[squbrigg]

In an effort to finish before Christmas, and thus make the deadline imposed by the agreement, I began carving Goodie's blank today. I had spent several days planning and sketching just how I wanted the Santa to appear and prepared my area for carving. Knives were arrayed, burr stand handy, and Foredom gassed up and ready to go.

All went well at first. I was able to capture the aforementioned blank, by sneaking up on it while it was looking the other way and began some serious shaping with the power carver. Dust flew, chips fell and the shape gradually appeared. The blank soon settled down to be tamely carved!

When the depth became too much for the Foredom I switched to edged tools, and began letting the chips fly fast and furious! But the dasterdly blank had other ideas. He lay there feigning passiveness and all of a sudden... he sprang from the next knife cut!!! The knife had nowhere to go ....with no mind of it's own.... it continued on it's merry way through jeans and leg!

Well, lets just say that Goodie's blank now has considerable Squbrigg DNA in it and can be positively identified anywhere, (that can test for said DNA). The knife is sleeping, I have returned from the Emergency department, plus several of their finest staples neatly inserted in my leg and holding it together! The doctor and nurses had a good laugh (as I am sure the blank did), as well as admired the cane I was limping along with (the hawk one). As soon as I can bend my knee again, in about ten days, I'll probably put the boots to the #^%*!&%# blank to teach it some bloody manners!

Lesson learned though.......I "do" know how to sharpen!!! ...............ooops, wrong lesson.....oh ya.....watch where the knife is pointed. After so many years carving, you'd think I'd learn! Or as the ER nurse said as I was leaving....."Stick to carving canes Bob, there's no money in carving knees!"

Your humble and clumsy,

Bob

[Lindy]

Oh no Bob! That blankety blank Blank! How dare it dodge its fate! I hope that the leg heals up okay and I'll put that one in my book of lessons, right beside "puncturing thumbs not really a part of carving".

Hoping you feel better soon.

[Colin_Partridge]

Wow Bob sure hope your feeling better that sounds like a really bad cut. I know I have been there many times but I never took it out on the carving as I know it was all my fault. Is the carving salvageable or are you really going to put the boots to it. Seems like maybe you should finish it and place it in your workshop as a reminder of what not to do next time. In all seriousness I hope that your feeling better and it doesnt deter you from carving.
Take care my freind and be careful
Colin

[Ron Davidson]

I'm glad you survived Bob that wood is a little tricky. I came close a couple of times to cutting myself. Hope you get better soon. Ron

[decoycarve]

Damn Bob Thats not Good. If I was to do that I would probably take a chip of my knife as most of my knee is Stainless steel. I worry about cutting my workbench! Let me explain. I wheigh about 300 lbs (Moma Fattened Santa up good this year) and I do most of my carving with the piece sitting on my belly. It has been really convienent to have my workbench with me were ever I go. I have slipped and put nicks in my bench but always go back to carving there without putting my leather bib on. I will consider this a wakeup call and start wearing it again. I learned afew years back not to rush. I only have one carving speed. If I try to go any faster I usally get hurt. I have had to fill orders with stiches in my fingers and I won't ever do it again. If a customer doesn't want to wait It will be customer that I will have to lose.
Please Everyone!!! Don't rush to finish these. Just try to have it done before I send another one next July.
Sorry about the misfortune and the onery blank. Heal fast My Friend.
Goody

[jamesfa]

bob-sorry to hear about your misfortune-hope it wasn't my message about only 32days to post that caused you to rush.get well soon.

every cloud has a silver liner-if you where going to make him a traditional santa
red and white wel you already have the first wash done.

take care and heal quickly


Frank

[squbrigg]

Not to worry folks, it will heal. I wan't in a hurry, just clumsy, and the knife slipped and I was in the way! The carving is fine and I'll get back to it soon, as soon as I can bend the knee a bit and climb/decend the stairs to the shop in the basement. The mistake was mine, just careless. Had my apron on but it had ridden up some as I carved and the knife went in just below the edge. Trying to take too big a cut probably. Not the first time I've done it, wouldn't be the last, I'm sure. Now the legs match, I have a 30 year old scar in the other one a little higher.

Thanks for the concern folks. I thought you'd get a kick out of it. Good lesson or reminder to be careful.

Bob

[Just Carving]

Sorry to hear of your accident Bob. Heal quickly, 'cause when Callynne gets wind of this, ooooohhhh, you're gonna get itttttt! Ooooohhhhh!!!

Hmmm...(light bulb comes on)...police officers....kevlar vests......
hmmmm....carvers...uhhhh, kevlar suits?!?

Nah, they won't wear gloves, what makes me think they'll put a suit on!

Besides, stabbing a bench is twice as fun, (you get to buy a new bench and a new knife, right?) and it only hurts the wallet half as much!

[Hi_Ho_Sliver]

Sorry to hear that Bob! "I hate it when that happens!" lol, I have become conscious of where my finger, thumb or any other extremity is when carving...(I hope!) and it does make the spaces between mishaps farther inbetween...but alas the human frailty of a one track mind! ha ha, those of you that are ambidextrous(a knife in each hand?)...my condolences!

[Old_Gord]

Sorry to hear about Bob's slip....but....
I guess it's time to repeat a post I read on Rec.Wood many moons ago, it might just help prevent something like this from happening ...no guarantee's but worth a thought in my opinion.
This was written by a woodworker named Steve Lamantia.

Quote
A SAFETY NOTE
By Steve LaMantia

IF IT SLIPS, WHERE'S IT GONNA GO?

My grandpa was a carpenter. (Why does that sound like a song title?) Although I was too much of a typical scatterbrained kid to learn a *real* lot from him -- just some basic skills was all I had the patience for -- one of the most valuable lessons he taught me was this:

"If it slips, where's it gonna go?"

As I write this, I can still hear his voice saying it. He must have said it to me a thousand times, which was about five times more than really necessary. His point, of course, was that when working with any tools, it's always good to visualize the accident that's going to jump out and gitcha when something slips (chisel, handplane, knife, hammer, et al).

Estimate where the tool's going to go when it goes too far or veers off course, and then make sure there are no parts of your body ( or power cords, or children) present in that location. Don't assume nothing will slip, because the cosmos are watching and the cosmos have a sick sense of humor and as soon as you make that assumption, guess what's gonna happen to you?

If it slips, where's it gonna go?

Very simple concept, actually, and after early on forgetting it two or so times to my extreme physical detriment, discomfort and inconvenience, I've learned to make it my mantra whenever beginning a cut or any other process. It sounds simple, even silly, I realize; still, it's saved me grief many times so far.

So, repeat after me:


If it slips, where's it gonna go?

If it slips, where's it gonna go?

If it slips, where's it gonna go?

Thanks, Grandpa.

Your ten-fingered, two-eyed, not-too-badly-scarred, still walking/talking and fully sentient grandson, Steve.
Unquote.

Oh and Bob you heal up real soon.

.

OG