the profesion we have chosen" can be dangerous use caution

with all the noobs coming here for advise it is about time some one brought up the issue of safety. in fact safety should have its own section here.
I have noticed reccomendations to use a torch to open compressor. hammers to remove copper from vacuum tubes, and of course the sie of sawsals angle grinder and all the rest.
but I see no advise as to the cautionary use of our instraments of destruction which brings me to the point.
some of these people have never used any of the above and they are all dangerous to the pount of great bodily harm or even death;

an angle grinder, or sawsall in inexperieced hands can cut a femoral arterie (leg) your wrist veins or even a neck wound that can kill you begore you can get to the office or house for help.

the angle grinder for example is a gyrocentric tool an if control is lost of it it is a very dangerous piece of equip. ( I have the scars to prove it)
the torch has several issues, leaking gas, fire, near by cumbustibal and explosive liquids and fumes. ( have the scars to prove that too)

I have been working opening compressors and spilled oil on my clothing which was later ignited from the sparks of the grinder I have used the torch to open compressors only to cause a flash fire that spraid droplets of flaming oil for 10 feet.
a vacuum tube has known to exolode when bumpeed let alone hit with a hammer, I have seen them go off like
a granade sending glass shrapnel for several yards
all I am saying when we are giving advise to a noob lets be sure he/she understands the ramifications of what we are telling them.

You are right old dude... tv vacuum tubes can be dangerous...I unscrew the 2 stainless steel clamps holding the copper yoke, then once the plastic rings are
removed, a slight twist of the yoke and up and off it comes. No sharp glass to be dealt with and the stainless clamps go into a bucket for later.

Good points. I have been using a sawzall for more than 25 years, and just last Sunday, I somewhat mangled my right index finger, because I was careless for just a momen.

Unplug things before cutting the cords off.

Seems like a no-brainer, but every scrapper finds things that might be worth more selling as-is, than scrapping.... if they work. How do you know if they work? Plug them in. Don't work, cut the cord, but UNPLUG FIRST.

In the shop or out in the field, safety glasses and hearing protection. Also work efficent and steady but slow down if your pressing. No amont of copper or heavy iron is worth a missing digit, a glass eye or a lifetime asking "what'd ya say". Great topic that gets overlooked way too much.

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How do you know if they work? Plug them in. Don't work, cut the cord, but UNPLUG FIRST.

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REMEMBER that tv's and monitors can hold high voltage for a few days, and unplugging won't help when it's whacking you with a few thousand volts. To be safe, discharge it first!

Ain't that right Hoss ?
;?)

Manufacturers make guards for a reason - keep them in place.

Use all the handles that were put on a tool - such as that "extra" handle on your angle grinder. And be careful of kickback.

Another thought.....Keep a charged up fire extinguisher on your rig or in your shop. Cheap insurance

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Ain't that right Hoss

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I wasn't gonna go there again, I don't think he likes being reminded of that,, LOL

never stand directly behind your sawsall.....especially Hoss !! (sorry...couldn't help myself, Hoss)

Seriously, olddude has really come through again with a much needed post. It's so easy to get careless, especially when in a hurry. All of these reminders are well taken. And, newby's especially, may not be aware of kickbacks that can be oh so dangerous. And remember, when you buy a tool...buy the safety gear that should always go with it.

Solid advice fellas, I actually heard a story about a guy who was scrapping and somehow managed to get a piece of metal deep inside his ear canal and it got infected and swelled shut, pretty freaky stuff. I'd say some good quality gloves while loading/unloading is a must a lot of the time too, I've gotten opened up on a jagged piece quite a few times. Another thing I'd like to throw out there is to watch out for spiders, for some reason black widows absolutely LOVE to hang out and lay eggs in heat pumps and ACs, I've found two really good sized ones in two separate ACs I've picked up recently, totally different loads. This one came straight out of a pretty old York: https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net..._3828699_n.jpg

Re-cycler, can you put some foam or bubble wrap on them ? I've done that, too.

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Originally Posted by Dumpster Dee

Re-cycler, can you put some foam or bubble wrap on them ? I've done that, too.

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Ahahahahahaaaa!!!!...........yeah but all the other scrappers would make fun of me.....
;?)

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yeah but all the other scrappers would make fun of me.

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Re-cycler, just hang a set of "bull berries" underneath it, then they won't make fun,,hahaha

Yea, painful memory's, but mine was a BSA, I couldn't afford a Harley.

I do have the receiver, but always leave the hitch in as a secondary bumper for those unexpected love taps from the person behind not paying attention.

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Originally Posted by Eradication

watch out for spidershttps://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net..._3828699_n.jpg

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That's definitely a good thing to check for. Around here you gotta watch out for brown recluses. You get bit by one of those and you could lose a limb in a few hours.

This profession is also dangerous to your body in simpler ways.
Try, when you can, to use proper lifting techniques, pretty simple right?.... long term effects of skipping this simple step are no joke.