War wounds and solutions

urumomo said:

" I have recently found that my thumb is getting increasingly sliced. "
Maybe change your technique ?
How are you continuously cutting yourself ?

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the Baron said:

I still have a scar on the tip of one figure, from a cut I gave myself back in 1978. I was using a Nr 2 X-Acto knife for the first time, and slipped and sliced a fingertip. I learned my lesson, though.

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golgotha said:

After 55 years modelling I have learned to use a knife properly. If this is too much for you try a SPOON

otherwise do not cut towards yourself and for cleaning up flash, scrape with the back of a blade, use sanding sticks, pads, or jeweller's files. Stick to sharp fresh blades for better control.

I have also found that eventually you build scar tissue that do not bleed for small nicks, but will if you cut deeply.

My best ever modelling wound was by Foolishly doing some trimming sat in an easy chair, trusting in my skill to avoid the sharp scalpel blade. Wrong....... a moments watching the TV and then I was able to examine the white bone of my kneecap and where a muscle was attached in glorious technicolour, for a few seconds until the blood, flowing down my leg hid it.

Amazingly as it was such an expert surgical incision the hospital only needed a few stitches, superglue and a tetanus booster to fix me up.

since that time if sitting in am armchair, tidying components up of flash etc etc, I work with a tray on my lap.

John - Home Knee Surgeon.

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Pantherman said:

Sounds nasty, at least you didn't loose the finger tip, bet that bled like a fountain.
Pantherman

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Pantherman said:

Hi Urumomo, I hadn't realised that I was holding the knife along the back of the blade to get more control of the point instead of holding it further down the knife where I should be holding it.
I start the right way but as I get more into the cutting my brain just takes over and I forget!

So it's a poor work procedure but I'm happy with the thumb guard as it makes it almost idiot proof to get a cut now.
I get a feeling that sentence will come back to haunt me later on.

And before we get a suggestion from a certain member (you know who you are), they didn't sell the guards in pink !
Pantherman

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golgotha said:

I have to admit that a craftsman as a carpenter is, could use a knife in that manner. Seriously what would you say to an apprentice worker.

The best knife to get practice with for our hobby in knife skills is a good old fashioned Swann Morton Metal Scalpel handle and a selection of blades (10A is good) as this will teach you knife use as handle is designed for finger tip control.

You know that I like to take the mickey but something like hacking through flesh is to be taken seriously. My knee was one example only as I have many scars from my beloved hobby, though carelessness, tiredness, not thinking, blunt blades etc etc. Particularly with scalpel blades eye protection as they can snap with the tip being the worst.

If you keep hacking missing a 'pinky' could become missing Thumb, ring finger................ You can imagine.

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the Baron said:

Keep 'em sharp, too. Either fresh blades, or sharpen existing ones. A dull blade makes you apply more effort and increases the chance that you'll slip and cut yourself.
True of other fields using edged tools, too. Keep your kitchen knives sharp, your woodworking knives, chisels, etc. Pocketknives. Straight razors, if you're adventurous enough to still use one.

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Pantherman said:

If I can do damage to my thumb can you imagine what would happen if I was using a straight razor!!!!
Pantherman

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