Fml

[Benjamin]

Sounds like you joined the crowd in more ways than one. We have all cut our fingers or other parts one time or another. Was at a carving show and listened to a man tell me about how I should learn tools correctly. LOL, about 30 minutes later I was watching his finger bleed while he was carving something. We all do it. Benjamin

[pallin]

Yes, we have all cut ourselves while carving, but I don't believe cuts are inevitable. If you learn to carve with your workpiece secured and your hands behind the tool it is less likely. When you get more familiar with carving you can progress to hand-held projects.

Also, I strongly advise against using an X-acto knife. The pressures of carving will loosen the blade collet, allowing the blade to swivel and losing control of your cut.

[Ripton]

lesson #1: Skin cuts much easier than wood.. Your Grade... A

I have more than my share of reminders as well...

[Whitler21]

Hey Fizz.... when you were looking for wood in the woods... Right there where the dead pine trees were laying... there were probably some pine knots laying on the ground... (Great for carving Wood Spirits). Just kick around the area around the dead tree and you will find a treasure of knots...

[Dileon]

Heck I cut myself all the time.... got some nasties lately...got the first aid kit next to the bench...stop the bleeding , slap on a bandage, refuse to go get stitches and just keep on carving and I get really P.O. when I have clean up blood that stops the carving process. I have had to go to doctors for that medical super glue. A long time ago I took a carving class...the first thing the instructor said was... your going to cut yourself, and sometime bad, if you can not handle it then you can leave class....I laughed, I just feel grateful that body still knows how to heal. Just make sure the sucker does not get infected or wet. It happens to all of us...keep on trying. Di

[Druid]

Fizz, hope your cut heals fast!. I'm reading this 'cos i just stopped carving after i cut my index finger fairly deeply - with a Flexcut detail knife. I thought i was about to cut across the grain on the tip of a leaf and i got fuddled with turning it, cut with the grain and it sheered off with a click, i got the full blade length flat into my finger.
My problem is it rattled me and i have to stop for a while and then pick up something else.

Originally Posted by uvawyo

I've been thinking about carving the praying hands with lots o bandades on the fingers and thumbs then it would be the praying hands of a carver
I am sorry you cut yourself so soon

Uvawyo, you have to do that. It sound's like the sort of thing we all need!

[Gulf Coast Handyman]

Get a glove and thumb guard!! Hope you heal up real quick and get back to carving!

Dave

[Gulf Coast Handyman]

BTW- I also use a leather apron, can't be to safe.

Dave

[WhittleBurner]

Bummer you cut yourself. The good part is it will heal. The gloves work great against slices, it's those darn pokes that get by 'em.

I learned this summer to use a lap board or a sheet of leather, AFTER I sliced my leg whittling on a snake stick while we were camping way back in the woods. Good thing for me we keep a well stocked first aid kit. Plus in the carving tool bag I keep a deep wound kit, that paid for itself that afternoon. But a good pair of jeans got cut and stained.

[Whittled Thumb]

LOL @ you carvers who are freak out when ya cut yourself. Don't, else you will never carve again. You're gona cut yourself all the time, some bad cuts som little nicks, just put a bandaid no it and go on, or if you're me you ignore it and wind up with blood on your carving lol. When I cut myself , my wife is like HOW BAD THIS TIME?

And as I said, my rule, two cuts and I stop carving for the night. When I get careless enough to slice myself twice, I stop lol