“I learned a valuable lesson.” Nick Offerman, actor and master woodworker, detailed the closest he ever came to serious injury in his woodworking shop. He recalled the harrowing woodworking accident that led to his fingertip injury.
Nick Offerman recalled the “closest” he came to serious damage in his workshop
The “Parks and Recreation” alum opened up about the scariest moment of his decades-long woodworking career in an interview with Family Handyman. The 56-year-old actor revealed the one time he came dangerously close to permanently losing his finger. He described it as the “closest I came to irreparable damage” in a workshop.
He recalled it was a “one very late night” and he was trying to “catch a spinning router that was falling off the bench”. “I took off half a fingertip, and never worked to that point of exhaustion again,” Offerman said.
Despite the injury, Offerman noted he’s managed to keep all 10 fingers intact through decades of hands-on craftsmanship. “Having made it to the ripe old age of 56 with all 10 fingers intact, I am here to shout that any tool use, inside the shop or garage or out, should begin with safety first,” the actor said.
He further used the interview to tell his story as a teaching moment for aspiring woodworkers.
“Your eyes, ears, lungs and appendages are all worth way more than any project or deadline or wage,” Offerman concluded the interview.
“The more you respect your tools—keeping the cutting edges sharp and sliding surfaces waxed—and your workspace—keeping it neat, well organized and clean—the better chance you have of keeping your fingers.”
The interview came as Offerman celebrated Family Handyman’s 75th anniversary as the outlet’s guest editor.
TELL US—WHAT DO YOU THINK OF NICK’S INSPIRING STORY? HAVE YOU EVER HAD A CLOSE CALL WHILE WORKING WITH POWER TOOLS?
