Before I get into this, I would like to relay that I am a solid Doug Thompson fan. Doug is a truly experienced engineer and he has spent a considerable amount of his life researching and developing what I consider to be the very best quality tools out there for us turners. Even so, I had a serious incident involving a Thompson tool that I pass on that will hopefully serve as a safety note to someone on the importance of developing a safe body position at the lathe during cutting operations. Awhile back I was making light inside finishing cuts on a walnut bowl and in a blink of an eye my 1/2 gouge was ripped out of my hands and slammed down on my left foot breaking my toe. After hopping around and yelling bad words for a respectable length of time I investigated what might have caused this "catch from hell." After exhausting my examination options involving the wood (tenon give way, etc.) I took a close look at the tool and discovered that the tool glue joint was starved to the point that it gave way (see the pic). I then picked up a detail gouge that I had ordered at about the same time and I was able to twist it in half in my hands...also starved glue joint. Of course I informed Doug (but not about the toe) and being the gentleman that he is he offered to repair the tools (said this was a problem that he had with one of his helpers that had now moved on)...but I just sanded/epoxyed them back together. I only relay this incident to pass on the importance of carefully thinking about and developing a technique and cutting stance that keeps you out of the firing line at all possible times. I have hesitated about passing the details of this incident along (plus I have 10 toes so that was no big deal)...but had I not had a good cutting position developed over the years then this fluke incident could have possibly had a much more ugly outcome. Hopefully this sorry incident might serve as an example and help someone.
