My DIY deck project turned into a splinter nightmare last weekend

I was out in my backyard in Columbus trying to save some money by refinishing my old deck myself. I bought a $40 orbital sander from the hardware store and started sanding down the boards. About an hour in, the belt on the sander snapped and threw me off balance. I ended up slamming my hand into a rusty nail sticking out of a railing. Blood everywhere, had to drive myself to urgent care for a tetanus shot. The worst part was the deck looked worse after I gave up, with half sanded spots and a busted tool. Now I gotta figure out if I should try again with a better sander or just hire someone. Anyone else had a DIY project backfire that bad?

3 comments

3 Comments

xenagarcia2mo ago

Dude, that sounds like a total nightmare. My last big DIY fail was when I tried to fix a leaky faucet in my rental and ended up flooding my bathroom because I forgot to turn the water off completely (I know, classic). The landlord was so mad, and I had to pay for new drywall. I still have a scar on my arm from where I slipped and hit the tile edge. Honestly, that tetanus shot thing is no joke though, I got one last year after stepping on a rusty nail in the garage and my arm hurt for a week. Maybe just hire someone for the deck, because splinters and blood are a bad combo.

hollyg592mo ago

Second time I got a tetanus shot it was no big deal, just a dull ache for a day. But the first one, yeah, my arm was sore for a week and I couldn't lift it past my shoulder. I think people overstate the danger of splinters and minor cuts on a deck if you're just sanding or staining. I've got a few scars from DIY stuff too, but I'd rather have a scar than pay someone $500 to do a weekend job.

rileyellis1mo ago

Right on, the tetanus shot thing is wild how it hits different each time. My second one was barely a pinch, but that first one years ago? I couldn't sleep on my left side for three days, like a rock wedged in my muscle. And you're totally right about DIY scars being a badge of honor. I've got this gnarly one on my knuckle from a chisel slip (stupid mistake, but it's a good story). Better a scar and a saved $400 than paying some deck guy who'll just half-ass the sanding anyway.