Because he had always been interested in martial arts, he later began to carve wooden t'ai-chi swords, nunchakus, and other martial arts accessories.
至於為何有這樣的發展，陳明存並不清楚；但是，斗南從他開始才做木雕面具，卻是毋庸置疑的。那是民國五十五年的事嘍。雕面具起家而雕刻面具，主要也是因為日本人認為鬼面具有避邪之用，對這種民俗藝品十分偏愛。