How many of you out there in modeling land shake quite a bit when you attempt something that involves small, tiny parts, or try to brush-paint a small area? I’m getting to where I shake more than I think I should when doing these things, but the doc says it ain’t anything to worry about (my opinion is different).
Anyways, what do y’all do to overcome this? I try to rest my holding hand (usually my left hand) against something immovable while using my right hand to manipulate whatever it is I’m using (paint brush; the other part to be attached; applying glue; etc…), and resting the right hand against something steady, too, while doing whatever it is that I’m doing. But, it’s reaching the point where this isn’t working so well, either. I’m only 53, and I shouldn’t be shaking this much (again, my opinion). Luckily, my job hasn’t begun to suffer from this…yet.
I’m right handed so obviosly that’s the “painting hand”
What I do is extend my pinky and rest it on the workbench. It helps.
I’m also a smoker (I know… I know… I have been cutting back lately. I’m down to 6 or 7 a day. Unless I’m in a bar… then I smoke a pack in an hour… and come home with my vocal cord’s feeling like hamburger!) So sometimes when I’m about to paint i smoke to lessen the hand tremmer’s.
I DO NOT RECOMMEND A N Y B O D Y STARTING SMOKING JUST TO EASE HAND TREMBLING !!! ( or for any other reason !!! )
Trembling DOES come in handy for wethering ( just load up the brush with Rust and “twitch” away!
I am something of a coffee fiend at times, and when I have more than I should before a bench session, the shakes show up. I counter them by placing my hand against the work bench or some other non moving surface to steady my control.
Also deep slow breathing can reduce the shaking as well.
See another doctor, get 2nd opinion! Caffeine gives me the shakes, stay away from it whenever modeling sugary foods as well. I’m inching towards 70, worry lot over tripping when hauling stuff upstairs; eyesight still very good, do better modeling at night whenever am alert enough to do so.
Plus I’d like to add that I fine mine starts when I’ve been “working” perhaps a bit too long and almost too focused. And, as you say, it’s always something small and finicky.
My 2 cents is to walk away for a bit, get away from the bench.
I’m 53 as well and I find the same thing. Doctor says my problem is mostly the Albuterol I have to use for my COPD. Besides resting my hands as described above, I have found that using a breathing technique I was taught in therapy called “pursed lip breathing.” This is basically inhaling calmly through the nose, then exhaling through the mouth with your lips tightly pursed as if whistling, so you can actually feel some back pressure in your chest. Try to take at least twice as long to exhale as it took to inhale, but the longer the better. I use this to control shortness of breath, and seems to help calm my shaky fingers down before I start painting, etc… Might be worth a try, anyway.
When I bear down and really concentrate on a hard to fit part or a really intracit paint job I get shaky right at the most critical time. I suffer from task specific Focal Dystonia in my right hand. It sucks. Perhaps you have a touch of that. Stress makes it much worse. I had to quit playing golf and get by in tennis with a rediculously extreme western grip. I actually have an appointment to go see someone in the next couple weeks. It only took me 25 years this is the first time I’m actually going to do something about it. I read that Parkinson medications or even Botox is a treatment. We’ll see. Google focal dystonia. Get a second opinion for sure.
When I am doing fine work, like fine painting or tweezer work, I try to keep both hands supported and connected to the same support. Sometimes I will put a box down on the bench top, with my left hand resting on the box and the paint brush or tweezer in the left hand, also resting on the box.
If that is not pratical, or when the model is sitting on benchtop itself, I will place left hand on bench near where I am working on model, making a fist, and have right hand resting on left, or forearm near wrist, resting on the left hand fist.
I try to make all the motion with the right hand and fingers. I never to any fine work with neither right wrist area nor elbow supported by workbench. Sometimes both forearm/wrists resting on work benchtop, model or piece to be worked on in left, tool or brush in right.
I’m 77 and afflicted with the same problems. For years I shrugged it off by saying that every time I’m working on the bench that da** freight train comes rumbling under the bench. The doc says it’s partly old age and partly the result of having a graft in my right arm tieing the artery and veins together when I was on dialysis before the transplant. If you touch any part of either hand or arm you can feel my pulse and watch it as the veins jump up and down. Had to give up bowling, and tennis as docs are afraid that shocks to the arm might cause a blood clot resulting in all kinds of terrible things. Resting the hands on the bench while working seemed to do the trick for quite a while but I guess I’m getting used to it and it is slowly coming back. The breathing idea sounds good. I’ll have to give it a try. Thanks, anything that keeps me building is great.
My problem is backwards. I had terrible shakes three years ago. So I took up modeling to use as a therapeutic technique. I just kept modeling and now my shakes are almost gone. Breathing (Pranayama) helps a lot. Yoga helps Me as well.
Do you freak out when doing this type of detail work? Sometimes one is so concerned about not shaking or moving and it happens cuz one tries so hard not too.
If you are a coffee drinker the cafeene will have an effect. I know my blood pressure goes up a couple of numbers after a cup.
My hands rarely shake but it’s always good to support it to get better results.
I always say that the best doctor is oneself and if you feel something is not right then get a second opinion just for your own peace of mind.
First and foremost , what brand of coffee or tea do you drink? Change that . Remember I consume a pot or more of Marine grade coffee a day . No Shakes . I recommend as far as tea to switch to Earl grey .It has a hint of Bergamot and a fine flavor .
Now as to coffee, The Colombians have me hooked ! I just love the dark roast Colombian from Folgers ! Also , I find if you have a sharp workbench on which you prop your arms can do this to you .You are to young to be shakin . Do you Imbibe .Change brands , I did and it helped . I now like or need less of "Devils Cut " as far as that goes .My fave has always been Couvosier in two fingered glasses at room temp .
Now there is another reason .You have gotten high on your glue and the wonderful smell of plastic .More ventilation Young Man !!! LOL.LOL. You’ll get the hang of thangs .T.B.
Wish I could blame it on caffeine, stik, but I usually drink a couple of normal-sized cups (12oz) of coffee in the morning after breakfast, then maybe a couple of Cokes during the day, but that’s about it. I usually don’t model until late at night, so I would figure the caffeine would be worn off by then. I don;t notice the shakes at all unless I’m doing work that requires small minute (my-nute!) movements. Don’t notice it when I’m strumming on the git-fiddles, either. As others have said, it does come handy for mixing my paints…