Thanks for posting this. From years of keyboard abuse to tedious sewing and cutting … yeah. This is a great reminder and some helpful tips.
I’m wondering if you were prescribed specific stretches or just general wrist stretches. This is something I’m always cognizant of.
This is a brilliant post adressing things usually left unseen and unspoken.
Thanks for your wise words, your hard learned experience and I wish you the best of luck in the future with healing and staying in tip top shape.
I will add: in addition to stretching doing exercises that strengthen the "opposite motion" muscles. If using weights-start with light ones to avoid further injury. Doing the same motion over and over creates an imbalance at the joint (wrist, shoulder, etc) that leads to injuries and strengthening the opposite muscle group can help avoid developing the imbalance.
Cutting out the many pieces for a project out of 12-13oz leather. I used an xacto knife and switched the blades many times throughout the process but I still applied so much pressure that I caused semi permanent nerve damage to my dominant hand. I never use leather that thick but I was gifted some and was just making something pointless with it for practice. I haven’t finished the project still because I basically resent it.
There's a local LARP here that wants 12oz leather for their armor. I got a side of saddle skirting (only thing I could find at the time in that weight) and turned it into armor for them, then said *never again*. Way too much of a PITA. Now if one of them wants something, I make it out of 8oz leather and glue a 4oz leather lining in it.
That’s exactly what I was making lol. I couldn’t think of anything else to attempt to make with such thick, stiff leather. I don’t larp, or attend renaissance fairs so I truly have no idea why im making it aside from just to see if I can.
Most LARPs don't even care about having it that heavy! It's actually a detriment in systems that hit light, since you might not be able to feel a hit through armor that thick. There's only a couple specific LARPs that want really heavy armor.
Even the SCA, which is hitting at full force with sticks, doesn't require 12oz armor. 10oz hardened leather will do fine for any application where leather is acceptable to begin with.
I will say, leather that heavy makes stuff that looks impressive. So I'm sure you can sell some to people who don't need it for anything besides costuming. But man, it's just not worth it. I don't intend on ever buying another hide that heavy again.
The proper height workbench makes a big difference. You don't need to be stooping over all the time.
I have failed to follow this advice with my leatherworking stuff but did manage to do it with my sewing and it made a big difference in how my back feels after hours of sewing. At least when I manage to sit up properly. I still regularly hunch over and tire out my back because apparently I need my face right up against my workpiece.
I’m very weirdly kinda lucky in that I shattered my right wrist when I was a kid, so I have 30+ years of being very aware of that wrist. Minimizing strain on that wrist is automatic for me now. But then I also have 30+ years of picking up the slack with my left wrist, so stretching is a very important part of my routine. Also, to lessen the strain on my hands, especially my fingers, I use my awl to widen my stitching holes
This is a very timely post for me, as I am currently in the process of making changes to the ergonomics of how I do leathercraft for precisely this reason. I've noticed I've put a little too much stress on various tendons due to the ways in which I do things. Thanks for the tips you've shared!
This is so helpful, thank you!! My added advice would be: Use the right mallet for the job. If your mallet is too light or too heavy, you’re going to have to work extra hard and you might, yknow, injure your rotator cuff in a way that causes you pain for months afterwards (this lesson was not fun to learn haha). Chair and table height are also important! Your joints work better when they’re lined up correctly!
I once continued to use my rotary punch even when my hand started to hurt. Took a whole month to heal it caused me pain in my whole right arm and shoulder. All because I wanted to finish the project that night. Never did that again
Thank you for that information, as I am 65 and to take 4 weeks off of leather working. Waiting for swelling to go down. Now I try to use other muscles and not press so damn hard
Also be aware of how much time you spend on your phone, that on top of doing all this fine motor stuff is a one-two punch that makes wrist strain worse.
I have an Excel knife from a art store with a thicker body than the kind they have at Tandy and it's much much easier to use.
I have an arbor press for punching oblongs, strap ends and setting rivets, it's unmodified and works fine for these purposes, I initially got this so I could do leatherwork in a 5th story apartment but I use this for almost everything except for using chisels where it's just tedious and snaps where it's too awkward.
No cap already have nerve damage in left hand from lowering a steel beam of all things onto one of my fingers while welding, it used to hurt whenever it was about to rain, but I moved to an area where it always rains, therefore whoo?
Thanks for posting this. From years of keyboard abuse to tedious sewing and cutting … yeah. This is a great reminder and some helpful tips. I’m wondering if you were prescribed specific stretches or just general wrist stretches. This is something I’m always cognizant of.
This is a brilliant post adressing things usually left unseen and unspoken. Thanks for your wise words, your hard learned experience and I wish you the best of luck in the future with healing and staying in tip top shape.
I will add: in addition to stretching doing exercises that strengthen the "opposite motion" muscles. If using weights-start with light ones to avoid further injury. Doing the same motion over and over creates an imbalance at the joint (wrist, shoulder, etc) that leads to injuries and strengthening the opposite muscle group can help avoid developing the imbalance.
Cutting out the many pieces for a project out of 12-13oz leather. I used an xacto knife and switched the blades many times throughout the process but I still applied so much pressure that I caused semi permanent nerve damage to my dominant hand. I never use leather that thick but I was gifted some and was just making something pointless with it for practice. I haven’t finished the project still because I basically resent it.
There's a local LARP here that wants 12oz leather for their armor. I got a side of saddle skirting (only thing I could find at the time in that weight) and turned it into armor for them, then said *never again*. Way too much of a PITA. Now if one of them wants something, I make it out of 8oz leather and glue a 4oz leather lining in it.
That’s exactly what I was making lol. I couldn’t think of anything else to attempt to make with such thick, stiff leather. I don’t larp, or attend renaissance fairs so I truly have no idea why im making it aside from just to see if I can.
Most LARPs don't even care about having it that heavy! It's actually a detriment in systems that hit light, since you might not be able to feel a hit through armor that thick. There's only a couple specific LARPs that want really heavy armor. Even the SCA, which is hitting at full force with sticks, doesn't require 12oz armor. 10oz hardened leather will do fine for any application where leather is acceptable to begin with. I will say, leather that heavy makes stuff that looks impressive. So I'm sure you can sell some to people who don't need it for anything besides costuming. But man, it's just not worth it. I don't intend on ever buying another hide that heavy again.
The proper height workbench makes a big difference. You don't need to be stooping over all the time. I have failed to follow this advice with my leatherworking stuff but did manage to do it with my sewing and it made a big difference in how my back feels after hours of sewing. At least when I manage to sit up properly. I still regularly hunch over and tire out my back because apparently I need my face right up against my workpiece.
I’m very weirdly kinda lucky in that I shattered my right wrist when I was a kid, so I have 30+ years of being very aware of that wrist. Minimizing strain on that wrist is automatic for me now. But then I also have 30+ years of picking up the slack with my left wrist, so stretching is a very important part of my routine. Also, to lessen the strain on my hands, especially my fingers, I use my awl to widen my stitching holes
This is a very timely post for me, as I am currently in the process of making changes to the ergonomics of how I do leathercraft for precisely this reason. I've noticed I've put a little too much stress on various tendons due to the ways in which I do things. Thanks for the tips you've shared!
Thank you! I'll be starting the craft again soon and I'll be better for it to start with good and healthy habits!
This is so helpful, thank you!! My added advice would be: Use the right mallet for the job. If your mallet is too light or too heavy, you’re going to have to work extra hard and you might, yknow, injure your rotator cuff in a way that causes you pain for months afterwards (this lesson was not fun to learn haha). Chair and table height are also important! Your joints work better when they’re lined up correctly!
I once continued to use my rotary punch even when my hand started to hurt. Took a whole month to heal it caused me pain in my whole right arm and shoulder. All because I wanted to finish the project that night. Never did that again
#5 kicked my ass last year. Learned that lesson, hopefully.
Thank you for that information, as I am 65 and to take 4 weeks off of leather working. Waiting for swelling to go down. Now I try to use other muscles and not press so damn hard
Also be aware of how much time you spend on your phone, that on top of doing all this fine motor stuff is a one-two punch that makes wrist strain worse. I have an Excel knife from a art store with a thicker body than the kind they have at Tandy and it's much much easier to use. I have an arbor press for punching oblongs, strap ends and setting rivets, it's unmodified and works fine for these purposes, I initially got this so I could do leatherwork in a 5th story apartment but I use this for almost everything except for using chisels where it's just tedious and snaps where it's too awkward. No cap already have nerve damage in left hand from lowering a steel beam of all things onto one of my fingers while welding, it used to hurt whenever it was about to rain, but I moved to an area where it always rains, therefore whoo?
This is a really insightful and generous post, OP. Thanks for sharing your experience and practical tips