DAE miss the simplicity of hand-cut glass but fear the risks now?

I learned glazing from my old boss who never wore safety goggles. We'd score glass with a simple cutter and snap it by hand, feeling the edge with bare fingers. It felt skilled and raw, like real craftsmanship. But last year, I saw a guy get a nasty slice from a piece that didn't break clean. Blood everywhere, and it could have been his eye. Now, I insist my crew uses cut-resistant gloves and eye protection every single time. That old way might have been simpler, but it's just not worth the risk. We can still do quality work without putting ourselves in danger. Sometimes, progress means adding a layer of safety to keep the trade alive.

4 comments

4 Comments

the_betty1mo agoOG Member

Missing that bare-finger touch, but safety gear lets us craft longer careers.

kimr741mo ago

Doubt it's that big a deal. I've known folks who worked bare-handed for years without any real problems. Safety gear can feel clumsy and actually slow you down. Sometimes the risk is just overblown to sell more gear. You can still have a long career without all that extra stuff.

anna_kelly671mo ago

Wow, I've seen careers cut short by avoidable injuries, so gear seems worth it to me.

jade5171mo ago

Seriously, I used to think like that too... until I messed up my wrist pretty bad. Took months to get back to normal work. Now I never skip the gloves, and it's like @the_betty said, it's about keeping your hands in the game. Sure, it feels weird at first, but you get used to it fast. The slight slowdown is nothing compared to being out for half a year.