The 5 Min. Carving Class

[rick-in-seattle]

This day, I was scheduled to teach a beginning carving class. I enjoy helping new carvers, often their questions will really make me think why it is I do the things I do.

As the class begins, I have the students come to the front of the class to observe my cuts.
As I accurately remove only the finest chips, the class is fixated on my skillful hands.
I’m moving like a top notch surgeon as I deftly manipulate each tool.
This intense observation of my every move brings a bead of sweat to my brow.
Each cut must be perfect; after all, I am the expert here, the one being paid.

"Now that I have the corners knocked off, I am ready to make a few well placed knife cuts". Without thinking, I say “hand me that knife please”.

“Hand me that knife” seems like a pretty innocent request.
This type of statement reminds me of other phrases with similar results such as; “I think the fuse went out; light it again”, “Just jump, you can make it”, or my favorite; “Come on in, he won’t bite”.

The desire to deliver the knife before another student results in a movement often seen in competition fast-pitch softball. At the same time, my hand is held out like a surgeon waiting for a scalpel.

As the entire class watches intently, the knife is delivered; the high-pitched screams are deafening; as they subside, I realize I am the only one screaming.

[wade clark]

Rick,
Surgeons only let trained personnel hand them tools, and I'll bet that's why! Hope you're OK!
Wade

[Thor]

Stabbed by your own student! That's horrible!
Geez, I won't be asking anyone to hand me a knife ever after reading that....
Hope you're ok.
Thor

[Anthony Filetti]

YYYOUCH!!!!

[DICK "chipncut" CAIN]

That's one thing about teaching carving. You learn something yourself. I have taught a few carving classes, & I tell my students that I'm also learning. I hope it wasn't to bad of a cut.
Dick

[Hi_Ho_Sliver]

I don't think it was a cut, I think it was a cut up story LOL

[Ashbys]

Might want to start the clases with the proper way to handle knives.

Sad

hope the hand is not too bad .
Ash

[JIM QUILICI]

wow!.......... that is one scary story, a story a grampa might tell around a camp fire while camping with his grand kids. (better than any ghost story ) a story that makes the hair on your back stand up ( if you have hair on you back).
Just old Jim

[whitecree]

Should I send you an extra large bandaid?

[Kenny_S]

"I made a deal with my wife. I will stop calling her the little woman if she will stop calling me the big mistake."

Jim, I wish that was all the little bride called me!!!!!!!!
Actually, just today She said. I was a freak of nature And few other choice names when I told her she had enough scrapbooking supplies loaded already for the trip. Bet I will be bring back more than we left with.
I wonder why she wanted to take the pickup to Dallas/FT Worth/