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