A feel like I just worked out instead of Carve! Why?

[patriclop2pl]

Hi all,

I am still fairly new even though a started to carve in 2009. I got a bad cut and got discouraged. But lately, I been watching and downloading Gene's Youtube videos. And I have bitten by the Carving Bug. So I started to view and follow one of Gene video and started to carve a Hobo from a block of wood (No Band Saw). Carved for about 4 hours, the next day my thumb has a pea-sized blister and my forearms feel like I was lifting weights. Is it always going to feel like this? Any suggestions on how to combat this or is this something my body has to get used to?

Patty

[Tom Ellis]

Patty. Four hours is a pretty long carving session for a beginner. Let the blister heal, or put on a bandaid and keep going. Your muscles will work into the carving mode in no time if you keep it up. Just make sure you are having fun, and carve safe.

Tom

[ABitoSlo]

Ya - follow Dr. Tom's advise. :-) Some advice on blisters-I learned from backpacking that as soon as you feel a "hot spot" wrap it up and prevent the blister. We use moleskin and duct tape as soon as an area on our feet get sensitive, and good to go for another 20 miles with no issues, compared to a ripping nasty blister in just a couple miles. Make sense?

I'm a new carver also, and the other night was getting tired then pushed a small v-tool into my thumb. Not too bad until I almost did it again.Watch the fatigue so you don't hurt yourself.

Go lift some weights so you can carve stronger. :-) (Ok, not one of my better ideas) However I get pretty warm when carving as opposed to putting on a sweatshirt just sitting around, so I gotta assume we are getting some exercise. Have fun!

[patriclop2pl]

Originally Posted by Tom Ellis

Patty. Four hours is a pretty long carving session for a beginner. Let the blister heal, or put on a bandaid and keep going. Your muscles will work into the carving mode in no time if you keep it up. Just make sure you are having fun, and carve safe.

Tom

Thanks Tom for your speedy response
I will keep carving on. The four hours are because I just got into the carving that lost track of time.

Originally Posted by ABitoSlo

Ya - follow Dr. Tom's advise. :-) Some advice on blisters-I learned from backpacking that as soon as you feel a "hot spot" wrap it up and prevent the blister. We use moleskin and duct tape as soon as an area on our feet get sensitive, and good to go for another 20 miles with no issues, compared to a ripping nasty blister in just a couple miles. Make sense?

I'm a new carver also, and the other night was getting tired then pushed a small v-tool into my thumb. Not too bad until I almost did it again.Watch the fatigue so you don't hurt yourself.

Go lift some weights so you can carve stronger. :-) (Ok, not one of my better ideas) However I get pretty warm when carving as opposed to putting on a sweatshirt just sitting around, so I gotta assume we are getting some exercise. Have fun!

Thanks ABitoSlo for your quick response!
Thank you for the blister advice! It is true you do feel a hot spot. I just found it weird that I got I blister wearing my thumb guard (it was on this thumb)??

I have a work glove that also has grip so gonna put my thumb guard than the glove.

Thanks on the workout tip but I already do some weights and cardio, etc.

Patty

[Midnight Carver]

I know where you're coming from Patty, been there myself. I find it helps if I take a little break every once in a while. I don't time it, but it's probably once an hour, I get up and walk a little, get something to drink, etc.. to give my entire body a break from sitting still. Really helps me regain focus when I get back too.

Eric

[rare yellow zebra]

Patty,

Your arms were lifting& working with weights. Four hours of carving is akin to deciding you need more exercise and then going out and running a marathon. It is really easy to get completely immersed in carving. But as with any physical activity too much, too soon = your body yelling at you to please stop. Hang in there!
Jay

[SlowMover]

In addition, stretch the muscles in your fingers, arms, and shoulders occasionally when carving. Most folks tend to just hunch over and stay in the same position for hours and they overuse certain muscle groups. Try not to grip the tools or the piece too hard, or you will get sore really quick and then progress to a tendinitis that will linger for weeks. The tenancy to hold what you are carving with a tight "death grip" is almost universal at first, try to relax your hands and wrists as much as possible when using them, and you will automatically relax the arms and shoulders as well. pace yourself, and work up to longer sessions...after a two or three week break from carving on vacation, I find I get sore if I try to go right back to my usual session length, you have to work up to it slowly. Hang in there and things wll get better.

[BeaverDon]

When I got "sincere" about carving I did the same thing. But my joints hurt, my muscles hurt, I had a stiff neck. I finally realized I was substituting tension for control, in an effort to not get cut or mess up a carving. I think of it as something like playing a musical instrument like a guitar. You need time to develop tough fingers and hands. Also more experience will teach you to have sharper tools and a more relaxed technique. But most of all, you have to "train" yourself to take breaks and find a new position. Just stand up and move around in the middle of a session. It really helps. Or stop on a carving for a bit and catch up on painting for a break.

[luscher]

Originally Posted by patriclop2pl

Is it always going to feel like this? Any suggestions on how to combat this or is this something my body has to get used to?

i would be *seriously* surprised if anyone started carving and did not experience some variation, or exactly, what you describe. my experience was identical, and many old timers reported the same blisters and muscle aches. this is only at first, of course

after getting out of the service i went on a canoe trip with a few others, and ended up doing nearly all the rowing. despite the intense lifestyle i had just been released from i could barely walk the following day, and was terribly sore for a few days afterwards

like the rest of us you'll simply need to pace yourself at first (always easier after you have a blister or two) and limit yourself to a shorter carving interval each day

for safety's sake never, never continue to carve a single cut when you feel the least bit tired (mentally or physically). even - or especially - when you have built up carving endurance

welcome back and best of luck !

[Nomad]

If you cross your legs when you carve, sooner or later one of your legs will fall asleep, which will force you to get up and take a break. This is my secret method and I don't normally share my carving secrets but I'll make an exception here.