Main Discussion Area > Primitive Skills
'Medieval' Green Man carved bow rest
stickbender:
Wow, I must say, that is a bit of alright! Very nice indeed. Or as we say down south, "Dang Boy, that right there is just one heck of a piece of art work!" I do hope you are being handsomely compensated, for the time, and talent it takes to do those pieces of art. Have you tried Two Cherry's, or Pfiel products? I would like to try some of the Japanese laminated chisels, but my God, they want your first male child for the cheapest one they sell. You are very talented, and quite versatile, in your carving. I have recently gotten my Girlfriend into wood carving, and should have left well enough alone! I had been trying for years, to get to go to some wood carving shows, but she always had one excuse or another, finally last year, I was able to get her to go, and now she is flat out eat up with it! I spent $80.00 at the show on her, and have since spent many times that on knives, chisels, small band saw, scroll saw, flex shaft, bits, etc. I was just getting back into it myself, and had to put it on hold as I moved out here to Montana, now I have go and take my chain saw, and get her Cotton Wood bark to carve. It just never ends. Again, fantastic work, very nice indeed, thanks for sharing, and please share the commissioned piece when finished, before you deliver it.
Wayne
Ruddy Darter:
Hi Stickbender,
Lol, at least it was something enriching like woodcarving you got your girlfriend interested in, that's a real gift to give someone. 8),
The selection of chisels I have recently obtained are by Henry Taylor and Robert Sorby, not the cheapest and not the most expensive, but really are quality that hold a good edge, I don't use a mallet and push with just hands. I recently discovered the art of fine sharpening and stropping and maintain the edge to surgical sharpness, a must when working on white oak as tear out is easy and sharp corners can break...not the ideal carving wood, but I like the end heavy and very durable finished work. I'm beginning to get accustomed to the different shaped gouges and discovering how they are best utilized. I think once you start getting a result carving it does draw you in further and more adventurous and ambitious you become. Many thanks , oh..I have one two cherries micro v-chisel for very fine lines, works a dream. :) Good advice I received was buy as you need, best you can afford and one or two at a time rather than buying an expensive set and find you don't use a lot of them.
(I will post this current project when finished, just taking a little time out to work on a bow and then back on it.)
Ruddy Darter.
Zuma:
Truly Lion Hearted 8)
Did you apprentice or free wheel?
Zuma
Ruddy Darter:
Thanks Zuma, ;D
I've always been interested in arts and crafts, but carving wood has been a relatively new persuit of the last few years, my Father has always had a keen interest in carpentry and is pretty clued up with what tool does what and is a good source of guidance...and these days with YouTube anything you need to know is there at a touch of the screen. I think you have to find your own way to a degree, and start simple, do simple well and progress from there, trying too much too soon can be disappointing and disheartening. I've found good planning beforehand and good thought about how to tackle the project is key to making the project enjoyable and straight forward.
Ruddy Darter.
stickbender:
I had forgot to ask about Taylor brand. Yeah, the key to good carving, is definitely to get your tools very sharp, and keep them sharp, by stopping now and then to strop them. Yeah, My Girlfriend was wanting this, and that, and I told her to learn to use the tools, she had, and then, get the ones she actually needed, but like you said, one at a time, and watch others at the club to see what they use, and how they use them, but those tools may not be comfortable to you, so try some one Else's, and see it it works you, so she has, and the people at the club told her that also, not to go hog wild, and start buying all the sets, and latest and greatest. Oh, the latest, expense, I have had, was a "tornado" mini dust collector, and a Harbor Freight, work bench. She is actually doing quite well, and has learned to see things in the wood, to carve. I started by carving wax, when I was a dental lab tech. Then I started power carving bones, and black coral, wood, and just about any material, I could carve. I don't have much, of the stuff I carved, as I gave it all away. I just enjoyed doing it. I was a master model maker, for a couple of jewelers, for awhile, and made custom wax models, to be cast. But it got old after awhile, it wasn't fun any more, as I had a time table, and there was always, something to be changed. So I got out of that. I haven't carved anything, since about the 70's. I think I am going to get back into it again, once, I finally get my shop set up, and the house set up, and I am settled in. I just moved out here in Montana permanently this year. It is nice to see good wood carving, symmetry, and smoothness, and items that are thought out, and finished with care. My Girlfriend says that I am too nit picky, but I think she is now beginning to be a little like that, as she will carve a relief and not be happy with it, and go back and change it around a bit. She carved a nice relief scene, with an old barn, and trees, and mountains, and sky. She got a second at the club show, but she recently went back, and carved out the mountains, and put in trees, instead. Ahhhh, welcome to the sickness. Yes indeed, it does draw you in deeper, and as you said, you start doing the simple stuff well, and then you seek, a challenge, and then you are done for, you are addicted. She has a couple of older ladies at the club, who have taken her in under their guidance, and have got her doing the simple stuff first, and learning the cuts, and tricks, and such, and as I told her, and she is now doing, you start looking at wood, and seeing all kinds of possibilities in it's shape, it's grain pattern, etc., and what it could become. You certainly have the knack, and it is very enjoyable to see your work. Keep the pictures coming. We like pictures here, as most don't have much of an ability to visualize anything here, so descriptions, don't cut it, we need pictures. ;)
Wayne
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