[Merle Rice]

Don't know if anyone knows this, but I found it out by accident. When my Carving hand got tired I would take my carving Glove off and Rub my hand. My glove has those little nibs and when I rubbed carving hand with the glove on it felt GREAT. Don't know if this is common knowledge but felt it was worth mentioning. Try it you'll like it. Merle

[Hi_Ho_Sliver]

Try a pin vise.....it will help witht he smaller carvings. OOps, guess its called a "universal work holder" I have always called it a pin vise because the pins go in it to the shape of whatever you clamp....

[Thomp]

merle,

ive made lots of handles in lot of different ways, ive added rawhide to some, whimp wrap buildup, and even soft rubber like thick mouse pads and water pipe insylation, i put wooden balls on the handles of my dockyard gouges and still find when your hands cramp its time to quit, or soak them in hot water,

when carving small things i find it easier to leave them connected to the practice block, i can pin them under my leg between the leg and chair to relieve holding stress,