Comparing

Carving
Gloves
An overview of commonly
available protective gloves
By Bob Duncan

The safest way to carve is to use a holding device

and keep both hands on the tool. However, many
carvers hold their work in their hands. Proper hand
positioning keeps the holding hand safely out of the
tool’s path, even if the tool should slip. Another
good safety precaution is to guard the holding
hand with a protective carving glove.
Some carvers feel gloves lull you into a
false sense of security, especially because no
glove will stop every tool. Some carvers feel
the gloves are awkward and can contribute
to more cuts, because carvers get careless
with the position of the holding hand
relative to a possible tool slip.
Many carvers swear by gloves; the carving
glove goes on before the start of a carving
session and comes off after all of the tools
have been put away.
There are several types of protective carving
gloves available. It is important to understand
that gloves can stop a slicing cut, but no glove
will prevent all injuries, especially punctures.
Many carvers try a few different gloves
before settling on one that works well for
them. Here, a few woodcarvers share their
carving glove preferences.

www.woodcarvingillustrated.com 21
 Skylar Johnson:
Kevlar glove with rubber gripping dots
The Kevlar glove with rubber gripping dots is a great
compromise between safety and comfort. The Kevlar
fibers are as soft as cotton, but much more slash resistant.
This softness allows for good freedom of movement, which
may not be found in
stiffer gloves. This The Kevlar glove with rubber gripping
glove also has rubber gripping dots comes in five sizes: XS, S, M, L,
dots, which help me hold my and XL. Available for approximately
project securely. $10 from many woodcarving supply
stores. Visit your local store or contact
a mail-order company from the
advertising directory on page 103.

Floyd Rhadigan:
Kevlar glove with leather palm
I like a Kevlar glove with leather covering the
palm, fingers, and thumb because the leather
prevents the wood from slipping in the glove.
The glove allows me to get a much better hold
on the piece I am carving.

The Kevlar glove with leather palm

comes in six sizes: XS, S, M, L, XL,
and XXL. Available for $19 from
The Carving Glove Guy,
www.thecarvinggloveguy.com

Mitch Cartledge:
Kevlar glove reinforced with steel threads
The Kevlar glove reinforced with steel threads
is more comfortable than an all-metal glove
and does a better job than a Kevlar knit glove. 
I have cut myself while wearing a Kevlar knit
glove, but not with
the Kevlar glove The Kevlar glove reinforced with steel
reinforced with steel threads. threads comes in five sizes: XS, S, M, L,
and XL. Available for approximately
$20 from many woodcarving supply
stores. Visit your local store or contact
a mail order company from the
advertising directory on page 103.

22 Woodcarving Illustrated | fall 2011

 Edmund Livingston, Jr.:
Stainless steel filet or chainmail glove
I use a stainless steel filet glove because it
stops a slash by most knives. Unfortunately,
it won’t do much to stop a puncture wound
by a small gouge
or V-tool because Both stainless steel filet and
these tools chainmail gloves usually come in
slip through the weave of five sizes: S, M, L, XL, and XXL. A
the material. dedicated chainmail carver’s glove
is available for approximately $80
from Lee Valley, www.LeeValley.com.
Filet gloves range in price from $6 to
$20 and are available in the fishing
section of sporting goods stores.

Steel thread-reinforced Kevlar glove

with rubber dots
Editor’s Note: The Woodcraft Shop and Chipping Away carry a steel
thread-reinforced Kevlar glove that features rubber dots to help you grip
the carving. Because it is relatively new, a personal recommendation
is not available. The glove features the
same cut resistance as other Kevlar gloves
reinforced with steel threads, and because The steel thread-reinforced Kevlar
of the addition of the rubber gripping dots, glove with rubber dots comes in
it's likely to be popular. six sizes: XXS, XS, S, M, L, and XL.
Available for approximately $22 from
Chipping Away, www.chippingaway.
com, and The Woodcraft Shop,
www.thewoodcraftshop.com

Thumb Protection Thumb guard

Many carvers use leather thumb guards to protect their thumbs. This is
Carvers also need protective
simply a leather pad attached to an elastic band. The leather on some guards
gear for the thumb of their
extends over the tip of the thumb and the top is open on other guards; there
knife-holding hand. Carvers
really isn’t much difference in effectiveness between the two types.
often use a paring cut, which
requires you to draw a knife
through wood toward the
thumb. The thumb guard Plasticized tape
protects your thumb as you Some carvers wrap cut-resistant plasticized tape around their thumbs to
make this cut. It also cushions make a custom guard. While the tape carvers use is similar to the self-
your thumb as it is pushing adhesive tape used by veterinarians to hold bandages onto animals, vet wrap
on the back of the blade tape is not cut resistant and should not be used as a substitute. I’ve also heard
when you are cutting away of carvers fashioning their own thumb guards from duct tape, or using duct
from yourself. tape to reinforce leather or rubber thumb protectors.