"Stupid is as stupid does"..................Duh!

[Eddy-Smiles]

My wife went to get her hair cut this morning and because we had some shopping to do afterwards, I tailed along. As per my habit I brought along my carving bag. However, upon opening it, much to my dismay, I found that I had left my Lee Valley Stainless Steel Chain mail Glove at home. But not to be stopped, I pulled out my back up glove that I always keep with the bag, a Rapala Cut Resistant Filleting Glove. In no time I was making chips, that is until I went to circle the bears shoe that I was working on and the blade slipped off the wood and into my left index finger at the first joint. But boy! Was I cool. One of the other hair stylists was sitting right next to me and she didn't even know what I did. I very quickly and covertly went into my bag and broke out a couple of band aids, letting the old finger bleed in the glove. Then when I got the band aids already to apply I very quickly turned to my right away from everyone, slipped my hand out of the glove and applied the two band aids, tourniquet style. Oh yeah! Why tourniquet style? Like so many of us old guys, I'm a life member of the Coumadin club. In fact last Friday my number was a healthy 2.7. In this photograph you can see the band aid. I haven't taken it off yet and you can see the blood on the corresponding spot on the glove. Notice that the glove is untouched. No cuts or tears. The knife simply penetrated the webbing stretching it as it sliced into my finger. In the past I've been a big proponent of the Stainless Steel Chain mail Gloves and said that I'd only carve with one on. I had to learn my own lesson all over again. The old adage is correct. "We get too soon old and too late smart!"

[honketyhank]

Well, glad to see you are still smiling:

Thanks for the reminder. I hope the wound heals fast. Smooth moves on that field dressing.

[Kadiddle]

Wishing you a fast recovery. Hope the wife is easy on you.
Carve On,
Kadiddle

[Brian T]

I wish you an uncomplicated recovery. These truely are "accidents" and the best of protective gear is no guarantee at all.

About the third time that I hit myself in the chest with a PacNW style crooked knife, I said: "ouch! that stings."
Going to bed, I found a very distinctive semi circular cut in my chest. The shirt disintegrated the next time through the wash.
Time for a heavy duty bib-front apron. Since, been hit many times, judging by the scratches on the apron.

[lionslair]

We seem to forget with our busy old minds that these net gloves are protecting from slicing cuts if the weave is tight. If the cutting edge, be it a point or a blade edge can fit down into the weave and your finger is there, Touche' as they say. Been there myself. flat blade pressed into the glove and it cut. My finger filled the hole in the weave as a target. Martin

[Bob K.]

I think these stainless steel gloves are your best best for safety, but as you found out nothing is completely fool proof. Wishing you a speedy recovery, Eddy!

[Soggy]

I guess the old saying "we are never too old to learn" has some truth in it.. .....But on the bright side Eddy, you won't have to sign that bear, in years to come anybody who wants to know who the carver was, will only have to have a DNA test done on the carving....

[Eddy-Smiles]

Well, glad to see you are still smiling:

Thanks for the reminder. I hope the wound heals fast. Smooth moves on that field dressing.

Thanks Hank! We had a hell of a Corpsman aboard the minesweeper I was on and along with our other General Quarters drills he used to teach first aid. I'm good for everything from a sucking chest wound down to an emergency laryngectomy, although I try to keep strictly to band aids and tape!.

[Eddy-Smiles]

Wishing you a fast recovery. Hope the wife is easy on you.
Carve On,
Kadiddle

Kadiddle...... I was really surprised. She was really cool about it. The only real flack that I received was a warning if I ever used that glove again!

[Eddy-Smiles]

I wish you an uncomplicated recovery. These truely are "accidents" and the best of protective gear is no guarantee at all.

About the third time that I hit myself in the chest with a PacNW style crooked knife, I said: "ouch! that stings."
Going to bed, I found a very distinctive semi circular cut in my chest. The shirt disintegrated the next time through the wash.
Time for a heavy duty bib-front apron. Since, been hit many times, judging by the scratches on the apron.

Thanks Robson! It must be that stubborn Scotch-Irish in my blood. I just need to hit my head against a wall a few times before it sinks in!

[Eddy-Smiles]

We seem to forget with our busy old minds that these net gloves are protecting from slicing cuts if the weave is tight. If the cutting edge, be it a point or a blade edge can fit down into the weave and your finger is there, Touche' as they say. Been there myself. flat blade pressed into the glove and it cut. My finger filled the hole in the weave as a target. Martin

Lionslair.... You're absolutely correct and it's not like I haven't done it before either! One glove headed for the trash!

[Eddy-Smiles]

I think these stainless steel gloves are your best best for safety, but as you found out nothing is completely fool proof. Wishing you a speedy recovery, Eddy!

Bob.... If the "Fool" had been wearing the steel glove instead of the filleting glove we wouldn't be having this conversation!

[Eddy-Smiles]

I guess the old saying "we are never too old to learn" has some truth in it.. .....But on the bright side Eddy, you won't have to sign that bear, in years to come anybody who wants to know who the carver was, will only have to have a DNA test done on the carving....

Soggy... Actually, when I get back to carving I will have to sign the bear. Not a drop of blood made it on the bear. But the glove and the piece of leather I had draped over my lap look like a murder scene!

[Eddy-Smiles]

Latest update. I woke up this morning and the finger was feeling a little sore. I had my wife redress the wound and it didn't look bad but it didn't look good so I decided to call up my Doc and let her be the judge. She ended up having me go into her office so she could look at it, put another dressing on it, give me a Tetanus shot, and sent me home with a prescription for antibiotics. Darn! You get a few miles on your chassis and every one wants to make a lot about nothing! Oh well! I guess it's better to be safe than sorry.

[Nomad]

Eddy, I have to compliment you on your covert trauma treatment. ER worthy. Hope there was no permanent damage. You might try wrapping some of that wimp wrap (carver's tape) around a couple of your glove fingers. That stuff is very difficult to cut. Better than any glove material I've ever used.