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Discussion Forum

Tool Tether…

WingNut | Posted in General Discussion on June 7, 2006 11:51am

Over the weekend I was installing some crown molding in a two-story foyer (18’ ceiling).<!—-><!—-> <!—->

 <!—-><!—->

To protect the wood floors I installed a bunch of 2’ x 2’ interlocking rubber floor mats.  I bought them pretty cheap a few years ago at flee market and I think their primary use is for a kid’s playroom.  They work great because you can customize floor protection to suit specific situations and are easy to install.  I have an inventory of strips to fill any major gaps at the walls.  I use them whenever doing any work over wood floors.  Anyway, back to the crown molding…<!—-> <!—->

 <!—-><!—->

I was using an extension ladder to get up to the ceiling and while up there I would have to bring along various tools at certain points, one being my finish nailer.  I was nervous about dropping it from such heights both for damage to the tools but more for damage to walls or the floor if the mats proved not enough protection.  I was so nervous that I ended up tethering the nailer with a three-foot bungee cord from my belt to the handle of the nailer.  It was bit awkward but I felt more at ease having this safety tether if I lost my hold of the nailer.<!—-><!—->

 <!—-><!—->

Was I worrying too much?  When working in such situations do any of you tether your heavier tools to either the ladder or yourself?<!—-> <!—->

 <!—-><!—->

I completely recognize the risk of having something tethered to you.  If a heavy tool goes you could go with it if it pulls you off the ladder.  I’m not talking about heavy drills; I’m more looking at the heaver-lighter, wood floor damaging, hand tools like finish nailers, cordless drills and even hammers. 

Reply

Replies

  1. User avater
    Sphere | Jun 08, 2006 12:18am | #1

    My buddy wished for that VERY thing last week.

    We we up 5 tiers of scaffold and on the roof. An 18v Dewalt saw was perched pretty well ( we thought) on the rake dripedge area..this roof is old plank sheathing and it dies out over the last rafter and floats where it inter sects the crown moulding..well, it gets kinda bouncy on them old roofs.

    Dale was hammereng a gutter seam for me to solder, when outta the corner of my eye I saw the saw take a hike...shortly after that he said the so common " Oh Shid"...I figgured it was busted saw.

    It SEEMS the saw played the 'Mousetrap' Game..you know, hitting every walkboard and brace on the scaffold as it went down.

    At one particular brace, the battery self ejected...went totally horizontal and then dropped right SMACK DAB on the ele's BRND NEW F350 windshield!

    Shattered it real good..right in the view area above the steering wheel.

    Ele. was calm, called his ins.co. had a new windshield in by 430 that afternoon.

    I HATE when that happens. Here is a looksee

    Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks

    There is no cure for stupid. R. White.

    1. User avater
      Sphere | Jun 08, 2006 12:30am | #3

      Oh, the saw came from about 2' from this peak..and I told the HVAC dude this AM, "don't wanna be parked there, sometimes we drop stuff.."  He said he wasnt worried..I said HIS insurance was get used NOT mine...he never did move his truck..Butthead.

       

       

      View Image

      Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks

      There is no cure for stupid. R. White.

    2. Tomrocks21212 | Jun 08, 2006 12:32am | #4

      Coulda been worse. A little bit one way or the other and there would have been sheet metal and paint work involved. At least the glass was easily replaced.

      1. User avater
        Sphere | Jun 08, 2006 12:36am | #5

        It did make a ding on the hood, but it ws more like a hail ding.

        Funny thing is, Tim was parked a safe distance away until he had to move for the dumpster to get hauled away. Somedays it just ain't your day...LOL

        BTW, the saw and battery lived just fine.

        Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks

        There is no cure for stupid. R. White.

    3. JohnSprung | Jun 08, 2006 03:13am | #9

      > Ele. was calm, called his ins.co. had a new windshield in by 430 that afternoon.

      Now that's a good insurance company.  Which one is it?  

       

      -- J.S.

       

      1. User avater
        Sphere | Jun 08, 2006 03:18am | #10

        I don't know. I can ask him if we cross paths again, I'll be off that job for a spell till the masons get some brick done w/o having to stand on our copper on the garage roof.

        I do know DAle was ready to buy the windshield outta pocket vs. make a claim on his Lia. Policy..but Tim just said, "I got it covered, and chill out, accidents happen"  I also know the glass guys were the third ones he called, cuz we had serious weather beginning to come in, and his truck was NOT driveable in the rain like that.  The first two were not gonna even try for the same day service. Shamrock Glass said, we'll have it in by 500PM, and they did.

        Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks

        There is no cure for stupid. R. White.

  2. Shavey | Jun 08, 2006 12:21am | #2

    you did`nt mention if you had a helper with you or not but perhaps if you did he could be holding one end of the crown to help you out giving you a little more piece of mind to consentrate on what you are doing, get it done carefully and get down...... 

  3. 4Lorn1 | Jun 08, 2006 01:22am | #6

    Tethers are good.

    But you have to be careful to make sure the only, or most, vulnerable area is down below. You could end up attaching a tether to protect the hardwood floors only to have the gun slam into the even more valuable painting hung on the wall.

    Of course every slip has an accomplice in the surrounding conditions. It is an accident and the basic rules that prevent other accident apply. Controlling access, a clean and well organized job site and calm, well rested workers working off solid work platforms instead of shaky ladders make fewer mistakes.

    1. User avater
      Sphere | Jun 08, 2006 01:23am | #7

      The Posse has gathered...

       

      http://forums.taunton.com/n/mb/message.asp?webtag=tp-breaktime&msg=74712.1

      Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks

      There is no cure for stupid. R. White.

  4. User avater
    limeyjoiner | Jun 08, 2006 03:00am | #8

    Apart from building houses I also work as a yacht rigger, when working at the top of a mast dropping a tool is more than just a PITA it's a serious safety issue.

    I use things like this to tether my tools,

    http://www.gearkeeper.com/

    they're a lot more convienient than bungee's or bits of string

    "Man is a tool-using animal. Without tools he is nothing, with tools he is all." Thomas Carlyle (1795-1881)

  5. docotter | Jun 08, 2006 03:53am | #11

    Arborists routinely tether chainsaws when climbing. If things go badly you want to be able to drop the saw without worrying about it. Often a good idea that the tether be long enough so that the tool won't swing into you. The business end of it might hurt..

  6. User avater
    zak | Jun 08, 2006 04:48am | #12

    When I worked on bridges, almost everything got tethered.  It gets to be a hassle when you have half a dozen tools, but that's the way it goes.

    I tried to keep tethers just long enough that when carabinered to my harness, I could hold the tool in the arm opposite the side it was clipped too, and stretch all the way out.  There should still be a little slack. 

    I don't like long tethers for several reasons-

    First, you'll get your feet tangled in the loop when the tool isn't being used

    B., you'll have all your tools tangled up together

    On the third hand, why let any more momentum build up than necessary.

    zak

    "so it goes"

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