Safety when hand Carving

Common sense can save you from injuries.

When hand carving one must consider the fact that, the tools you're using are very sharp.

I once took a class where a young person slipped with the carving tool and had to have stitches. This could have been avoided if the student had had on a carving glove. In the same class, a person placed their carving across their leg and was fortunate enough to not have a severe problem from the cut they received on their leg.

Remember there are several things you can do to protect yourself. One of the most important things to remember when carving hand is to keep your tools sharp. If your tools are dull, you are more likely to slip and cut yourself. Learn to not aim the tools at yourself as you carve and never hold it over your leg as you carve. Place the carving a holding device or lay on the table.

I personally wear a leather apron that covers me from my chest to my thighs and I have purchased a carving glove that will protect me against most cuts. Some people prefer to wrap their fingertips as they work, but I feel that will leave a big unprotected area, if you're tool slips. As a beginner, you might want to consider to what extent you're going to take your carving experience and purchase a wood holding device. There are many devices available that will hold many weights and sizes of carving wood, and it may save you from a serious injury.



Since you are only wearing one carving glove place the tools so that your fingers on your unprotected hand will not strike a sharp tool as you pick them up from your work area. When carving if you drop a tool Never try to catch the tool as it falls even if it will run the test on a hard surface like the tool fall to the floor.

When teaching classes. I usually do not take students under the age of 16 unless their parents stay with them during the class. Children love to carve and do very well, but it is best to have extra supervision when working with kids in large groups.