Exercises for Wood Carvers

[Northwest29]

Greetings all,

Does anyone know of specific excersies that one can do to specifically strengthen the hands and forearms? Or recommend a web link, etc.?

Thanks in advance.

[gene-messer]

Try this .. a simple method .. use a simple tennis ball and put it in your carving hand durning the day and simply squeeze it for a period of time for exercise ..

I do it and it helps me keep my hands limber ..

Also , I wear a wrist brace like you buy at walmart pharmacy on my carving hand when I carve to keep my wrist straight .. it helps me to not put so much pressure on my wrist ..

and most important ,, when you carve long periods of time .. take breaks every 15 to thirty minutes for rest ..

hope this helps in some way ..

Gene

[Joy]

Yes, the ball squeezing is great. Also, any of the exercises that golfers use to strengthen their forearms would work. Of course, the best thing is to carve every day!

[doris]

i use a hande from a broom, fix a rope to that and a weight to the rope, then i stretch out my arms horizontally, hod the broom handle and rotate, the weight moved up...when it is most up i rotate other direction... first i could do only once, now can do some more...

[Dan Wegiel]

I use weights, whatever weight feels comfortable, and hold my arms in several different positions and twist while sitting on an excercise ball. By sitting on the ball, I'm also working other parts of my body needed to carve hardwood. Actually just started back on my regimine this morning with light weights (only 1 lb), but will eventually get to 10 lbs. When carving everyday, as Joy said, nothing is needed. Its about the same concept as what Doris does.

Dan

[Marci MN]

Another is a strong nerf type ball.. I squease it with my hands and then press into it with my thumbs. Its my left thumb that gave me the most problems and I can tell its getting stronger again.

Smart idea to think of toning those muscles up instead of injuring them.

[Kenny_S]

Mine is a fork in my carving hand and lots of food. Gives both hand and arm lots of exercise. HEHEHEHEHHE.

[xsailer]

Kenny, you're a case.

[Hi_Ho_Sliver]

Originally Posted by Kenny_S

Mine is a fork in my carving hand and lots of food. Gives both hand and arm lots of exercise. HEHEHEHEHHE.

You can also exercise your elbows.....pushing away from the table LOL

[PeteM]

I bought a 'Gripmaster', which is used by guitar players (and others) to help strengthen fingers.

I'm not sure it is any better than a tennis ball, but does work on individual fingers.

This is a UK site, I'd guess a similar product is available in the US.

Website here


I'd also agree with Joy - woodcarving itself will strengthen your forearms and hands, although they might be sore to start with. If you carve for an hour or two every day, after a couple of weeks you will notice a difference.