How do I avoid sore fingers?

[Srigs]

Now that I have a stitching machine my hands are coming back to normal. Golf gloves work well with the finger tips cut off.

I still do some hand stitching on some sub assemblies but does not cause to much problems.

[gunfighter48]

If you have a farm/feed store anywhere around you get some bag balm. The last time I had to get some I found it at a Walgreen's pharmacy. It will make your skin tougher in no time. Back in the day when I worked in sawmills during the winter my hands would crack from the cold, bag balm always heeled them right up. Forgot all about it, my grandmother recommended it to me years ago, works great but smells bad.

John

[David Genadek]

Here is on one thing I have done. I often just by gloves and cut the fingers off too.

David Genadek

[Cora]

I usually just tape my fingers but I am going to give that vet wrap thing a try.

Cora

[paris3200]

8 or 10 days of stitching will harden up your hands

I've been making it a point to at least stitch a foot or two every day. I've been doing that for about a week now and I can notice my fingers toughening up.

Jason

[Hilly]

I don't know why, but I can stitch and stitch and stitch, and my fingers/hands never get sore. It's been that way since day one.

[paris3200]

I stitched a concealed carry gun belt yesterday without having to use anything on my fingers. Last Friday I made another belt and was in pain before I was a quarter way done. Just goes to show if you can stick it out for a week your fingers will toughen up.

Jason

[Shorts]

I use a leather/canvas gardening/work glove that's got leather reinforced palm pads. To supplement that, I glued additional leather pads on the palm and index finger so I can really push on the end of the needle. This also keeps my pinky from getting torn up by the thread like it use to.

There's lots of good options listed above, try em out and see what works for you. Can make all the differnce in the world.

My fingers index finger and thumb get a little swollen/sore from cutting leather with the utility/craft knife (need a head knife) - from the pressure I put on it. I normally sew every other day to give my fingers and neck a break (I need a stitching pony too!)...but a holster a day, usually have two going so I can do a separate part of the project...like molding and dying or cutting stitching to let my bdy rest. Who'd have though this would kick my butt...lifting weights and marathons didn't get me this worn out :D

[Rawhide]

I don't know why, but I can stitch and stitch and stitch, and my fingers/hands never get sore. It's been that way since day one.

Hilly, sounds like either you have callouses already, or you're not pulling tight enough.

Marlon

[Hilly]

Hilly, sounds like either you have callouses already, or you're not pulling tight enough.

Marlon

Marlon, if I pull any tighter than I do, the leather gets all puckered looking along my stitching line. And, no callouses, either. Just really lucky, I guess. Maybe I don't have as much sensation in the pinky fingers, due to past surgery for medial tendonitis. The nerve that supplies feeling to the ring and pinky was giving my trouble, so I had surgery to fix the tendons, and move the nerve a bit. The tendons still hurt, but at least I no longer feel like someone's whacking my funny bone all the time