4 ms·

Thank you for your insights. Going a little off topic here: The failure mode you described reminded me of the horrible accidents that sometimes happen while ma

by nom 10y ago

Thank you for your insights. Going a little off topic here: The failure mode you described reminded me of the horrible accidents that sometimes happen while maintaining high pressure oil systems in industrial machines. The smaller the hole, the worse the incident - human flesh and skin does not pair well with a thin, high pressure stream of fluid. I spare others the details, it's not pretty. Do you think that a 'personal waterjet' poses more dangers to the operator than machines like a band saw or drill press?

gregpilling 10y ago
Same danger. A personal water jet will cut your finger off just like a bandsaw. If it can cut metal, it can certainly cut YOU!
- nom 10y ago
  I tried to avoid painting a mental picture. I'm not talking about cutting here but rather the things that happen when fluid is injected under your skin and into your body. Amputation of extremities is not the worst case scenario :-/
Steel_Phoenix 10y ago
Well, when I see someone using a bandsaw, they're usually running a piece of wood through it with their hands near the blade. Cuts seem relatively likely, severity seems moderate. With a waterjet like the one I use, you would generally have a computer moving the nozzle and not even have a reason to be near the nozzle. It also sounds like a jet taking off. I seem to remember the water speed being something like mach 3 exiting the nozzle, but don't trust my math on that. Cutting is done under water most of the time, which muffles most of the sound and splashback. On the other hand, I carry a card that tells medical professionals how to treat me if I arrive with a waterjet injury. Waterjets don't work great on laminated materials, because when they hit a transition between materials, they tend to send their energy horizontally. This is also true if it goes through skin and hits bone. It basically shoots you up with water, air, and abrasive, which travels along or in your bones. I've never even come close to injuring myself with the nozzle, but it would absolutely be more scary than a bandsaw. The closest I've come to injury was one day when I felt an eerie sensation of wind on my skin. I grabbed a piece of paper and tracked it down to a 1/4" stainless water line. I backed away and ten seconds later it was a white cone of fog from a leak that was visible for about 15 feet without even feeling wet. The moral of the story is don't feel around for leaks.
- mveety 10y ago
  I heard stories about injuries you can get from high pressure leaks from hydraulics guys. By all accounts they absolutely horrifying. They would have their flesh detached from their bones and oil basically soaking into their flesh so that it becomes necrotic later on. Plus they're said not to hurt immediately, doesn't help with treatment. Makes me glad I don't work on hydraulics that's for sure.

by nom 10y ago

gregpilling 10y ago

Same danger. A personal water jet will cut your finger off just like a bandsaw. If it can cut metal, it can certainly cut YOU!

nom 10y ago
I tried to avoid painting a mental picture. I'm not talking about cutting here but rather the things that happen when fluid is injected under your skin and into your body. Amputation of extremities is not the worst case scenario :-/

Steel_Phoenix 10y ago

Well, when I see someone using a bandsaw, they're usually running a piece of wood through it with their hands near the blade. Cuts seem relatively likely, severity seems moderate. With a waterjet like the one I use, you would generally have a computer moving the nozzle and not even have a reason to be near the nozzle. It also sounds like a jet taking off. I seem to remember the water speed being something like mach 3 exiting the nozzle, but don't trust my math on that. Cutting is done under water most of the time, which muffles most of the sound and splashback. On the other hand, I carry a card that tells medical professionals how to treat me if I arrive with a waterjet injury. Waterjets don't work great on laminated materials, because when they hit a transition between materials, they tend to send their energy horizontally. This is also true if it goes through skin and hits bone. It basically shoots you up with water, air, and abrasive, which travels along or in your bones. I've never even come close to injuring myself with the nozzle, but it would absolutely be more scary than a bandsaw. The closest I've come to injury was one day when I felt an eerie sensation of wind on my skin. I grabbed a piece of paper and tracked it down to a 1/4" stainless water line. I backed away and ten seconds later it was a white cone of fog from a leak that was visible for about 15 feet without even feeling wet. The moral of the story is don't feel around for leaks.

mveety 10y ago
I heard stories about injuries you can get from high pressure leaks from hydraulics guys. By all accounts they absolutely horrifying. They would have their flesh detached from their bones and oil basically soaking into their flesh so that it becomes necrotic later on. Plus they're said not to hurt immediately, doesn't help with treatment. Makes me glad I don't work on hydraulics that's for sure.