Safety tip

Safety tip of the week
1. when carving put down the knife before picking up the coffee cup.
2. always wear safety glasses when drinking coffee.

Smiles--UncleBuck

[Hi_Ho_Sliver]

that sounds terrible, I hope that was not from experience!! :rolleyes:

Ouch

I must admit, I've almost done that a few times. When you're concentrating on your carving, you sometimes forget to do the obvious. I tend to put down the flexible shaft before it stops spinning :

Chris.

I agree I cut myself quite a bit but I have noticed that it is when I am not concentrating on my carving. I now warn people who are watching me carve that I am not being rude when I dont look at them when carving. Also I find that when I am concentrating on my carving looking where I am going next then reach into my tool case for another chisel, also when I am putting them away in the roll. But that comes with being a carver its not so bad unless you have to get stitches. Mind you I have done that on occasion too. :'(
Colin

[lorax]

'Ya Know you comforatble with a chisel in your hand when...'
(sounds like the makings of a great thread Huh?) I once went to wipe some sweat from my eyes, and brought up a 3/4 inch chisel close enough to shave off my eyebrow! I'm glad I've never had a fly land on my face when I was using my mallet .

Virgil,
My favorite unsafe act is cleaning up. The gouge in between my thumb and forefinger of my right hand, choked up so only the sharp edge is exposed. Then with the back of my right hand and with my left I brush chips off my relief carvings. Unfortunately this action brings my hands close together and on several occassions I have slashed my left hand with the tool in my right. It really doesn't hurt because it happens so fast that you make several more strokes and notice you are throwing blood on the wall behind the work bench. Never stiches but this has caused several short retirements from carving. I really only carve in the winter so my season isn't that long to begin with.
Ah Chip
PS: Yes I know a glove might prevent this.

[Hi_Ho_Sliver]

you said it 'wear a glove' cheaper than a doctors visit!! by a long shot!

[Hi_Ho_Sliver]

I don't hear of anyone wearing a thumb guard on here? I haven't been, but wondering if I should...that brought me to an idea I had for one that is comfortable and doesn't get in the way, if anyone is interested let me know...don't know if I can describe very well, maybe I should take a picture and post it?

[Kenny_S]

Yep, take a picture and post it on the picture trail. Got several thumb guards,,,,,,,, ah but I don't use them. Wear the glove on the left hand, hehhehehehhehe, no protection on the right. Real smart eh! Well the little bride doesn't think so! :

[Callynne]

Hey guys, I wear a thumb guard every single time I carve. I keep lots of them around, tend to misplace them once in a while : okay, all the time!! From how many I've gone through (noticed a slice the whole way through my latest one last night), my thumb would be a mess without them. Callynne