I would like to ‘dimple’ an area of one of my cabinet projects with some shallow concave ovals, maybe 1/8″ or so in size.
I’m not sure what the right tool for this would be. I am thinking some kind of knife/gouge/scoop or punch?
I have seen this occasionally on modern northwest coast Indian carvings, used on a background to give it a bit of texture.
Any suggestions on the right tool/technique would be welcomed.
Dan
Replies
Nail set?
Dan,
You could come to my woodshop, seems all my projects have dimples!!!!!!
just kidding, try some larger ball bearings. These will give a more suttle impression than others.
Ball Peen Hammer? Striking the wood with the ball end or even using a mallet to strike the peen end after placing hte ball where you like. I've never done this, it's just a thought.
I believe they use a bent carving knife.
Dan,
I just did this to a carving on a gunstock, to match some old work that I had to patch. I made a sort of stippling tool out of a 16d nail. Ground the point flat, then ground and polished it to the oval shape I wanted, to match the old work. Used a light hammer to punch the dimples into the wood, placing the end of the tool right where I wanted it ( I had carved acorns, and the stippling was around them).
Regards,
Ray Pine
Thanks everyone for the quick responses.
Kovr, I also thought that bent knives were used for this, but I cannot find one small enough.
Ray, I like the idea of making a punch from a big nail. That way I can also get the slightly oval shape I am looking for.
Dan
Dan, try TANDY LEATHER. They have leather embossing punches that have oval rounded heads. buy a few sizes, (they are affordable.) Steinmetz.
Edited 12/14/2006 8:36 pm ET by Steinmetz
Can you show us a picture?
I do belive that those carvings are done with a gouge, I don't know what size. At least the old ones were done with a bent gouge.
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