Cuts

[Plain_Ol_Ed]

It troubles my heart to read all the threads on fellow carvers cutting themselves through gloves, tape, and who knows what else.

Not being present while any of them occurred, I can't say for certain what caused them. But one thing I can state for a certainty is that gloves and all the other "safety" equipment didn't prevent them. Minimize, yes, but not prevent and maybe give a false sense of security.

I don't wear a glove or any other saftey equipment. I'm not recommending that as a practice just a frame of reference.

It has been a long long while since I have cut myself carving/whittling. Long enough so I don't remember it.

It would seem to me that most of the cuts occur because of;
Being in a hurry and making to vigorous a cut,
having a body part in the path of the cut,
relying on a glove/thumb gaurd to protect you,
etc.

There is nothing that will prevent cuts like common sense, patience and attention to what you are doing. Yes, wear a glove and thumb guard, but be aware that they will at best minimize not prevent cuts.

I'm an avid hunter, and would never think of looking down the barrel of a loaded gun relying on the safety to protect me, which is roughly the equivalent of pushing a gouge in the direction of my hand relying on a glove to protect me. The end results may be different, but the latter would probably be more painful while the former fatal.

End of rant

Be careful and enjoy a wonderful hobby

[gene-messer]

Ed ..even though I havent ever cut myself that needed stitches ... I know those who have and there are a number of reasons for this happening ..

Sometimes getting in a hurry .. others .. especially with beginners concerning sharpening .. the knife not sharp enough .. I have had bad spots in wood that you know nothing about untill you go to cut them and they just break and the knife slices through to your finger .. Ther are all kind of reasons that can happen to any of us ..

But there is one reason that I see often and try to always follow ..NEVER TAKE YOUR EYES OFF THE KNIFE WHILE CARVING .. NEVER ! .. if you do anything .. keep your eyes on your knife and dont take your eyes off of it ..

Iam sure there are alot of older carvers that can do others things and carve too .. but even when doing the videos .. my eyes are on the carving at all times ..

just a suggestion

Gene

[Sharon of the Dell]

Every thing both of you have said is so true, and I know all of what was said is why I have gotten cut or stabbed. hopefully I have wised up!

[chuckbolton]

dull knives are the ones that cut u-- they drag and you put extra effort into pushing them thru the wood-- and it moves too fast or slips-- ive cut myself once bad enough that i required stitches-- and manyother minor cuts-- most always when pulling knife towards my hand-- done my thumb more times than i can count-- if i could learn to always push the knife that would help-- or do relief carving-- i dont see how u can hurt urself that way.

[Butch_Speer]

I agree with Plain_Ol_Ed. I was taught that using a glove would give you a false sense of security. If you don't use a glove you are much more conscious of where your fingers are. I've noticed at carving clubs that people with protection always keep their thumbs & fingers sticking over the carving. The gloves are so cumbersome that is the only way the wood can be held. I cut myself last month. A tiny little thing that didn't even bleed. Other than that, it's been at least 6 years since I've cut myself. As always this is just my opinion, & everyone knows that free advise is worth what you pay for it

[Tom-H]

I seldom nick myself anymore. I say this as there is a streak of super glue holding a slice together on my palm. This was due to a piece wood breaking while I carved. It was not always that way. As I learned knife control, and a certain amount of finese in carving, the nicks and cuts almost dissappeared.
What Ed says is spot on. If one would analyze what caused a nick or a cut, one could then avoid the same conditions in the future. But this, like everything elso comes with practice and time.

Tom H

[chuckt]

Agree with everyone's wisdom here. The gloves and guard can give one a false sense of security, however, I'll still use one because I know that my attention will lapse and I'll catch myself doing a cut with a body part in the path. Then I'll readjust to do the cut safely. For those time when I don't catch myself though - I want the glove/guard there to reduce the impact should I actually slice through to my hand/finger.

I think I need to resharpen since I've been noticing that I am having to use more force lately to make cuts. I've been stropping but I am not sure that's doing it anymore.

I've only nicked myself so far - minor things that drew blood but quickly healed and were fine with a small bandaid. I'd still like a better glove than those mesh things though.

ChuckT

ChuckT

[Clifford_Parker]

My last cut was while honing my first detail knife on a hard Arkansas stone about 7 years ago. The only time I wear anything is when I am using a paring cut and then I wear a thumbguard.

Rule #1 Keep your blades SHARP.

Rule #2 Keep any parts that bleed BEHIND the cutting edge.

Rule #3 If you must ignore Rule #2 use safety precautions.