Most comforable carving position?

[Tom-H]

Here's a question for those of you all who spend considerable time carving. I sometimes settle in to do some carving, and stay at it for 4 to 5 hours. I'll not mention the type of chair I sit in, but I have recently developed some bad back aches. Perhaps I need a new chair.

Anybody else have this problem, and what type of chair have you all found to be the most comfortable?

Thanks, Tom H

[Eddy-Smiles]

I carve in a seat of opportunity! Anyplace that I can park my butt is fine with me! The opportunity presents itself so rare that this beggar can't be a chooser!

[Hi_Ho_Sliver]

Unfortunately I seem to always carve standing up? And that gives me a backache too lol

[Just Carving]

Tom

I've carved in a lot of chairs, and for me, what matters most is that I'm comfortable, and that I don't stay in one position for too long--which is applicable to any joint of my body as well as the back and neck. I hurt my back a number of times when working with the rescue squad, and every time, it was rehab by exercises to loosen up the stiffness and strengthen the weakness. And every time I was told not to sit or stand for too long, and to walk or swim--in another words, moderate exercise, and to avoid being sedentary. So, at the very least, before making any drastic changes, try doing the easiest and get your self an egg timer or any alarm to remind you to take a break every 30 minutes--which is what I was told to do at work to avoid stiffness when sitting at the computer station all day. The break isn't much--just a few minutes up and out of the chair, gradually and gently stretch a little--especially the spots that are stiff from being in one postion too long--like the arm or the fingers that hold the piece you're carving, or the neck from looking down for too long, etc. Just move around, get a drink of water, a piece of fruit, go to the john, just move. Do that and you might find that your aches will ease up a bit.

Bob L

[Scott Hagerty]

My most comfortable carving chair is my easychair. I have a lap table I use. Of course this is only for hand held projects. My wife doesn't complain much as long as I clean up after myself.

Scott

[susieq]

when I was a gouge carver I didn't sit... I stood and worked with the piece clamped into a carving vise. I worked bent over that standing up....it had it's share of back aches....

As a power carver now, I work sitting down. I have an adjustable seat that is a dental assistant's chair with a swivel back rest that comes around front if I want to lean forward and rest on it while working over the dust collector. We have a whole sale dental supply warehouse up the road from us and I saw the chairs in there one day while digging through their dental bits for carving. Santa brought it for Christmas and I have used it for several years now. It is probably the best you can get for a job you sit for hours doing.

I guess it would be good for gouge and knife carving too, being that it is adjustable for height, swivels, you can bring the back rest around front to lean forward on. I love mine. But no matter what you sit on, when you sit for hours at a time doing something, there will be some stiffness, some aches and pains.

[squbrigg]

I have a comfortable office style chair for most of my carving. All adjustable: back support, arms support, height adjustable, swivel and tilt and stable. Yes, I have probably taken comfort and support to an extreme, but it's what I need to carve. (as a result of a car accident, back and neck injuries, I am limited in strength and endurance, but the arm supports are a great reliever) The more comfort and support I have, the longer I'm able to carve and the happier I am. I also use a big lazy-boy style arm chair, with a lap tray, but it's not as comfortable.

Bob

[gene-messer]

Tom .. Since most of my carving is at work at night or elsewhere .. I carve in what I can get ..

But I had a chiropractor tell me that it isnt so much the chair you sit in as it is the way we hold our neck and shoulders for long periods of time in one position .. Like bob was talking about .. So breaks every fifteen to thirty minutes is a must to stretch and limber up ..

After doing this . it has helped me alot for stiffness ..

Gene

[Kenny_S]

Best position is fork in one hand and knife in the other perched ready to carve a good prime rib steak.

I know, go back in to my little world. They don't like me there but know me all to well. LOL

I set in just about anything but finding out the older I get, the less time it takes to get uncomfortable.
I like Bob's idea in taking breaks or changing positions.

[Tom-H]

Thanks everyone for the responses. Bob and Gene might have put me in the right direction, too. This morning when I was planning on carving and little else, I set a timer for 30 minutes. Egads that went fast! I got up and walked downstairs to fill up the coffee mug. Every 30 minutes the timer went off, and I got up and moved around. I guess, without realizing it I was spending way too much time in one position without really moving, except my hands and wrists. While it may be nice to loose yourself in your carving, it its not good on your back and neck. Thanks folks, I feel better already.

Tom H