don't brag

[twymanok]

I relearned a valuable lesson yesterday. I was bragging the other day how I haven't cut myself in quite a spell carving. at the on post craft center I went to grab my tool roll I laid open my right thumb, 2 hours later I had to assist someone with their project I always roll my tools up before I leave my table, (I had a young Soldier one day "borrow" one of my chisels while I was helping someone and damaged the edge). after I got finished went to flip my tool roll open and got the other thumb. I will wear a glove while carving but I never thought I needed to wear the gloves while setting up.

[SlowMover]

Most all of the injuries I have sustained were not while actually carving. I have stabbed myself when putting tools in the roll, or getting them out. I also have a bad habit of putting tools on my lap (I carve in the recliner with a blanket over me) by stabbing myself looking for a tool in the fold of the blanket. Always be careful, those tools are just as sharp when you aren't carving with them as as when you are carving.

[Robson Valley]

I have come so very close to spearing/stabbing/cutting my hands with my carving gouges. When? Never in the carving process. No worries. Just like SlowMover, the very act of setting up or putting the tools away in the rolls is my greatest risk. As I slide the tool handles in/out of the pockets, I often disregard the sharp edges of other tools as I move past them. Gloves on first, off last.

[Tom Perdue]

Not to say that I look forward to cutting myself, but I have long used the cliché,
Never trust a woodcarver that says he never cuts himself,,,,,,,He will lie about more important stuff

[Sharon of the Dell]

I haven't cut myself carving for quite a while, but those tools laying in the rolls can leave some nasty little nicks! Nothing serious, but sure some close calls. TY God!

[Mark Dellinger]

Something that I did with all of my gouges and V-tools after a similar incident, I went to town and bought about two feet of misc size clear rubber hose and cut them to fit over the shaft of the tools and let the hose stick past the cutting edge about 1/2". T find this protects both me and the tools.

Safe Carving and God Bless,

Mark

[Lazy Carver]

Well Matt, your signature says it all! Just keep a carvin'!
Sincerely, Rob Vega (Lazy Carver)