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Blades/edges should
be kept very sharp. Sharp edges require less pressure to make
clean cuts and result in better control of the tool. If you
have difficulty sharpening your edges. get some "hands on"
instruction from a carver who has mastered this task.
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Develop and
maintain a constant awareness of where and how far
your blade will travel when it comes out of the cut under
pressure. Other body parts, grandchildren and pets could be in
harms way. (Talking politics while carving is not a good
idea.)
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Some inexperienced
carvers have a sense of dread and a fear of cutting themselves to
the extent that it limits their potential carving ability and
enjoyment. A carver's glove worn on the holding hand will eliminate
the necessity for extreme caution and lead to more carving
enjoyment. These gloves have metal mesh in the fabric and
afford excellent protection. Some users of safety gloves have
had difficulty gripping the work piece. A thin coat of rubberized
caulking compound applied only to the surface of
the glove that comes into contact with the work piece will greatly
reduce the problem.
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A well-equipped
carving tool box will include a few Band-Aids and a small tube of
Neosporin. Nicks and cuts, whether they be yours or a friend's
will heal much faster with a dab of Neosporin covered with a Band
Aid.
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Avoid breathing
sanding/grinding dust, especially if you are working with spalted
wood. Micro-organisms are often present in spalted wood that
have been known to attack the lungs of woodcarvers resulting in
incurable lung disease. Dust masks and/or dust collectors
should be used without fail.
