: Unlike most of the responses ahead of me, I haven't "been there done
: that" ... but thanks for posting this ... as far as I'm concerned you
: can never post too many of these types of things ... we all need
: reminding, especially those of us who have led a charmed life and haven't
: had a serious accident YET.

Hi Ken,
Haven't been there either, 'cept for a few minor surface scars and what they taught me was to focus completely on what I'm doing with edged tools.
If I start getting distracted, I stop, put down the tool and sort out the distraction, whether it's something like dinner or just the need to step back and actually look at what I'm doing.

Never rush a job. It takes the fun out of it. Pause before you start and think out exactly what you want to do and how you want it to happen. When you have that, the work will kind of do itself. (you can if you wish, use the pause time to fondle the timber you're about to work)
Of course, you should have fondled the timber before this, it's a good way to get to know the timber and find any likely defects.

An important point is that when it stops being enjoyable, stop. That's when frustration can occur at minor difficulties and that's when a hand could be lost.

A friend of mine calls it zen woodwork.

Hopefully this made sense,
Mike Savage
South West Cork