Recently I’ve been watching a lot of woodcarving/whittling videos, but I’ve also seen this happen in videos of people peeling fruit with a knife. I’m always amazed when they make a cut towards themselves and I see the sharp part of the knife make contact with their thumb (or sometimes their palm) after cutting through the material, yet it never seems to cut through their flesh. I feel like I’m way too scared of cutting myself to ever consider drawing a blade towards myself like that.
Is it just practice and knowing the right amount of pressure to apply? Are these knives (woodcarving blades and paring knives) maybe not very sharp, since I’m assuming softwoods and fruit are their intended purpose? If any woodcarvers or avid knife fruit peelers could chime in, I’m all ears!
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In addition to other answers, people who do hard work with their hands can have their skin harden, so it does not get cut as easily. Still need skill though, which is the primary reason, but hardened skin is actually very very good protection too.
And you absolutely want sharper knife to reduce risks, dull knives are the ones that cause injuries, as you have to apply more force until suddenly it breaks and you find your knife in your finger.
In addition to other answers, people who do hard work with their hands can have their skin harden, so it does not get cut as easily. Still need skill though, which is the primary reason, but hardened skin is actually very very good protection too.
And you absolutely want sharper knife to reduce risks, dull knives are the ones that cause injuries, as you have to apply more force until suddenly it breaks and you find your knife in your finger.
I don’t know who you’re watching. But if you watch the likes of doug linker or carvingisfun on youtube they both explain that the knife will never come in contact with their thumbs.
While woodcarving knives are sharp wood can split so when doing a paring cut your thumb needs to be out of the way with this happens.
More importantly wear slash proof gloves or thumb guards.
In addition to other answers, people who do hard work with their hands can have their skin harden, so it does not get cut as easily. Still need skill though, which is the primary reason, but hardened skin is actually very very good protection too.
And you absolutely want sharper knife to reduce risks, dull knives are the ones that cause injuries, as you have to apply more force until suddenly it breaks and you find your knife in your finger.
I think it’s practice and experience… that’s just how I learnt to peel most fruit and cut stuff so it’s kinda natural to me. But it’s also not entirely true, the knife doesn’t necessarily make contact and sometimes when it does it results in very shallow cuts that don’t really show…this is less likely with time since you form calluses over time
I don’t know who you’re watching. But if you watch the likes of doug linker or carvingisfun on youtube they both explain that the knife will never come in contact with their thumbs.
While woodcarving knives are sharp wood can split so when doing a paring cut your thumb needs to be out of the way with this happens.
More importantly wear slash proof gloves or thumb guards.
I think it’s practice and experience… that’s just how I learnt to peel most fruit and cut stuff so it’s kinda natural to me. But it’s also not entirely true, the knife doesn’t necessarily make contact and sometimes when it does it results in very shallow cuts that don’t really show…this is less likely with time since you form calluses over time
I think it’s practice and experience… that’s just how I learnt to peel most fruit and cut stuff so it’s kinda natural to me. But it’s also not entirely true, the knife doesn’t necessarily make contact and sometimes when it does it results in very shallow cuts that don’t really show…this is less likely with time since you form calluses over time
Knives cut best when drawn along the surface like a saw. When you peel an apple, your knife does contact your thumb, but it lands flat and doesn’t move sideways. If you do it wrong, you absolutely can cut yourself.
Knives cut best when drawn along the surface like a saw. When you peel an apple, your knife does contact your thumb, but it lands flat and doesn’t move sideways. If you do it wrong, you absolutely can cut yourself.
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