included a picture of a finger with a ring ripped half through it.
In 1996 I was a painter, I was almost at the top of a 40 foot ladder and it started to go over to the right. I was doing the "Fireman Slide" maneuver ( grab both sides and slide down quickly ) and my wedding ring snagged on something and broke my finger. I had only slid down about 8 feet when it happened. If it had happened further down the ladder It would have most likely ripped my finger OFF. I ended up falling after my finger broke. I NEVER wear a ring at work anymore.
I thought you were going to conclude, "So I got divorced."
That would have been funny.
@@dudeonbike800 Actually I DID divorce shortly after that.
@@c.blakerockhart1128 oh no! Well, dang. Hope it all worked out for the best then.
@@dudeonbike800 Oh it did. I cheated, she cheated and then divorced. Turns out that people in their 20s don't know enough about life to live it properly. I waited another 20 years before attempting it again. This time I knew the woman for 6 years BEFORE we even dated. After a couple more years we married and have been HAPPILY MARRIED for over 15 years now. But I still don't wear a ring at work.
@@dudeonbike800 In the current knowledge before he told you about the divorce and reasoning, what is so funny about having a divorce over a ring?
Wow. I'd never really thought about taking my wedding ring off while I was working in my shop. I've never caught my ring on anything. I've never hurt myself on my table saw, either. Even so, I still bought a SawStop saw. So, removing my ring while I'm working in my shop just makes sense, and I'm going to start doing that. I appreciate your commitment to shop safety, James. I've learned a ton from your channel, not only on safety, but on wood working in general. What you do here is invaluable.
Great video about an important subject. I worked in the electrical field for 50 years and kept my wedding band on my key ring. Also, I knew a semi-truck driver who was jumping down from his cab, caught his wedding ring on the door latch and ripped his finger completely off. He had just stopped to re-fuel, but ended up in the emergency room. Thx.
Sounds similar to a story I heard about a woman who was walking on an icy sidewalk, and when she slipped, she got her ring snagged on the top of the ornamental fence and unplugged her finger along with tendons. Eww and owww!
used to have an apprentice on the job named nips. we had a no jewlery rule on the job, but he didnt think his nipple rings counted cause they where under his shirt. ripped one off when he was lowering his genie lift and a piece of greenfield had the cut end catch on it and take the ring and a couple inches of skin.
@@sorejack Ouch! Dang!
@@sorejackThat's one way to cement, if not earn, a nickname! Ouch!
OMG! I'm so sorry you had to go through this difficult experience. Thank you for competently sharing this important message!
Hi, as a young Para I was posted to the Persian Gulf in the early 60’s. Our platoon officer took us to some rock formations in Bahrain to practice our cliff climbing and rappelling techniques. One of my soldiers slipped ( no ropes on climbing up) and caught his ring on a ledge and lost his finger. From that day to this I have not worn my wedding ring, in my profession you get only one warning if you are lucky. I am a quick learner so I survived 20 years of soldiering. Cheers mate. Harera
I haven’t worn a wedding ring for years, but I decided to wear one and because of a fear of injury. I went with a silicone one and I’m so happy that you are bringing this to everybody’s attention. Thank you.
In the Air Force mechanics are required to remove all jewelry - rings, studs, necklaces, etc. They did show us some gruesome fotos of some accidents - separated fingers, huge gashes, etc. And this was over 50 years ago.
Same for the Navy.
Same for the Army. The photo that had the biggest impact was a finger ripped off with the tendons from the hand still attached.
@@ellinganderson5434 We have the same picture and probably same presentation in the AF. Got tired of throwing my ring in the toolbox, each time, and once they went to Consolidated Tool Kit (Shadow boxed tools for inventory), if they saw a ring in the box it was flagged as FOD. So left it home, and haven't worn one to this day, 50 years later. My wife knows where my heart is, so we are good. 🙂
They still show them. Degloving ain't no joke.
I was thinking that you had another hand injury, glad to hear that was not the case. Also, I can't believe it was in 2019, does not seem that long ago.
Machinist here, just don't.
Seconded by a former mechanic.
@hankbarnard1553
Thirded by another (now retired) mechanic.
Factory worker: I trained people at the last factory and the number of people who are convinced they're the exception...
So I GRAPHICALLY describe a what desleeving looks, and feels like.
Machinist, too, retired and just don't either.
watched a video of a guy getting pulled in and wrapped around the spindle of a lathe.... Now I can't get "As a machinist, YOU are the squishiest thing in the building" out of my head.
I started talking my ring off when doing repairs to my ranch fencing after it got caught on the barb wire. No major injuries, but it was painful enough to get me to take my ring off.
Wow...I really like your workshop behind you...🤩👍
Smart, smart advice! As always, great safety tips. My dad lost the tip of his finger to a snow blower many decades ago because of his wedding ring. He never wore any kind of jewelry while working again.
I switched to a silicone ring about 5 years ago for the very reasons you outline. I was usually diligent about removing my ring when working around machines or electricity...but not always. I was fortunate that I never suffered a serious injury through the years. Thank you for the reminder and the heads up to all the viewers that will benefit from your experience.
I have watched your videos for years. This is yet another excellent safety video. Thank you for taking the time to make it.
One of the only woodworking youtubers who has something to say, rather than making sponsored “buy this tool” lists and pouring plastic epoxy into slabs. From choice of subject matter and even your sponsors it’s evident that you care about your viewers and the companies you choose to work with.
I remember my goddaughter got her ring really stuck and she cried. Her mother took her hospital then finally took it off. Your workshop is so amazing and very organized. My grandfather was workshop and it was kinda not bad. lol his workshop was very good worker. Everyone loves him. His last made the jewelry box before he died. I still have it and love it. 🥰 Thank you for sharing about the ring issues. 😉👍🏻
Thank you for your nice comment. I miss my grandfather too. :(
I wear a silicone ring daily.
I wear my actual wedding ring when we go out.
My wife was not happy at first, and it took some lengthy explanation for her to understand the actual safety issues.
I got her one to wear as well for when working outside.
You go, bro. Jewelry is for "going out" not working or at home. No one to impress, there. Remind her to stick to silicon in the kitchen, too. The difference between a deli slicer and a circular saw is miniscule, not to mention that electric knives =are= wild saws.
Dont need a Silicon Ring , even with that you can get bad insured. Just wear NO Ring. I really don’t understand the Problem not to wear a Ring. Maybe some People dont like their Fingers hmmmm .
Ex wife used to get really angry that I'd take my wedding band off every day at work. Same thing, I had to explain to her the dangers of wearing jewelry on a construction site.
Just show the better half a few degloving pics...
@@bluediabolo1 i still remember when i was young my dad got a job at a factory. first day he came home without his ring on as he forgot to put it back on after work. can still see the dent on the door where the meat tenderizing hammer hit when he ducked. he quit that job and got a job at a car dealership. there was no way my mom was going to let my dad not wear his wedding ring. they ended up divorcing a few years later when mom caught him cheating on her for the 4th time.
I learned about wearing jewelry in Air Force basic electronics class at Kessler AFB in 1974. Not just rings but any on your hands and arms. Also loose clothing. If you've ever seen a gold ring melted into a finger you won't soon forget it. Keep up the good work Stubby!
I was stationed at Keesler AFB in 1980 for Admin Tech School
I was stationed at Kessler AFB in 1980 for Admin Tech School.
@@mikeelder6298 in 1980 I was in the Army learning to fly helicopters at Ft Rucker Alabama.
Thanks! Convincing my wife this was a "real' problem was difficult. She eventually just put mine away for safe keeping since I wouldn't wear it. After 38 years, we renewed out vows and I now wear a silicone ring.
I switched to a silicone ring a long time ago because I do a lot of work with my hands. Even now I will remove it if I’m doing more than a quick little thing..
While working on machinery in the past the line was always to remove "watches, rings and dangly things." Thanks for another great video!
So....briefs, not boxers?
Remove them or some piece of machinery will remove them for you.
I remember when I was about 8 years old, my dad worked as an aircraft engineer for Ansett Airlines in Australia. One weekend he took me in to his work for a look around the hangers etc. The one thing I remember clearly from that visit nearly 50 years ago, were all the posters around the various workshops that read "TAKE OFF YOUR RING, NOT YOUR FINGER"
(and the nice gruesome photo on the posters) 😂
Was it the Canadian pic we always seen in the Navy?
Don't know, do you have a link to the pic? I couldn't find a pic online after a short google search
Great advice. Back when I worked in the semiconductor industry we had a rule about metal jewelry including watches and rings due to high electrical potential in the area. One day a corporate guy came in for a tour and didn't follow the rule. A high voltage arc (looked like lighning) jumped into his ring and out his shoulder! I haven't worn a ring in 30 years...
As an ER doctor who performed LOTS of hand surgery, I wish everyone understood the various reasons to not wear rings. Being an ER doc gave me a ringside seat into seeing how others get in trouble. ERs could teach many lessons and prevent many problems. Learning is best when vicarious, not personally acquired through The School of Hard Knocks.
Now hopefully this will not happen to me as a teacher but the silicone ring is actually a really awesome idea. Thank you!
I had a good friend in the Navy that was an electronics tech as was I. He got a screwdriver in the wrong place and welded the screwdriver to his wedding ring. Taught me a lot that day. I don’t wear my ring when I do any hand work.
FYI: You might wear a size 9 ring, but that's not a 9mm. Size 9 is actually 18.89mm, or about 3/4" Love your channel, keep up the good work!!
Only time I think my finger is 9mm, is when I've been munching mushrooms...😊
FYI: 9mm refers to the width of the ring not the size, smh
@@jamessholts3635
No, I also think he refers to the diameter of the ring.
I'm no expert but to have sizes (much like shoes and clothes) makes perfect sense to me.
Why would the width matter apart from visual impact?
No, size 9 is 59.38mm in circumference, as it shows on the screen at 6:01
@@Therapistinthewhitehouse ?? 19 mm diameter = 59 circumference
I used to work with a guy who apparently shorted his gold wedding band across the terminals on a some sort of large battery while working on a vehicle. He said the ring basically liquified and melted through his finger (down to the bone on one side). He had an impressive scar almost all the way around that finger. I do occasionally swap mine for one of those silicone bands. Might have to look at some of those new patterned ones.
My friend did exactly the same, he was working with a spanner and it accidentally touched the battery. The ring instantly turned red hot. Fortunately he recovered and there was no lasting damage.
My dad was an electrician. He always took off is gold conductor.
I used to want a tungsten ring. Since I learned about how they're not easily cut, I've since decided I'd only get a soft metal. Love the way they look, but it's not worth the risk.
I had to take off my wedding ring when I worked at a rubber extrusion plant. It kept catching on frayed ends of overused trays etc. I took it off and attached it to my necklace (corrected from previous post using neckless).
Necklace, a lace that is work around the neck. For anyone interested.
don't be rude to the guy with no neck
@@mandowarrior123 Actually it's *worn* around the neck. If you want to be pedantic, take the time to be _right._
I always take off my wedding ring & leave it in a particular place in the house. That way, I'm into woodworking mode & when I've cleaned up after I'm done and put ring back on, I'm done messing around with tools . Same with my dad's WWII dog tag. 70 yrs. old with all my digits (close call a couple of times though🤔. Great advice.
This cautionary tale resonates with me, I work in a bank now and my clients are always asking about my finger tattoo of a ring on my ring finger, I have to explain to them that I worked in a workshop and I was scared of losing a finger because I wore a ring. They are amazed at my commitment to getting a tattoo as a ring but silicon rings were not a thing years ago.
I love my wife with all my heart but I’ve never worn jewelry. In 22 years with her I’ve worn the ring 5-6 times on special occasions.
After this video; my stance is solidified.
Learned tungsten rings will crack and/or shatter using vise grip pilers, don't try to cut them. But definitely safe to remove for work first.
I have a stainless steel wedding band I made myself. I wear it most of the time... But not while crafting. I always take it off to protect the ring. The protection for me is a bonus. :-)
I believe "no rings" is a requirement at my makers space, too.
44 years as an electrician. I have snagged my ring on ladder rivets, or a screw head, and thought about how easily it could have done major damage had I lost my balance and snagged my ring on the way down
@1sparkbuster
I know a guy that lost his finger in a falling accident. Empty elevator shaft, reached out to grab for anything and the ring snagged.
James, I was a software developer... And I don't know about others, but I could never use a ring, because it would bump into my own fingers all the time!
But yeah, for working with machinery... It's definitely not good.
Either way, I have some flight controller boxes which are perfect for keeping a ring when needed. I gave one to my father and he uses it exactly for that.
Anyway, stay safe there with your family! 🖖😊
Thanks for the video. I have been procrastinating getting a silicon ring but you prodded me to action.
And thanks for the links.
The sheer number of stories on the comments here about incidents of either first person, spouse or close friend is absolutely incredible. I've always known the rules and why around machinery and electrical work but it's just amazing how often this actually happens.
FYI tungsten rings while incredibly hard i.e. difficult to scratch without corundum or diamond, they are very brittle. So to break off a tungsten ring you just get any pair of pliers handy and clamp down on opposites sides of the circle, then turn 90 degrees and clamp again. Breaks everytime. Easier to remove than gold or silver rings.
That said, I wear silicone rings for work.
They aren't always pure tungsten, thickness varies and you can't always get agrip through the swelling. But its worth trying if you are in that situation.
@@mandowarrior123 very true. Tungsten with inlays do change it up and swelling can be extreme, best to avoid all together
Good luck when the ring is 10% non refractory metal lol
I work on a cattle ranch, and pretty much everyone I know in the industry does not wear rings (or any other jewelry) due to entanglement risks. And everyone knows someone who lost a finger due to wearing a ring.
Evidently, there is an argument *for* the tungsten rings, which is that they are brittle, and can easily be broken off in a swelling/entrapment situation. Most of the negative reviews on Amazon for tungsten rings is people breaking them by hitting their hand on a door or table or something.
_Some_ of the _cheap_ ones are brittle (because they're poorly made). Many of them (even many of the cheap ones) are not at all, though, and you'd be hard pressed to break them without seriously damaging your finger (more) in the process, if you could manage it at all.
(and you won't know which kind yours is until it's too late and it doesn't break like you expected it would...)
They add nickel to the tungsten so it won’t break/shatter
@@JacksonDad1Nickel? In jewellery? That doesn't sound very smart?
@@lhplnickel is a pretty safe and stable metal.
Feel free to google it. Most common are nickel or cobalt when talking about tungsten carbide rings
As a shop teacher, I made a scarf cut right through my band and two other radial cuts a third of the way through from the inside, 120 degrees apart. That way, if it snagged on an object, the ring would rip off without taking the finger with it.
My dad was a dentist, actually made his and my mother's wedding bands from scrap dental gold lol....he never wore his, or I guess rarely. Also being a woodworker and overall tool guy, he didn't wear it specifically because of the risk around tools. Myself, I wear mine but I have often thought of changing to a rubberized ring like a lot of other folks I know just to not catch it on stuff seeing how I am around those moving machines so often.
My uncle nearly had his finger ripper off when he was working in a shop and his ring got stuck on something.. He was badly injured, but got to keep his finger. This was back in the 80's so he was very lucky.
I solve this problem by not being married.
thats smart... i should try that
A well thought out solution. 😅
Smart man
You’re my hero bro.👍
you don't have to be married to wear a ring, i'm not and i wear them
A tip for folks who get a tungsten carbide ring stuck, you can generally crack them with locking pliers.
I don't think I'd trust my finger to locking pliers that would come right down onto them after they had broken the ring.
@@loistverberg900 better a broken finger than one that has to be amputated. A broken finger mends in a few months with minimal PT after fir to regain full use, a finger reattachment has a relatively low success rate and even when successful it has an even lower success rate for full motor control restored after PT.
why are people intentionally wearing the toughest rings possible?
@@sossololpipi9633 Symbolism or some such nonsense
I don't even do woodworking but I love watching your vids because you are very thorough with your explanations and your very safety conscious. Thank you.
Same here!
I think the closest I've gotten to woodworking in the last two decades is carving fake wood grain into pine and balsa for tabletop gaming terrain.
When I did EMT training over a decade ago, we had to learn to use ring cutters to address finger injuries. My instructor always harped on and on about how horribly dangerous titanium or other very hard metal rings are because they cannot be cut by ring cutters the same way softer metals like gold and silver can be. We were told those rings had to be surgically removed, and were far more likely to result in amputation.
I always wear Groove Ring, which have those grooves on the bottom. They're silicone or something and expand and won't catch or deglove since they just tear off. Probably will be one of the best $30 I ever spent. The design I got looks pretty similar to my tungsten ring so nobody ever notices. It's great and way more comfortable. I find myself wearing that version 95% of the time now. I only put on my real wedding ring if we're going somewhere fancy and dressing to the nines.
I've had a silicone ring for years. I love it. It's super comfortable to wear and there is no risk at all. I have replaced it once when it got torn and was just a couple bucks. Mine doesn't have the channels, but is thin and just as narrow as a normal sized ring and I've never had issues with moisture. I pretty much never take it off. The thicker rings I think have more issues and need the channels.
Many many years ago, i was in 2RTR ( UK Tank regiment) you were allowed to wear rings, up until someone else in a different reg degloved his ring finger....He was loading the main gun, rested his hand on the breech as the gunner fired, breech recoiled, took his ring and flesh with it. From then on, no rings allowed.
It is not just rings that need to be removed.
I am an electrical engineer with 50 years experience. Almost 40 years ago I was doing a simple repair on a dishwasher (installed by someone else years before) at a property I owned. I was trying to stop a small leak where the city water connected to the input valve assembly. This connection was on the front right side of the unit. The AC power connection was on the far left front. A steel rail ran between the two.
I was using two wrenches to counter tighten the copper pipe to the valve, when one wrench came loose and my left hand suddenly jerked left. I was wearing a watch with a twist-o-flex band which caught on the metal rail and guided my left hand into the hot electrical connector almost 20 inches away.
Fortunately the watch took most of the damage and i was left with only moderate second degree burns.
If i had not been wearing the watch, my hand would have been pulled almost straight out when the crescent wrench popped loose.
Why did i have power on you ask? Because the place was poorly wired by the builder, and killing the dishwasher breaker also killed every light in the room and it was night-time when i found the leak, and had no flashlight trying to do the energency repair.
There were also no GFI breakers in that building at that time.
Hey! I just read an NPR article that quoted you on table saw safety.
I usually work remote from home now. But when I work in the field I do a lot with tractor trailers, forklifts and large freight. My wife bought me silicone bands for when I'm out working because she's known men who had severe injuries.
I just celebrated 19 years of marriage. When we looked for rings I went to a local jeweler & asked about titanium. He asked why, and I told him what kind of work I did. He refused to sell me a titanium ring. He said his wife was an ER nurse & there wasn’t a hospital in the county that could cut that ring off if I got injured. …. I’ve never owned a titanium ring.
LOL that is such BS. Any standard saw/cutter being used to cut rings will work. I've seen tungsten carbide rings get cut off in emergencies. I'm certain a titanium ring will (especially since the alloy used in retail rings are softer than commercial alloys).
@@xPRODIGYxGAMERin a specific county dumbass
i'm certain they can cut the ring off. if they have to run down to harbor freight they can get something that can do it. whether they have the tool on hand to do it quickly is a different story
@@johnpaullogan1365 just what do you think you can buy at Harbor Freight that can cut through titanium?! Not to mention, do it safely without damaging your finger.
Machinist here, you are getting titanium confused with adimantium, the imaginary metal that wolverine has on his skeleton, lol. Titanium is strong, but it's not very hard. Hardness is what makes something hard to cut.
My Uncle lost his entire ring finger when his wedding ring caught on the top of a chain link fence he was jumping over when his keys accidentally got locked behind the gate at work. Be safe, don't wear a ring, don't get married
Degloving is a constant threat to any male wearing any ring.
My Dad's male patients suffered many ring finger degloving incidents from wedding rings, and doing some fairly innocuous things, too!
The "degloving" injury is as horrific as it sounds, and recovery is lengthy, and nerves sometimes do not regrow correctly.
And this is the reason I won't wear my own wedding ring unless it's a special occasion.
My wife is a nurse, and she doesn't wear her ring, either. :)
Yep. Had many arguments with women who refused to understand. You'd be disgusted by the number who see the injury as proof of love.
Are women somehow biologically immune to degloving? I wasn't aware of that...
(There are lots of people who are female and do exactly the same sorts of work with their hands that "males" do, you know.)
I started in the machining field 30 yrs ago and have never worn any rings, watch, and always wear short sleeve work shirts
CNC machinist here. Get a silicone ring. Getting a size down is great advice. I had to do the same.
took a small chunk out of my gold wedding ring a few months after I got married. It caught on a stand on my way down. Took it off and haven't wore one in the 57 years since. Wife wasn't happy when I came home not wearing it but when I showed her the missing piece she was ok with it.
Close call, thankfully soft metal. At least you had a nice example for her. Socially they are useful and that is where women generally think. Having an anecdote is useful for her to explain to her friends 'why she doesn't want you wearing one'
A couple years after getting married my dad had his ring get hung in/on a cattle trailer door. It bent the ring, broke his finger, and had to be cut off.
In the following 40+ years of marriage he never wore another ring of any kind.
I don't mean to sound judmental or anything but how did you _not_ know why people don't wear rings/watches/piercings/etc while at work? Is the US's safety regs that far behind? Did your previous workplaces not notify you? I just don't understand how this info gets lost. I fear that some people are going to ignore a bunch of items blocking a fire exit or use frayed Kevlar slings.
Maybe only behind where they are, or they never paid attention to their safety training. We got taught to not wear jewelry or loose clothes and wear long hair up in a bun or net, etc when working around these things in my college automotive class that you have to take before any others, my high school automotive and welding classes, and my middle school woodworking class.
Its incredibly common. This is the first im hearing of it lol.
I considered getting a tungsten or titanium wedding ring, but a jeweler friend told me to go with gold because it's easier to cut off in an emergency. Turns out that was good advice. Also I will be taking it off when working in the shop from now on. Thank you for the warning!
I had my left middle de-gloved in my early 20's. I was wearing gloves and it involved a rope. So I don't wear rings, jewelry, loose clothing etc when using my power tools, shop tools, working on equipment.
I'm never getting married so I'll never have to worry about this. 😊
Moral of the story is don't get married so you don't have to wear a wedding ring.
Then living is the riskiest thing ever for those who are coming to such a conclusion.
Like all the married men in The Shining (1980). They don't wear rings.
cringe
My father got his finger caught in a door when I was young, he was wearing his wedding ring at the time. He was extremely lucky to not lose his finger. Nasty injury. I'll never forget the scream he made when it happened.
Did the ring save his finger? Or worsen the damage?
Thank you for the psa!
Yep, I only wear silicone rings. I’m an hvac technician so electricity, rotating machinery and ladders are encountered daily and I like my fingers.
I’m getting a gold ring and only going to wear it when I go out and when I’m lounging, never while working or exercising
In high school a girl was hoping the chainlink fence to get to the track before the coaches could open it. Her ring caught the fence, and her finger popped off.
The medics were like “this is more common than you’d think.”
I’ve been nervous about rings ever since.
Silicon Ring is a great "Placeholder" while at work and then for nice occasion's switch to the Original/Nice one.
My wife and I have been wearing silicone rings for years. We try to travel a lot, we go hiking a lot and just go out and about in the world often enough that we figured the risk of losing one of our more valuable wedding rings (her ring is valuable anyway. haha) was too high. We just have a handful of these rings, and we go from there. Like you, we still wear our "proper" rings when we are doing something a little more formal like a date night.
When we were looking around for my ring, I was taking this kind of stuff into account as well, I ended up getting a ring made of wood. Since woodworking and playing guitar are my two passions, I got a wood ring made out of the same woods as my guitars. A wood ring isn't for everyone, but I am able to actually break my ring off with my bare hand if an emergency like this would arise, and that's gives me a bit more piece of mind.
Thank you stranger, I don't think I ever came close to an accident like this, but who knows, I might have and never thought anything of it. Regardless of the past, you defenitely taught me something today and perhaps you might even have spared me of a gruesome incident in a distant future that will now, hopefully, not happen.