one thing you can do if your glove is 'slippery'... take a hot glue gun and drizzle the glue over the palm and fingers in a cross hatch pattern. gives a nice flexible no slip grip that will last a good long while.

Dave

[Chahlie]

Hi All,

I for one am a proponent of using a glove when carving, especially if the hand is holding the piece I am working on. I have had a few near misses and one or two minor nicks that convinced me that it was better to cut leather/kevlar than to cut me...respect your tools and what they can and will do if you don't respect them.

Oh Colin...from looking at your work which I find excellent, I dont see your using a glove much, except maybe to protect your hand from mallet strikes...am I wrong, due you muscle it more than I assume?

Chahlie

[mikeg]

I use a Kevlar glove I got from http://www.woodcarvers.com/ It is covered with little plastic dots which provide good gripping power. They have 3-4 different sizes and are reasonably priced. I've worn it since I started carving not too long ago so I'm used to it and so far, so good.

mikeg

[Callynne]

I ALWAYS wear my glove, it's a kevlar one (without the little dots on it). Learned the hard way one month into this carving business, cut off a little bit of the tip of a finger. Better safe than sorry!!
I don't mind the glove at all, I don't have any problem holding on to the piece I'm working on, really got used to it very quickly. Think the biggest thing is to get one that fits, that way it will be more comfortable.
You're smart to decide to start out from the beginning being safe! Callynne

P.S. Talked on here before about mending little cuts in the glove, read this summer about using self adhesive mole skin to wrap around and reinforce places that get the most wear and tear. Figured I'd give it a try since my glove was at the 'constant repair stage'. The stuff works wonderfully!! It's been on for a couple months now and shows no sign of wear, cutting through or coming off. When I do buy a new glove I'm putting it on to start with!

Being in the supply business, I receive free samples of gloves to try out. I test them by trying to cut off a finger of the glove; how well the glove holds up to that test determines if I will sell it. (No my finger is not in the glove at the time of the test)

I have tested some that I cut completely through the glove with one slice (including one that had wire in it). Others did not cut at all, they just dulled my knife. Some gloves required several cuts in the same place to cut through.

[BobD]

So, what brand do you reccomend, Rick?

Bob,
Naturally, I recommend exactly what I sell.

Since you work for WCI, why don't you push for a 'Consumer Reports' style testing of the available gloves? Â*

The product tests I have seen so far in woodcarving magazines were nothing but advertisments in disguise.

I realize that advertisers pay the bills, and must not be alienated, but I also believe that fair and unbiased tests would only benefit your magazine and build its credibility. Â*Your subscribers might also benefit from fewer trips to the hospital.

Rick

I second what Rick said ... haven't seen an objective report yet, but my hopes are high.

[BobD]

Good point. I'll see what I can do!

I can see it almost as a chart listing the benefits and disadvantages of each glove--flexibility vs. safety vs. puncture resistance vs. price. Perhaps I'm an eternal optimist, but I believe that there is something good about most things (except garbage tools that don't hold an edge) but then again, people should have the opportunity to choose a glove (or anything) based on features they prefer.

A little while ago, Wood did a chart on glue--what glue is best for what purpose. I can almost see this article taking the same route.

While we are at it, what do you all want to see reviews on?

Bob

[Nancy_G]

If/when you do a review of gloves - please include SIZE. I've never found any glove to fit my small hands.
For me, if a glove doesn't feel snug, if it slips around, it's more of a danger than a safety precaution.
TIA