[mikeGinSC]

Howdy,

I was curious. I've sort of trained myself to use tools with either hand as a carpenter. Comes in handy sometimes. Do you all try to use your "off hand" to carve, be it power carve or with hand tools? Sometimes it feels kind of awkward, but I feel it will make me a better carver. I have the most trouble using a detail or carving knife with my left hand. Are there any specific "exercises" I can do to train my left hand? Thanks.

Mike G. in SC

[mdallensr]

Hi Mike G. My carving instructor encouraged us to learn to carve with both hands, to make some cuts quicker and easier. Many of the master carvers claim it's important too. I made a resolution this year to work on it; fortunately there's a lot of year left. I haven't read about any specific exercizes other than just practice, practice, practice. Good luck. Mike

[doris]

yes, i try teach me using my left hand too for carving (i am right handed), as it is very difficult to carve left of a nose with the right hand, ...also it seems be easier to get symmetry in a face, if one can swap hands...but it is really hard to learn, still feels very clumsy for me, so i too would like to know if there is a way to make this learning easier

[Plain_Ol_Ed]

I need to thank y'all for giving me the incentive to start learinig to use my left hand. I've read of the importance of using your other hand and even noticed it in my own carvings. But, was always to lazy to really give it a go. After reading this thread, I decided to give it a serious effort. At least 15 minutes a day I have devoted to left hand learning. After just one session, I don't feel quite as clumsy. Most problems I have had so far is duplicating my right hand grip with my left, control of the depth of cuts, and fatigue. I see why new carvers complain about getting tired.

[Jim-Iowa]

I certainly think it would be to ones benefit, and have to comment from another perspective. I have been mostly hopelessly left handed for most of my life(Complicated by being blind in the left eye, it puts depth percetion off am mite). Most tools are designed for Righthanded people in this righthanded world. Though I do have a lefthanded porter cable skilsaw. When I worked in the factory all jobs were set up to be done by a righthanded person(so everything was backwards to me).
It has only been in the past 20 yrs, since I went to work in an office that I have developed some dexterity in my right hand by working at my computer with my left hand and running a 10 Key Calculator with the right hand.
I still am not comfortable handling a knife or chisel righthanded, but try just the same. If one can I think it would certainly be an assett.

[Mottles]

Hi Mike, I'm left handed and out of necessity learn to be ambidextrous too. I do use a knife in my right hand if I can get a better angle for a cut. It isn't just knives, but gouges sometimes feel better in my right hand. Sometimes, it's the handle of the tool that feel better in my right hand. Primarily, though I use my left hand mostly, but it's sure nice to be flexable.
Kathy

[TreeWizard]

I've been trying to use my off hand. With wood clamped in my workmate, I just find it easier to make some cuts with the off hand than take the piece out and reclamp it to keep using the same hand.

[Dylan]

Another lefty here. Yes I do think that it's useful to be ambidextrous. I use mallet a lot and that I think makes it easier to learn to use the off-hand, as the tool is all ready being held in the off-hand. As for the knife, lets just say that I'm working on it.

Dylan

[Hi_Ho_Sliver]

I used to be ambidextrous until I found I couldn't spell it with my left hand

[A Willburger]

Another benefit to being ambidextrous is avoiding repetitive injuries such as tendinitis(tennis elbow) and wrist problems.
Andy