To begin with this one, it starts about 3 months ago, when I started to attend wood carving lessons at the Carousel Museum by my house. My wife bought me lessons for my birthday, which was a great idea and I quickly became addicted to it.
However, as many things in life, I didn't have that much time at the time to practice during the classes. The classes were great and lasted about 5 hours every Saturday morning for about 4 weeks and we could get there early and talk with the teacher who was a retired school teacher of about 45 years, a master carver of about 35 years, and one of the caretakers of the wood shop for the carousel.
The class was about 12 people which was a "full class", and I wouldn't want it with any more people than that. The very first day we went over some basics. I took about 3 swipes with my knife and stopped because I was afraid of slicing off my finger. I was holding everything correctly and making the proper strokes and cuts...but my confidence was shaken by general nervousness of that unknown...which then is a self-perpetuating cycle. Our instructor then offered Kevlar gloves at a low cost to us...and told us that the more professional the wood worker, the more protection they wear...simply because that is their lively-hood. If they get a scratch or cut and can't perform how they usually do, then they are losing money. The instructor also mentioned that cuts are usually deter beginners. So I promptly bought one of those inexpensive Kevlar gloves. It works great and right away I noticed a difference in my confidence in carving, which then was a self-perpetuating cycle as a beginner. As I cut more and didn't cut myself and was more confident that if I slip the glove will protect me, I became more confident with my strokes and cuts and knife usage, which leads to better cuts and accuracy and less chances of hitting myself with a knife blade regardless of the glove.
Now, when I was in High School, I worked at a flower shop and accidentally cut my thumb off...nothing major, just the skin and such at the top (along with the nail...no bone). I had worked there for 3 years at that point, also wore a glove every day I worked chopping off the stems and such, and had worked plenty of holiday rushes. That year in particular, they just expanded (kinda....they bought a room that was already part of the building), hired a couple extra people for the holiday, and it was within my last month or two of working there. I was about done for the day when we had a delivery of roses, I quickly dethorned them and cut them and chopped off my thumb....forgetting to put my gloves back on ofcourse before I did any of that knife work. Ever since then, I have been very nervous around knives.
I am a father now of a 2 year old...and my wife is an awesome cook and my daughter loves to watch and pretend to join in. Overall I am not a nervous person. However, I have a heart attack when I come home and I see my daughter with her tiny hands on the kitchen island and my wife has the cutting board on that dicing up veggies for the meal. I trust them both....but I just can't handle that.
Last night however, the same thing from years ago happened to me causing me more anxiety around knives. I didn't have any school, no homework, christmas was over, things were clean, no extra work-work, and I didn't feel like watching TV or logging onto the computer. So, I started carving. I have consistantly carved about once a week since the classes for about 2 hours each time. My friend just got me a new gouge set and I saw a cool video online for making a ball in a box. I cut up a project I was working on for my boss at work, but never got around to it....and decided to make the ball in a box. Unfortunately, I was not wearing my glove and first sliced my finger. Nothing bad, barely noticed until I saw a red drop on the wood. That was my first cut carving. That should have been the sign to put my glove back on...so I continued. About 5 minutes later I jabbed myself in the write with a brand new, newly stropped and sharpened chisel. I felt like an idiot and my wife enjoyed the moment of "what are you doing without your glove".
The cut wasn't too deep and not too bad...but I am and was nervous about it. It did stop bleeding before I went to bed....but I was checking it every 5 minutes.
So now, that brings me to looking for a glove and protection for Wood Carving in general. The glove works great....I actually have the one below....
I am looking into this thumb and finger guard as well, and looking for reviews and thoughts....
When it comes to wrist protection, I am seeing very little...and most people just recommend a simple wrist guard or a glove. Granted where I cut myself on my wrist a glove would have prevented things, but what about the sleeves for protection?
6 pack for $22.28
Black Stallion Kevlar Sleeves
1 Pair for $16.96
Mechanix Wear Kevlar Sleeves
1 Pair for $20.36
It seems as if the Mechanix have better and more reviews overall, but both of the higher end ones many people say they wear and stretch too much and plan on buying another pair in a few months. I don't want to buy a pair every few months. I don't mind buying the occassional pair, but I can't justify buying them constantly, especially at $20 each, when I could be spending that money on something better.
Let me know your thoughts and I will let you know what I choose and how it works out.
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