Frank started in the machine shop at 18. Now 58, his hands tell the story of four decades working with metal. Scars from early lessons. Calluses built up over years. And surprisingly, all ten fingers intact and functional.
"Lot of guys my age have missing fingertips," he says matter-of-factly. "I've seen it happen. I've been lucky, sure. But I've also been careful."
Lessons Learned
Frank's philosophy is simple: understand where the hazards are and protect accordingly. Not everything requires heavy protection. Not everything can be done bare-handed. The skill is knowing the difference.
"Young guys want to be tough. No gloves, no tape, bare-hand everything. That's not tough. That's stupid. The guys with missing fingers thought they were tough too."
The Right Tool
For deburring and handling freshly machined parts, Frank wraps his fingertips with self-adhering tape. It's become as routine as putting on safety glasses.
"Sharp edges everywhere. Metal burrs that'll slice you before you feel it. The tape isn't much, but it's enough to turn a cut into a scratch. Enough to keep me working instead of bleeding."
Passing It On
Frank trains the new machinists now. Hand protection is part of his curriculum.
"I tell them: these hands have to last you forty years. Everything you do to them now, you'll feel later. Protect them. They're the only pair you get."