transit forge journal: my career as a hand model

my career as a hand model

an Estwing hammer is probably one of the most popular brands of carpenter’s hammers and is forged from a single piece of steel. the head and claw are integral with a somewhat sharp-edged neck (much like a flat bar of steel) that proceeds down to a soft blue rubber hand grip.
when pulling a large nail that is below the surface of a piece of wood, a diminutive prybar called a ”cat’s paw” is employed. the ”cat’s paw” is a short cupped claw that comes to a sharp point which looks like its namesake.
so that the reader may learn from my experience, i would suggest using caution when striking the ”cat’s paw” with an Estwing hammer.
when driving the prybar into the wood and behind the nail with great vehemence, the hammer glanced off the rounded profile of the bar and drove the sharp edge of the neck of the hammer across my left hand which held the bar. the hammer’s neck struck the entire length of my thumb and continued down the back of my hand to my wrist. much swelling followed and a week later i still have an oddly numb and sensitive area just below my thumbnail.
putting this most recent injury next to my history of scars and somewhat recent cuts, bruises, burns, and nicks seems to offer me with no choice but to abandon my career as a hand model for men’s jewelry.

2003-11-15 22:08

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eeeeeeeYOWWWWW!
— cheryl Nov 16, 04:05 PM #
When the patient in a mental home declares that he is the mouthpiece of the Holy Ghost, he means it not as a boast but as a flat statement of fact. --from THE SLEEPWALKERS
— Arthur Koestler Nov 16, 04:14 PM #
yowza. fortunately, my career as a hand model for men's jewelry has not been tarnished or ruined yet.
— sugarboots Dec 2, 05:57 PM #