Baren Digest                Thursday, 1 May 2003        Volume 23: Number 2208


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From: "Jeanne N. Chase" <studiojnc#prodigy.net> 
Date: Wed, 30 Apr 2003 09:49:47 -0400 
Subject: [Baren 21392] Re: Carpal Tunnel syndrome

Dear Janet

I guess having Carpal Tunnel Syndrome and other related things,
such as arthritis and tendonitis is a problem ., however the
human spirit usually rises to conquer the problem. I have severe
tendonitis in my right wrist. Doctor says "No, pressure on the
wrist". I bought a wrist brace, actually three different kinds;
one with a metal piece inside, one with Velcro and one simple
brace something like a form fitting hand girdle. I wear them
according to what I am doing. When I do woodworking I put on the
heavy one and when I am etching , drawing or painting, on goes
the Velcro brace. Yes, it does hurt but somehow the art seems
more important. Also when finished have to take a pain pill.

When I go out to dinner or whatever, I decorated my simple hand
brace with painted flowers.

I also spend less and less time on my computer as the art is more
important. You can get through this!

Jeanne N.




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From: jimandkatemundie#juno.com 
Date: Wed, 30 Apr 2003 12:12:40 -0400 
Subject: [Baren 21393] welcome Chris

Hi, Chris.

I saw your post on Baren today and went to take a look at your
work. Very attractive prints.  As to where your technique "fits
in", I guess one could say that you're doing a sort of hybrid of
woodcut and wood engraving.

Rather than think of it as a matter of plank versus endgrain,
consider the difference between fine and broad cutting.  For
instance, many woodcuts feature wide gouge marks, utilize the
texture of the wood in the image (think of the German
expressionists) or rely on line to convey form, whereas the act
of wood engraving tends to be more about 'drawing' the light
areas into the block with the burin (or whatever tool gets the
job done). These are generalities, as one can find woodcuts that
appear to be engravings and vice versa.

The trick is not to be too concerned with categories but to
pursue the methods that best express your style and ideas.  No
one technique is superior to another.

If you haven't found him already, you might enjoy the work of
fellow Canadian Jim Westergard, who also often uses a rotary
engraving tool to produce his exquisite prints:
http://www.telusplanet.net/public/jimwest/

Regards, James Mundie
http://www.missioncreep.com/mundie/index.htm

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From: John and Jan Telfer <jtelfer#iinet.net.au> 
Date: Thu, 1 May 03 00:12:17 +0800 
Subject: [Baren 21394] Re:Woodblock prints

Dear Chris,

You have just made my day!!!  To be put in the same paragraph as
Andy English, Gustave Baumann, Chet Philips, Maria Arango, (Jan
Telfer), and Darrell Madis.... wow!  I am really smiling from ear
to ear!!  Thank you.



> my name is Chris Bailey and I'm an artist >living in Calgary,
Alberta, Canada.


You have a very good hanga (Watercolour) teacher called Graham
Scholes on Vancouver Is who gives classes in June called
"Bootcamp". I have been two years in a row for three classes and
I recommend him ... Calgary is closer for you than it is for me
from Perth, Western Australia!  Graham's website is  <
http:www.woodblock.info >

Do you always use an ultra-high speed jeweller's rotary tool.  No
hand tools?  I like your design in the Babbling Brook and the
Pine, Chris.  I haven't used an electric tool on wood only on
perspex ( hard plastic ) and it was difficult to get a fine line,
but because wood is softer you may have more control.  The dremel
that others talk of is used for clearing large areas of waste
wood, not so much in cutting the finer detail.  You have done two
very nice prints here.... any more?

Thank you for your compliment ... thank you.

Jan and still smiling!

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From: John and Jan Telfer <jtelfer#iinet.net.au> 
Date: Thu, 1 May 03 00:12:20 +0800 
Subject: [Baren 21395] Re: Carpal Tunnel

Dear Janet,


> I have carpal tunnel syndrome - just diagnosed, following two
>months of tickles and prickles tingling through the fingers and
up my left >arm.


Sorry to hear that you have been diagnosed with Carpal Tunnel. 
Has your surgeon offered you relief through surgery?  This may
restrict you carving only for a limited period.


>The neurologist (following peculiar and unpleasant tests) says
it's in >both hands, though I've got no symptoms in the right
hand. So where does >that >leave me as a woodblock printmaker??
The doc says put no pressure on my >wrists. A friend said to me
"You are resourceful. You'll figure something >out." and I do see
this as a  challenge. Am I wrong? Is there a way to cut >and
print? Something tells me I can't be the only one this has
happened to >in >the Forum.


Is your dominant carving hand your left one then?  Or are you
right handed?

As an Occupational Therapist my suggestion to you is firstly,
don't panic.  Surgery will relieve the tightning of the carpal
tunnel and bring feeling and movement back to your fingers. 
Surgery is a good option. But you can also help your hands now or
after surgery with additional measures like:

Use the softest wood available to you and nice sharp tools.

For carving tools there is always the option of increasing the
thickness/ width of your carving tool handles so that you are not
needing to flex or bend your fingers so far in.  Building up the
handles can be done simply with a foam used in the air
conditioning industry called Bradflex which is a black dense foam
and comes in different circumferences with different size central
holes so that it would slide/fit over something as small as a
pencil or toothbrush, bigger for cutlery or bigger again for a
carving tool or bigger again for a broom or gardening tool.  It
comes in metre lengths and can be cut with scissors.  It doesn't
last long if washed in the dishwasher!! Central holes come in
5mm, 10mm, 15mm types and wall thicknesses vary. If it is not a
tight a fit as you want try a smaller diameter Bradflex inner
hole, or  build up the tool handle with surgical tape or glue it
on with Aqudhere or a woodworking waterproof glue.

Another product which does the same thing is more dense and white
and called Plastizote which would be better because you don't
have the tendency to feel like squeezing it like foam.

If you have a carpentry friend he/she may be able to build up the
handles for you in wood with the same grip shape that they have
now.  We have a gentleman here who builds up crotchet hooks for
ladies with arthritis and they work well for them.

Winding the tape used for increasing the grip on tennis racquet
handles will give you a better grip and combining the above
thickness and grip will help in holding the tools... even using
surgical gloves will give you a better grip.

More advice! Time yourself and don't carve the whole block at
once... do it in half or hour slots, one day at a time!

A small engraving tool may help in the interim, but make sure
that if it is a battery or electrically operated one that you
take note of the heat it can generate if you have lost some of
the sensation in your fingers. Get yourself an egg timer with a
buzzer to remind yourself to take a break or check the heat of
the tool.

If you also use a sloping board with a non slip mat on it for
holding your block sitting more upright will help relieve the
tension in your neck and arm muscles too.  There are several
suggestions in the encyclopedia for these.

Be cautious with analgesics to relieve the pain if you are
carving and printing...do it in shorter time slots otherwise you
may end up with stomach problems as well!


>Eagerly awaiting advice and encouragement, as I have already
committed lots >of attention to my image for exchange 17 and plan
to be at the Summit -


As all Aussie's say.... You'll be right!  or You'll be OK mate
... but take care and pace yourself.

Email me off line if you wish.

Jan

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From: b.patera#att.net 
Date: Wed, 30 Apr 2003 16:15:32 +0000
Subject: [Baren 21396] Re: Carpal Tunnel syndrome

Janet,

I agree with Jeanne...you just figure out ways to work that cause
you the least pain.

The wrist braces are good but so is a Hake brush, bristles fitted
into your palm, with the handle taped to your wrist. Used that
method for years when I was potting. Have yet to try it for
carving, but it might work.

Anyway, try a variety of tools and braces. After all great
artists always suffer for their art.... right???

Barbara P.

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From: "carolwagner" <carolwagner#softcom.net> 
Subject: [Baren 21397] 
Date: Wed, 30 Apr 2003

Oh Janet, my deepest sympathies...do try the dremel that John
suggested, and we'll all keep our hopes up for you! I've had a
touch of arthritis in the fingers of my right hand for the last 6
months or so, and can foresee some difficulty ahead, so I know
how distressing your carpel tunnel syndrome diagnosis must be for
you. ................................................

Chris Bailey,

a hearty welcome to you, and thank you much for eliciting a
response from Andy English! I was intrigued with the description
of the tool you use. do you think that it would work for Janet
(rather than the dremel) ? I like your prints because I have 'a
thing' for wood, water, and stone. I do, however, have some
reservations about using a permanent ink on a non- permanent
substrate .Why would you want the ink to outlast the paper? I
would suggest using at least a neutral ph paper. Weather or not
you use 'oily' ink or water based ink depends on your personal
preference. My own aesthetic choice for the thinner Japanese
papers would be a water based ink, but one could use oil with
equal effect. One other consideration for using an acid free or
neutral ph paper (the only natural 'acid free' papers are 100%
cotton, linen, or made from kozo, gampi or mitsumata fibers. 
Neutral ph papers are usually buffered with calcium carbonate,
and to the best of my knowledge, the Japanese papers are not. 
Although there is alum in the sizing of many Japanese papers, and
alum is acidic, somehow it doesn't seem to affect the longevity
of the prints I've seen. You can check with David Bull on this
subject. One other note- yes there is more than the 'yellowing'
to consider -over time the yellowing leads to disintegration.
Have you ever seen the condition of old newspapers? All'
crumbly'...anyhow, that's my '2 bits' worth of advice on this
fair weds morn. Looking forward to your future contributions to
the Forum. I hope you will participate in some of the exchanges?

Cheers!

Carol in Sacramento



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From: "Jeanne N. Chase" <studiojnc#prodigy.net> 
Date: Wed, 30 Apr 2003 13:06:30 -0400 
Subject: [Baren 21398] Re: New member saying hello/Rotary tool & paper questions.

Hi Chris

Glad to see that you have become a member of our little group.
You can discover a wealth of information of the Baren
Encyclopedia pages that are really worth while. Enjoyed you web
site and book marked it for future reference. Welcome!!!

Jeanne http://www.jeannenormanchase-art.com




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From: "Jean Womack" <jeaneger#jeaneger.com> 
Date: Wed, 30 Apr 2003 10:09:44 -0700 
Subject: [Baren 21399] Re:   Baren Digest V23 #2207

Janet, I had carpal tunnel syndrome in both wrists. 
Unfortunately the doctors waited until it was so bad that it
needed surgery (because I was getting breast cancer treatment at
the time and the doc kept saying, that's not cancer, that's
something else.)  Normally they would give you a splint to keep
your wrist straight and you have to wear if for six weeks, at
night too.  They give the garden hose analogy--when the wrist
bends, the hose bends, putting pressure on the nerve so that it
gets an hourglass shape from all the compression.

While you have it, you will need to use tools that have very
thick handles, or wrap them with foam tape, because when it's
bad, you simply cannot grasp the tool.  You should consider
changing to something that is very easy to cut, like the eraser
rubber that is sold by Dan Smith.  Or you could make collographs
which are a form of relief.  But then you will have to hold a
scissors.  It's a really big problem.  However, it's not life
threatening.

Jean Womack


> Dear Friends, I have carpal tunnel syndrome - just diagnosed,
>following two months of tickles and prickles tingling through the fingers 
>and up my left arm. The neurologist (following peculiar and
>unpleasant tests) says it's in both hands, though I've got no symptoms 
>in the right hand. So where does that leave me as a woodblock printmaker?? 
>The doc says put no pressure on my wrists. A friend said to me "You are
>resourceful. You'll figure something out." and I do see this as
>a  challenge. Am I wrong? Is there a way to cut  and print?
>Something tells me I can't be the only one this has happened to in 
>the Forum. Eagerly awaiting advice and encouragement, as I
>have already committed lots of attention to my image for exchange 17 and 
>plan to be at the Summit 
>- Janet



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From: Jsf73#aol.com 
Date: Wed, 30 Apr 2003 13:33:45 EDT 
Subject: [Baren 21400] Re: Carpal Tunnel syndrome



Janet I am sorry to hear you have been diagnosed with Carpal
Tunnel Syndrome


I have had similar problems suffering from Raynaud
syndrome, from vibratory effects of power tools which leave the
hands numb and cause circulation problems and cold white fingers.
I also suffer from the effects of an inflammatory disease that
causes pain and swelling in my hands, wrists, elbows, and knees
(not to mention internal organs). Now what on earth am I doing
carving anything you might ask?

The point is you do not need to give up on what you love. Your
doctor can provide you with much better advice than to just stop
working. While I canno t recommend surgery I would ask about it.

In addition to everyone else's comments I agree with use of wrist
supports, and modified or special tools. As Jan says black foam
wrapped handles may help (another brand of foam tubing is called
Armaflex and it is available with internal diameters of 5/8",
3/4" and 7/8" from airconditioning suppliers). You may also want
to have a brace made for attaching a tool handle that you dont
grip but attach with straps to your hand.

I myself sometimes use wrist supports, but always wear gloves. I
have specia l anti-vibration gloves for power carving and hand
carving stone with chisels,

rifflers or files. I have other thin "mechanics gloves" that have
anti-slip surfaces which reduce handstrain since I dont have to
grip tools tightly. I wear gloves for almost every job I do. You
can find all types of specialty gloves out there.

Others have recommended rotary tools and they can be great, but
if you do a lot of carving especially with larger cleared areas
you may want to look int o power carvers. They come in both
electric and pneumatic varieties. I use a pneumatic chisel on
stone and wood 3 dimensional carving, I can fit it with a wood
chisel and turn down the power to use it for clearing large areas
of wood on blocks. You can find electric wood chisels to do the
same at a reasonable cost. They may be worth looking into in
addition to rotary tools.

I agree with Jan Telfer in regards to analgesics, even the newest
COX2 non steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs elevate the risk for
gastrointestinal bleeding and Ulcers.  I am lucky here in Canada
since there is a new drug approved for arthritis pain that is as
effective as oral non steroidal anti-inflammatories but comes as
a topical lotion. It is nothing like aspercreme or rub a535, and
is available by presription only and just came o n the market
this month. It is called Pennsaid. You may want to keep watch to
see when it becomes available in the U.S.. I had heard of from my
doctor who

had patients involved in the clinical trials. The reason I like
this drug is

that it is never absorbed into the bloodtream so it can not cause
bleeding o r ulcers, nor will it aggravate lupus symptoms.

You may also want to find an apprentice or student. In exchange
for work the y get knowledge. You could do detail carving and
leave the clearing of larger areas to the student. Just a
thought. However there isnt much else you can d o except work in
moderation, take frequent breaks to flex and relax hands, fin d
ways to minimize stress on your wrists and use pain killers as
needed.

Take Care Janet and I hope you find some ways to help alleviate
your symptoms.

John Furr





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From: Jsf73#aol.com 
Date: Wed, 30 Apr 2003 13:42:26 EDT 
Subject: [Baren 21401] I forgot to thank those who replied to my 1st post


Sorry about posting yet again today, but I forgot to thank
everyone who replied to my first post both on the barens forum
and off list.

I appreciate all the advice and encouragement I received from
members. Thank you so much.

If I hear back from Mike that he has no objections to my
attending and there is still space available I hope to see some
of you at the summit.

I'm off to purchase some birch ply blocks.....


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From: Barbara Mason <barbaramason45#yahoo.com> 
Date: Wed, 30 Apr 2003 11:10:25 -0700 (PDT) 
Subject: [Baren 21402] we are falling apart


Janet, I am so sympathetic to your wrist problems. After hearing
the amazing amount of support on the list, I think we are
probably all falling apart at different speeds. Maybe it is tied
in with being an artist...heheheh. I do know the best advise
available is to work for 1/2 hour then get up and move around and
then work again. The break will do so much for your whole body. I
never believed this until I tried it.....what a difference! So
give your arms and your whole body a rest at regular intervals .I
am looking forward to meeting you and the rest of our Baren
"family" in Kansas City...we are going to have such a good time
there!Best to you,Barbara


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From: Sharri LaPierre <Barebonesart#attbi.com> 
Date: Wed, 30 Apr 2003 11:39:16 -0700 
Subject: [Baren 21403] Re: Baren Digest V23#2207

Chris, Welcome - and a quick answer to your question about
whether you should care about the archival quality of the paper
you're printing on. The short answer is yes.  In addition to the
yellowing your acidic paper will incur it will become more and
more brittle until it will eventually get to the point of cracker
crisp and will disintegrate when touched.  It will actually get
to the point where the only thing holding it together will be the
ink.  And, it is amazing how quickly this can happen!  If you
want a softer white, or a natural creamy color then consider
using that color paper to begin with.  Hiromi papers in Santa
Monica have an unbelievable array of papers to choose from, in
all price ranges.

Cheers, Sharri


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From: Julio.Rodriguez#walgreens.com 
Date: Wed, 30 Apr 2003 14:10:39 -0500 
Subject: [Baren 21404] Re: Carpal Tunnel syndrome


Hi Janet from Jersey.....CTS in both hands ? can we then assume
is related to heavy pc use such as typing, etc... ?  As most
other activities favor our dominant hand, heavy keyboard users
often experience this problem. They sell many pads, mats and
holders for keyboards that help alleviate the condition while
continuing to work.

Lots of good advise from the list re tools and carving....re
printing I would offer that if the pain is too much to bare (no
pun intended ) for hand-printing....that you switch to using a
press. Using a baren in the normal position could not possibly be
a good thing for your hands. If you still want to try
hand-printing....perhaps one of the heavy duty ball-bearing
barens could ease the printing job as these require a minimum of
effort to use. List members could recommend a good source/brand.

Above all hang in there and try different tools and techniques to
see what your hand can and can not tolerate....and for sure take
those breaks !!!! Sorry we missed you in Chicago last month,
looking forward to meeting you and everyone else in KC in mid
June.

Welcome to all the new members and lurkers...Chris, Jerald,
Manuel and others....

Andy English, nice to have you posting again....saw your print on
the WEN calendar, very nice work !

Julio Rodriguez (Skokie, Illinois)
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From: "Andy English" <a.english#virgin.net> 
Date: Wed, 30 Apr 2003 20:48:24 +0100 
Subject: [Baren 21405] Manuel and Chris Bailey's Questions


> > Seeking Small Printing Press > > I... seek to buy a > >
similar smaller bed type press The roller itself would move over
the bed > > Manuel Roth > > krypto#attbi.com


Hi Manuel, I agree with Sharen (Hi Sharen!) that you are thinking
of a small Vandercook. The one in the photo she linked to is very
similar to my Vandercook No.1 that has served me brilliantly over
the years. But ... and quite a but ... for best results the
blocks must be "type high" as the roller does not adjust
vertically on these models. You can cut on thinner blocks and
build them up. I sue sheets of MDF and card to build up the
thickness.

Hi Chris, thanks for the mention of my website - glad you
enjoyed. I loved the babbling brook (care to swap a proof with
any of mine?) Another person I know who uses a tool that may be
similar to yours is Jim Westergard - another Canadian. Search for
his work through his name or the "Spanish Fly Press". Nobody had
quite the same subject matter that Jim has!

As far as acid free tissue/paper is concerned, I would go for it
if you can. Some of my early work on thin Japanese gampi tissue
has yellowed badly already - although other batches are fine. I
guess its a matter of taste. But don't forget that we printmakers
are some of the immortals - our work will outlive us - so try to
use stuff that will survive. I personally love the idea that
someone will turn up one of my things in a hundred years time,
hopefully enjoy it and hang it somewhere. They won't know who the
heck I was but a little bit of me will linger

All the Best to All of you,

Andy




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End of Baren Digest V23 #2208 

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