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I'm with Del.  I used to whittle a lot, and I don't entirely understand 
how people cut themselves while grafting.  The cuts needed for grafting 
are simple, straight, flat cuts that can easily be done without 
endangering your fingers.  What you need is not kevlar, which will make 
you clumsy, but someone to show you better ways of holding the blade 
and manipulating the moving parts.

Del is right about using the arms for power.  Another thing to think 
about is if you can pull the wood against the blade, instead of the 
blade against the wood.  Depending on how you are holding things, that 
can be safer.


On Friday, July 25, 2003, at 10:24  PM, del stubbs wrote:

> > 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
>
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