Things we learn the hard way

> 10 years ago
Reply
Register to post, see what you've read, and subscribe to topics.
Jord
Jord
WA
107 posts
WA, 107 posts
16 Feb 2009 10:04pm
After thinking about stupid mistakes i have made i thought it would be great to hear some other mistakes ppl have made.

For instance today i learnt that Cling wrap isnt an alternative to vacume bagging on big repairs, and have around 10 hours of sanding to do

But im sure there are many better stories so lets hear em!
Gestalt
Gestalt
QLD
14968 posts
QLD, 14968 posts
16 Feb 2009 11:21pm
always blow smoke on the hive before removing the lid.
nebbian
nebbian
WA
6277 posts
WA, 6277 posts
16 Feb 2009 10:29pm
Pillage BEFORE you burn.
Upthere
Upthere
QLD
348 posts
QLD, 348 posts
16 Feb 2009 11:32pm
Always check to make sure that the board fits in the car before closing the back door. This is how i cracked the windscreen
Greenroom
Greenroom
WA
7608 posts
WA, 7608 posts
16 Feb 2009 10:34pm
Make sure you turn the power off before you cut into the cable
elmo
elmo
WA
8894 posts
WA, 8894 posts
16 Feb 2009 10:37pm
Never apply Tiger balm to anywhere on your body before sex
Gestalt
Gestalt
QLD
14968 posts
QLD, 14968 posts
16 Feb 2009 11:41pm
elmo said...

Never apply Tiger balm to anywhere on your body before sex


fark, i just fell off my chair in tears....
OceanBlue64
OceanBlue64
VIC
980 posts
VIC, 980 posts
17 Feb 2009 12:42am
Just a small variation on Elmos post:

After using Deep Heat or Dencorub, always wash your hands before you pee
Bender
Bender
WA
2236 posts
WA, 2236 posts
16 Feb 2009 11:11pm
Never allow the belt sander you are using (when i as an apprentice) catch on your jumper and race up and sand all the skin off you neck.

This is true. Worst thing was that the keeper switch was jammed against my now twisted hand so i could not turn it off.As i had used the longest lead in the workshop, i had to run out into the car park untill the lead pulled from the plug. The sander slowly wound down. The end result was the rear powerd roller on my 8inch belt sander with a large wrap of my neck skin (still attached) wrapped around it. My boss had to come over and manually rerverse the wheel to free my skin.

Didnt even stop working as it ws just all red like a carpet burn.

i had a scab the size of a dinner plate in my neck for weeks.
SmellySkater
SmellySkater
110 posts
110 posts
16 Feb 2009 11:14pm
Don't leave your lawn mower unmanned if you live on a steep hill.

P.S. Red thumb this post if your a gaylord.

mineral1
mineral1
WA
4564 posts
WA, 4564 posts
16 Feb 2009 11:24pm
Never iron your collar with your shirt still on, no matter how little time you have
Mate did this years back when he was a member of defence force He has the burn scare to remind him for the rest of his life that its a dud way to iron ones shirt.
decrepit
decrepit
WA
12885 posts
WA, 12885 posts
16 Feb 2009 11:33pm
Don't grab the underneath of a lawnmower to tip it up (to check what was happening inside the carby throat) while the engine's running!!!
nobody
nobody
NSW
437 posts
NSW, 437 posts
17 Feb 2009 2:05am
Don't put your fingers in a car wheel to spin it.

(Fractured and partially degloved finger. 2 weeks off work. Still can't feel my finger tip properly and it has been 2 years).
555
555
892 posts
555 555
892 posts
17 Feb 2009 5:13am
1. No matter how much of a good idea it seems at the time, do NOT use a meat cleaver to defrost your freezer.

2. Despite him wearing a thick leather gauntlet, do NOT let your flatmate try to stop the freon coming out of the hole in said freezer with his finger. It doesn't work, and it is VERY cold.
easty
easty
TAS
2213 posts
TAS, 2213 posts
17 Feb 2009 9:13am
Similar to 555, do not use your mate's ice climbing pick to defrost freezer, no matter how carefully you think you might do it!
MikeyS
MikeyS
VIC
1509 posts
VIC, 1509 posts
17 Feb 2009 9:46am
Always wash your hands after cutting up chillis. Always, always always if you have an itchy eye.

ANd never fill fuel containers at full speed at eye level either.
pierrec45
pierrec45
NSW
2005 posts
NSW, 2005 posts
17 Feb 2009 9:50am
Make sure she doesn't wear pantyhose when you you-know.
Else you get the wrong impression...
Cambodge
Cambodge
VIC
851 posts
VIC, 851 posts
17 Feb 2009 10:16am
Don't go for that one last sail out and back before packing up for the day. Seems like a good idea at the time but always ends with an injury or gear damage.
easty
easty
TAS
2213 posts
TAS, 2213 posts
17 Feb 2009 10:36am
Don't use garden hose for siphoning petrol - use clear hose so you can see the fuel coming before you suck in a mouthful.
garyk
garyk
QLD
277 posts
QLD, 277 posts
17 Feb 2009 9:53am
Never and i mean "NEVER" stick your head in an esky when there's dry ice in it.
Richiefish
Richiefish
QLD
5612 posts
QLD, 5612 posts
17 Feb 2009 9:56am
dont forget to put the oil filter back on before starting the car...
aus301
aus301
QLD
2039 posts
QLD, 2039 posts
17 Feb 2009 10:12am
Don't drink and park... accidents cause children.
Mark _australia
Mark _australia
WA
23691 posts
WA, 23691 posts
17 Feb 2009 9:22am
Cambodge said...

Don't go for that one last sail out and back before packing up for the day. Seems like a good idea at the time but always ends with an injury or gear damage.


yeah that was my problem yesterday. had a prang and now have a major shoulder injury, i think it is dislocated but have to wait for a doc later today.
lesson learned: do not waterstart and sail back in with fvc&ed shoulder it makes things much worse. but i guess i had to- i was 800m out in a cross shore wind


in keeping with the industrial accidents theme: do not lie under a car and use an angle grinder upside down to cut a bolt off. it will flick out from the grinder's guard and do damage. in my case a red hot nut lodged up high in my nostril. you could see the glow thru my nose if i stood still long enough . very painful and you just can't make it stop- can't get it out and hard to get water up there. later removed with needle nose pliers and still screaming.

sorry no caps due to one arm

elmo
elmo
WA
8894 posts
WA, 8894 posts
17 Feb 2009 9:43am
Do not use an oxy acetylene to patch rust holes underneath 1960's Mercedes Benz's without a spotter or a fire extinguisher

The interior floor pan has about 3mm of highly flammable tar on it.

Do not park said Mercedes Benz with the highly flammable interior so you can use the oxy acetylene to patch rust holes underneath next to LPG bottles.

When you are happily working underneath the car thinking all is going well, investigate immediately any sounds which sound like glass breaking.

When you investigate (eventually) the sounds of glass cracking and you find the windows covered in soot DO NOT OPEN THE DOOR as it only provides oxygen to the flames to make a better fire.

DO NOT OPEN THE DOOR NEXT TO THE GAS BOTTLES
DO NOT OPEN THE DOOR NEXT TO THE GAS BOTTLES AND INHALE THE TOXIC SMOKE
DO NOT OPEN THE DOOR NEXT TO THE GAS BOTTLES AND LEAVE THE DOOR OPEN WHILST YOU STUMBLE BLINDLY TO FIND A HOSE.

The fire can be put out with a hose.....eventually.
The crap in your jocks can be hosed out ....eventually

At 16 having to wait for your old man to get home from work to tell him that you torched his Merc that he was restoring is not something that I would wish on anyone.

only the drive train and the front end was recoverable
Mark _australia
Mark _australia
WA
23691 posts
WA, 23691 posts
17 Feb 2009 9:48am
ok elmo wins

oh and mr redthumbs i dunno what was so wrong or offensive about my post?
nasty
nasty
WA
153 posts
WA, 153 posts
17 Feb 2009 10:06am
Do not hang on to the clew of your sail just as wave is about to flip it over. Ended up impaling myself on my fin as it twisted over (it ripped straight through a 4mm of neoprene). Now have a nasty scar right next to a very important piece of anatomy. If it hadn't been so cold (was sailing in the UK) it might not have missed
MikeyS
MikeyS
VIC
1509 posts
VIC, 1509 posts
17 Feb 2009 12:07pm
Mark _australia said...
[br had a prang and now have a major shoulder injury, i think it is dislocated but have to wait for a doc later today.
lesson learned: do not waterstart and sail back in with fvc&ed shoulder it makes things much worse. but i guess i had to- i was 800m out in a cross shore wind



sorry no caps due to one arm




If it's dislocated you'll bloody know it. And if you have to sail back to shore with a dislocated shoulder, make sure it's flat water, othewise you feel every single bit of chop.

If you ever work at a coldstore (minus 18C), never let your tongue make contact with the handle of a fully loaded pallet truck that you are pushing backwards.
Windxtasy
Windxtasy
WA
4019 posts
WA, 4019 posts
17 Feb 2009 10:14am
MikeyS said...

Always wash your hands after cutting up chillis. Always, always always if you have an itchy eye.




And for that reason I have only ever used real chillies once.
Even with your head submerged in a basin of water you can't stop the burning!

Never pick up a soldering iron by the wrong end.

Never stick your tongue out to catch that drip of hot toffee...


Richiefish
Richiefish
QLD
5612 posts
QLD, 5612 posts
17 Feb 2009 11:14am
wow Elmo ! my stupidity pales in comparison.......
WINDY MILLER
WINDY MILLER
WA
3183 posts
WA, 3183 posts
17 Feb 2009 10:15am
elmo said...

Never apply Tiger balm to anywhere on your body before sex
and mikey S


similar kinda experience - deseeding red hot chilli papers all arvo, then went for a piss



Old Salty
Old Salty
VIC
1271 posts
VIC, 1271 posts
17 Feb 2009 12:27pm
Never operate a chainsaw up a ladder on uneven ground
Please Register, or first...
Topics Subscribe Reply