"JD" wrote in news:1172148786.587411.197920
@v45g2000cwv.googlegroups.com:

Well, it finally happened. I've read about "spectatcular" catches on
the lathe, but had yet to see one. That was until two evenings ago. I
had just near finished a beautiful 12" bowl of spalted maple and
decided to make one final finish pass on it before sanding. A few
seconds later, the gouge grabbed and the bowl basically exploded and
flew all over the shop. Spectacular? Maybe, disheartening, definitely.
I walked away without cleaning up my mess, disgusted.
This got me to wandering, what sayings do woodworkers use to overcome
or explain an unfortunate event such as this? As I walked to the house
I was thinking, "don't cry over spalted maple" or "don't count your
bowls before their turned". I know I've heard my grand dad say things
that only fellow workers of wood understood and I wandered if anyone
else out there had similar things to say.

JD



In my case, it's "Count your fingers. Again."

I had a walnut bowl do that to me. My left hand was in bandages for 6
weeks. There's still a scar where the scraper got the base of the
longest finger. Scared me spitless.

It was my fault. I got careless. Never had a flatwork accident of _any_
significance cost me blood in that quantity.

Back in the saddle again, wiser and more careful.

As to your bowl: It's just wood. Until it's done, it's just wood.
Don't count your chickens, etc.

Patriarch