Cushioning Gouge Handles

By Vernon DePauw

I’ve tried gloves and padding for my hands, but my palms still hurt after using full size gouges. So, I decided to add ribbed rubber chair tips to my gouge handles, and not only has this helped ease the pain, it has also reduced my carpal tunnel pain.

Measure the end of your gouge handle; I used a circle drafting template, but you could also use calipers. The tips should fit tightly. The tips usually cost around a $1 each and are available in most hardware stores, but I found the largest selection at youngs-inc.com. Choose a tip with a flat bottom, because a rounded bottom will continue to focus the pressure into the center of your palm.

The tips spread out the pressure as I carve, and, as a bonus, the ribs give you another gripping surface. Once you have added the cushioned tips to your handles, test them out on this folk-art bird project.