Safety, Safety, Safety

Safety is very important.  It is no fun recovering from a cut, or having your spouse take you to the hospital for stitches.  Trust me I have been there.  Growing up as a kid and not getting good sound basics in whittling I had a few cuts.  Fortunately none were serious.


The basics of safety can be split into 3 simple rules:

1. If you are not in the right frame of mind don't carve.  Being angry, tired, or frustrated may lead to carelessness.  Putting too much pressure or not paying enough attention can have disastrous results.
2. Wear protection.  Finger and thumb guards are very inexpensive.  Usually they don't last so buy some extras.  The finger guards we use are from TreelineUSA.com.  They are less than $2 and are great in my opinion.  Not too mention the Customer Service is very good.  I also like Treeline's Tuff-Knit Gloves.  These are gloves with stainless steel cords and synthetic fibers to provide cut and slash protection.   Be aware no cut or slash resistant glove will provide protection from a stab (from a gouge or knife).  I find them a little tougher and stiffer than my preference but overall I appreciate the safety aspect.  One caution they love wood chips. 
3. Be aware of your surroundings.  If you have small kids and frequently have to get up for whatever reason, it is not a good idea to carve when you might have to leave a tool behind that small fingers could access.  It is better to wait till the kids are in bed or someone can watch them for you.  Also pay attention to what you are doing with the blade.  There will be cuts away and towards you.  If done properly they are safe.  Things to pay special attention to are density changes in wood, a knife slip, and where are your other body parts (or someone else's) in relation to where and how you are cutting.

Dave


mrs.izzy's notes

I want to add my appreciation of the safety glove. I find I have more control carving away from me than going towards me, but sometimes I have no choice because of the grain of the wood or because of the obstacles in what I'm carving. More than once, while carving towards me, my knife had slipped and poked through my glove. The extent of my injury is a shallow poke. But had I not been wearing a glove, I would have ended up in the ER.

As far as the $2 finger guard, my thumb guard stitching started unraveling. The leather part is stitched to a black elastic and that's where it came unraveled. While I can stitch it back by hand or by sewing machine, I'd rather not stop take time away from carving and do that.