North American Fruit Explorers mailing list at ibiblio

["del stubbs" <pinewoodel@hotmail.com>]

> Speaking of grafting wounds (on people). Has anyone
> tried those Kevlar or leather gloves the wood carvers
> use to protect the fingers?
> ...or do they just get in the way?

As someone who makes woodcarving knives and teaches hand carving - I am not 
eager for folk to rely on kevlar gloves, although many carvers use them. 
They are a bit clumsy and I much prefer people learn safety grips, stops, 
and attitudes that preclude cuts. I find it no different with doing w/t 
grafts. Grafting is living woodcarving.
For example, when pulling a w/t cut, angle the blade about 45 degrees to the 
stick (this greatly helps to level the cut - as well as slicing more 
efficiently). The edge can be 'aimed' at the same hands' thumb (since teh 
thumb is used under the graft for support)- the key is that the thumb is 
locked in position, it never closes to meet the knife. It is common to carve 
by closing the fingers toward the thumb. this is not a good practice  for 
planing cuts (as in wt grafting), use the arm, not the fingers, to power the 
tool- sliding the arm along the body gives good control.
I understand the self adhesive wrap used by veternarians is superior to the 
products like 'wimp wrap' that are used to wrap, say, a thumb's end or other 
offending body part as a protector.
The resulting wrap can be removed in one piece and reused.
Del Stubbs    www.pinewoodforge.com     ag zone2/3

_________________________________________________________________
Tired of spam? Get advanced junk mail protection with MSN 8. 
http://join.msn.com/?page=features/junkmail