THAI WOODCARVING

Health impact from wood carving occupation

Author: Mrs.Ubol Singkaew

A Case study of baan Tha-Wai, Hang Dond District, Chiang Mai Province

This descriptive study the impact on physical, mental, social and spiritual health from wood-carving occupation in Baan Tha-Wai, Khun-Kong subdistrict, Hang Dong district, Chiang Mai Province. The 180 subjects ware chosen by simple random sampling from wood carving people and 60 subjects from general people. The instruments used in this study were an interview form, guide questions for focus groups, indepth interview an observation form. The content validity was reviewed by 3 experts. Reliability of interviews formwere 0.88 for occupational people and 0.77 for general population. The method used in data collection were interviewing, indepth-interviewing, observation, focus groups and reflecting the results to the public. Data were analyzed by using descriptive statistics. The major finding were as follows.

1. Positive impact on physial health in wood-carving people was accidental reduction from travelling to work.Negative impact on physical health were illness from musculo-skeletal systems, follow by headache and dizziness. The higest occupation accident or injury were chenmical splashed to mount, eye, or skin, follow by the injury from chisel. Negative impact on physical health in general people were headache and dizziness, follow by respiratory system.
2. Positive impact on mental health in wood-carving people were satisfied with wood-carving occupation, and happy with enough income for business and family. General population were satisfied with wood-carving occupation which led to better economics. Negative impact on mental health in wood-carving people were stress and suffer when incomes less than the expenditures. They couldn’t pay their debts and risk to contact dust, chemicals, ergonormics, noise exposure and contrast or glare light. General population were also stress due to risk to contact dust, chemicals and noise exposure from instruments of wood-carving.
3. Positive impact on social health were good relationship in the family and community, less conflict, usually helping with village work and setting a group for helping among group members. Negative impact on social health were anxiety due to foreign workers who migrated into the village perhaps communicable diseases carrier, high risk for unsafe life and property.
4. Positive impact on spiritual health, the majority of people were very proud of wood-carving occupation, participated in cultural event, and community activities. Negative impact on spiritual health were life-style changed from rural society to urban society and high competition in business. Perhaps in the future they will be less generosity.
5. Environmental impacts were increasing dust, waste and infectious waste which will lead to waste management problem in the community.

The results of this study can be used as baseline data for the related organization and stakeholders from government and non-government organization to plan for improvement of health promotion and risk reduction from wood-carving occupation.

Safety Products

• AO Safety Woodworker’s Respirator
• Protective Safety Glasses
• Peltor Professional Noise Canceling Earmuff
• Chainsaw Safety Helmet and Face Guard
• Safety Works Adjustable Faceshield

Bann Tawai

source: ww.ban-tawai.com

Bann Tawai is the village of wood-carving handicrafts. It has been known as the major cultural attraction of Chiangmai for Thai and foreign tourists. The best quality and bargains of wood carving items can be found in Bann Tawai.

At present, a wide variety of wood carvings and other decorative items e.g. wood carving, wood-strips, gold leaf wood, antique wood, silverware, lacquer ware, hand-woven textile, basketry and earthenware, can be found in Bann Tawai at Bann Tawai handicraft Center and Bann Tawai Song Fang Klong Center.

How we became the village of wood-carving

For forty years, the art of wood carving has been passed down from generation to generation. During BE 2500-2505, the first three villagers, Pho Naan Daeng Puntusa, Pho Jaima Inkaew and Pho Huen Puntusart had left Bann Tawai to learn how to carve at Nomsilp, a manufacture shop on Wua Lai Street, Chiangmai Gate. They brought their new found skill back to Bann Tawai. The village gradually became renowned for its woodcarving expertise.

The art of wooden handicrafts at Bann Tawai
• Wood-carving : typical woodwork at Bann Tawai, Chiangmai
• Wood texture- polishing : polished in order to bring out the beauty of wood texture
• Crackle Paint Wood : a paint that produce a crackled effect on the wood
• Wood antiqueing : new wood made to look like antiques

Wood carving

This art form in Thailand originated from the temples where religious objects such as Buddha images and pulpits were finely carved. Royal regalia for the court and household objects used by the nobility were also decorated with carving in temple buildings, the doors, shutters, gables and triangular brackets supporting the overhanging roofs were often intricately carved with animal and plant motifs.

Nowadays craftsmen specialize in just one type of carving used in the decoration of a viharn . The modern woodcarving industry itself is a development of only the last few decades.

Traditionally only a few artifacts were commissioned, and the wooden elephant was the most common everyday carved object. The popularity of temple carvings imported from Burma as souvenirs encouraged dealers to get local craftsmen to reproduce them. The reproduction processes, which include aging methods such as burning and soaking in urine, have become so good that even experts have difficulty deciding whether an object is genuinely old.

The scarcity of teak has forced modern carvers to use other woods like that of the rain tree. These woods carve well and are inexpensive. Staining to hide the light colors of the woods has become more common. The carving itself is usually done in the rough in outlying villages near Mae Tha , before the pieces are sent for detailed work in the woodcarving center of Ban Tawai .

Architectural woodcarving of Art For Everyday.

Chip Carver’s Workbook: Teach Yourself with 7 Easy and Decorative Projects

Product Description

Chip carving—a style of woodcarving in which knives are used to remove selected "chips" of wood from the project in a single piece—is introduced in this guide. Noted chip carver and teacher Dennis Moor presents the tools and techniques needed to replicate this ancient woodcarving art with detailed guidance on wood, tools, and sharpening, and tips on how to hold chip carving knives. Instructions on the three main types of chip carving, layout and design, and on getting the pattern onto the wood, lettering, and finishing are included. Woodworkers are taken through seven projects, including a napkin holder, a plant box, a letter holder, a trinket box, a tissue box holder, and a cheese and cracker tray. A photo gallery of finished pieces provides inspiration for novice woodworkers.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author
Dennis Moor is the cohost of the Canadian HomeWorkshop show Decorative Carving Anyone Can Do. He lives in Kitchener, Ontario.