Post #290397 by Tamapoutini on Wed, Mar 7, 2007 6:55 PM

What's this? Moais amongst the Maoris? Actually they are quite welcome! - Opened my mail this morning to find a few of those Moai chicklets & a bigger brother! Thanks pdrake; my tiki-room just got a little richer!! *I have another question, check PM...

In regards to a question from Flynny above; I almost always hold work by hand & brace it against a small block of wood (6 x 3.5 x 2.5"). The only time I will use the bench vice is to hold the work when using sanding strips to clean up internal holes. Never whilst carving...

Yep, the old fingers/nails suffer a bit. It was always funny to check the fingers of the jade students after the first week carving. Its pretty hard (but not impossible) to damage skin on the diamond wheels/blades but nails are brittle enough to be abraided away in seconds! Do enough sanding & you'll wear the skin on the tips of your fingers clean away though; especially when using mechanical means to sand. You dont know pain until youve sanded a hole right through the centre of a fingernail - yikes!

Bryan Adams would be proud of your committment! :lol: ?

Tama