Even professionals can cut themselves.

Before making every cut ask yourself

what happens if I slip?

Use this as your mantra, every time you make a cut.

As I get older I get more scared of the machine tools I use, and for good reason. Flesh and bone is nothing to them. I have been told of some very nasty injuries over the years, with scars to prove them.

Edge tool injuries do happen and are usually minor cuts, most of my cuts come from the wood itself, from manhandling it, again minor.

So I picked up my newly sharpened axe to use as a mallet, and somehow my little finger got in the way. Just a small touch on the edge of the axe, really the very lightest touch.

Sharp axes as hammers or mallets are not a good idea.

Heres another, of an apprentice, who thinks he knows it all, knows exactly where the tip of the tree will fall. Had to cut him out. Unfortunately he no longer works for me. Should have used my mantra!

Take care and be safe, before making the cut imagine what happens if the worst happens, a little thought may just stop the body springing a leak.

Where do you get your wood from?

I have answered "trees" to this question, and have nearly got thumped.
Everywhere is the answer, from firewood piles to expensive wood merchants. I bought 3, 4 meter lengths of steel which came supported by a length of pallet wood of about 18mm thick by 75mm wide. The grain was tangential and so perfect for making fan birds with. 3 have been made so far I think I can get 10 to 20 out of this bit of wood. It has large knots in and lots of short grain as well. So hopefully I can turn this bit of waste wood into a few hundred quids worth, or more of fan birds.

Shrink pots, works in progress

I like making shrink pots and sliding tapered dovetails. I wish I had more time to play with stop motion animation.

I will post more pictures when these are all finished.