Woodcarving

[Bill]

I went to the woodworking show today in Indianapolis. Very crowded! The only instructional presentation I was able to see very well was on inlay/marquetry. I picked up a few tips which I'm sure will be very useful if I ever get around to trying it. One little tip: the instructor used a downward spiral routing bit to get sharp (and extremely shallow) cuts. He also discussed using a plane iron to cut square corners (obviously impossible with only a "round" router bit) and getting patterned inlay to meet properly in the corners of a piece (geeze, like I don't have enough to worry about....lol). The short answer is to start by examining your inlay materials before you cut the other pieces.

On the way home I stopped at Rockler (who was having a sale due to the ww show in town) and was invited to sit down with a group of wood carvers who meet there on Saturday. They handed me a small block of wood and a knife and when I got around to picking it up, they handed me a kevlar glove and thumb and finger protector. It looked like I surprised them when I asked for a pencil. I eeked out a fish on it--especially the swoosh of the tail :), in 3 dimensions. Having never done it before, I found that part interesting. The carver-in-chief improved on my drawing a little for me--giving the body a more interesting profile and marking where the fins on the side would need to stick out (from the top view). It seems they don't use glue or nails...

I got a very nice lesson, and I bought the person who gave me the piece of wood a few replacement pieces. My wife says I have this piece of wood with a fish in it just dying to get out... Yeah, just what I need is another hobby to help balance out my other pastimes like EMT. I'll have to decide whether my fish will swim (or not)! :) Basically, I gave the block of wood a 1"R round over to give his tail a little action.

The Rockler salesperson was so careful to not let me touch the router bits I requested, behind the locked glass, and held them for me at the cash register. When I got back to the car I noticed that one of them had a 1/4" shank rather than the 1/2" shank I asked for. They made the exchange and on the receipt they printed that I "changed mind". I'm really glad I didn't change my mind after I made the 30+ mile drive home!!! On their side, they were very busy, but a small apology would have been okay if it had been offered.

To carve or not to carve. Anyone of you folks carved anything besides a deer or a turkey? : ) There's probably a more suitable forum on carving but you folks are among my bestest friends, and it IS still WOOD.

Bill

[Lobby Dosser]

Pointed sticks.

[Gerald Ross]

I do a little. Sold a couple of small pieces at our last Christmas show. It is something quiet to do when you get up before daylight and don't want to wake the neighbors with the dust collector (mine is outside the shop).

[Casper]

I've been carving for about a year and a half now. Joined a local carving guild after taking a free carving class at a local woodstore. I'd carved one piece in my life, about 25 years ago, as more of a joke than a real piece. When I showed it to the instructor, he said that was pretty damn good for never having help. So, I took the dive and have been loving it.

I've done geese, pelicans, dolphins, hanging birds and a few other pieces in the round. This year I plan to try relief carving. Before the holidays I got instruction on chip carving and have been doing that the last couple of months. Chip carving is fun and fast once you get the hang of it.

Right now I still prefer carving animals, preferably sea creatures. We have quite a few bird carvers locally, so I wanted to do something different. That works well as I have several sea lovers in my family.

Once I try my hand as relief carving, I'll know where my talen really lies. I imagine even if I do well, I'll always still carve whatever I feel like at the time, but lean towards my more talented area. I recommend trying anything that inspires you.

I started woodturning about 5 years ago and love it. In 2008 I picked up a scroll saw and love that too. But I can't bring those into the living room in the evening or just stick a tool in my pocket for where ever I go, like with a carving knife. So for what MHO is worth, I recommend trying carving. There is no simpler woodworking than with a simple knife you can take almost anywhere. I certainly look at trees a whole lot differently than I did when I started woodturning.

`Casper

[Larry Jaques]

Which end?

-- "I probably became a libertarian through exposure to tough-minded professors" James Buchanan, Armen Alchian, Milton Friedman "who encouraged me to think with my brain instead of my heart. I learned that you have to evaluate the effects of public policy as opposed to intentions." -- Walter E. Williams

[Bill]

Casper wrote: I certainly look at trees a

I look at wood differently. I feel like I'm being responsible for a life (given). I am surely influenced by something Roy Underhill, and others, have written.

Bill

[Lobby Dosser]

Propeller.

[Larry Jaques]

--snip--

Dare I ask?

-- "I probably became a libertarian through exposure to tough-minded professors" James Buchanan, Armen Alchian, Milton Friedman "who encouraged me to think with my brain instead of my heart. I learned that you have to evaluate the effects of public policy as opposed to intentions." -- Walter E. Williams

[Bill]

For a boat? Did it work?

Bill

[Marty]

When the kids were young, (especially the autistic one,) I'd often sit outside and watch them as they played. And often, I'd pick up a stick and "doodle" with my pocket knife. Little people, strings of geometric shapes, one or two link chains, once, a ball in a cage. Usually, the project got thrown away when the kids decided to go back inside, but a few times I outdid myself. :) I've still got a few of those things tucked away... Marty

[Lobby Dosser]

The notch for the atlatl.

[Lobby Dosser]

When the kids were young, (especially the autistic one,) I'd often sit outside and watch them as they played. And often, I'd pick up a stick and "doodle" with my pocket knife. Little people, strings of geometric shapes, one or two link chains, once, a ball in a cage. Usually, the project got thrown away when the kids decided to go back inside, but a few times I outdid myself. :) I've still got a few of those things tucked away... Marty

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Interesting to think of doodling with wood and a knife!

[Marty]

=A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0Marty

Yeah, I've never lost any blood doodling with a pencil. :) Marty