North American Fruit Explorers mailing list at ibiblio

[rob hamilton <lostman_amiga@yahoo.com>]

I am a novice. I hope I can speak for other novices on
this list. 
I have just started chip budding this year. I may do a
proper graft next year. I have not cut myself yet, but
I can see it happening. I have not had any real
experience with carving (other than a little chip
carving). When I was shown how to bud and graft, I was
focusing more on the wood cuts and the wrapping not
the position of the hand or the knife.

With this in mind I need to be shown (again) exactly
how to hold the knife and the scion for the safest
results. Maybe I am overly fearful, but I would feel
better if shown again. 

This is a wonderful time for this topic to came up
because I am on my way to see a few orchards from some
of this list members this next week on the way to the
SFF meeting. I hope be able graft with more confidence
next spring!

Robert


--- list@ginda.us wrote:
> 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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