A Close Call

I had a close call last night.

I was turning the interior of a green 19" mulberry wood end-grain bowl when suddenly the shaft of my 1/2" Crown brand bowl gouge split from its hardwood handle and kicked back toward my face.  My face and left hand got hit with shards of wood from the handle, leaving some scratches, but otherwise I am OK...Thankfully I was wearing safety glasses (I always do) and so my eyes were protected.  The tool's metal shaft is OK, just the handle broke.

I am not sure if I had a bad catch on the bowl (I don't think so), or if the handle was cracked when I started and the turning caused the split to occur.  Since the bowl is undamaged and the lathe did not hesitate, I don't think that I had a bad catch.  When I have had a catch before, it has always caused damage to the work piece...

Well, it scared me enough that I will now purchase a face-shield for my woodturning rather than just safety glasses...and again remind myself that woodworking should not be done when you are tired. 

Now I need to fix the handle on my bowl gouge.