I’m interested in trying carving to make details for my furniture, but I’m really not sure which tools to by to give it a try. I read that I should start with a number 5 gouge and a V-Parting tool. I like Two-Cherries Chisels, so I’ll probably give their carving tools a shot. If I can only afford a few tools which sizes does everyone recommend buying first?
Thanks in advance
Replies
A book on carving??? :)
Seriously the type/sweep/size of chisels you will need will be totally dependent on what detail you are carving. 2 Cherries makes very good carving chisels.
Steve
ummm,
I'm in the same place as you..want to try some carving, no tools. The best advice seems to be buy the tools you need for the specific project. Last year Lee Grindinger posted a picture of the carving tools (shapes) he recommends.
If you take a look as "Montanafest" you can take a look at Lee's home page and his work...fabulous stuff..
Edited 1/11/2005 7:48 am ET by BG
Edited 1/11/2005 8:00 am ET by BG
Regardless of what chisel , gouge or carving tool you get ,get what you need to sharpen and hone your tool.Nothing is more frustrating and dangerous than dull carving tools.
ummm
I have been carving for a number of years and now joined two clubs. My best advise is to join a local club. There is a lot of info. on all facets of carving from the club members, sharping, tools. where to get wood,etc.
The best way to keep your tools sharpen is to touch the tools bevel on a buffer when the edge starts to get dull. Use only a hard rag or hard felt wheel or leather wheel. I found that a emery compond was all I needed. Only a light touch inside of the tool to remove the burr from the bevel sharpening is necessary. Caution it is easy to round the inside edge. If that happens you will need to stone or grind the tools edge again. Also dont allow the tool to get hot when grinding this will draw the temper out of the tool.
You may try EBAY there are some good tools you sale there. I was told that the old Buck tools are very good, some say cast steel.
Redbob
Your question is addressed in FineWoodworking Issue #122 (Feb. 1997) page 82. The articles title is "Tools for Carving".
http://www.furniturecarver.com
Lee Grindinger has an essay on buying carving sets. All the guidance you need is on his site.
wow.a $10,000 coffee table. Sorta makes the one I am making; a mission style: look like an orange crate. At 10 Gs one has to wonder how many hours he had to spend on it.Wicked Decent Woodworks
Rochester NH
" If the women dont find you handsome, they should at least find you handy........yessa!"
Hmmm, makes me kinda glad you didn't see the $68,000 dining table.Lear Jets are expensive! Even in quantity...Lee
Lee
Not to get side tracked here but can you recommend a book on sharpening carving chisels?
My brother gave me a large set of chisels and I have done some minor stuff but not sure how to keep a sharp edge on them.
Thanks
Doug
I recommend Leonard Lee's book, The Complete Guide to Sharpening.
Doug@es,I don't know about Leonard Lee's book. I've heard good things about it but have never seen it. Maybe Robyn would send me one to review..., doubtful since it's not new and selling well.Sharpening carving tools is not a book length lesson, it's barely a chapter's length. In person I can teach gouge and v-tool sharpening in about ten minutes, lightbulbs go on in people's minds and it's quite easy. The written word is not as good, not nearly as good. Wanna come to MontanaFest for a lesson? Heh, heh, he...The key to sharpening all general use carving tools is to hone secondary bevels on both faces. I cannot stress this enough, both faces. Without this bevel the best you can do is pare (whittle). To produce this secondary bevel you use slips on the inside of gouges and v-tools. I use ceramics but sandpaper will work, natural stones will work and felt wheels will work if they are properly shaped.The only book I can reccommend is "Manual of Traditional Woodcarving" by Haslick. It covers this as well as any I've seen but be aware I haven't seen many books on how to carve, it's not my favorite reading material. I've reviewed a few books and they have come up short of Haslick's treatment of sharpening and carving fundamentals. I've been balking at putting a sharpening page up on my website because of bandwidth issues. I'd have at least two short videos and my web hosting fees would increase. I don't want to get into password stuff or fees and have thought about just doing it for a trial period and asking people to mail me a a few bucks if they find the information useful. We'll see, I've got my hands pretty full right now.Lee
Lee
Wanna come to MontanaFest for a lesson?
Don't think I'm not tempted!
Montana in Aug. is as close to heaven as I will probably ever see.
I can sharpen my flat chisels good enough to shave with so I'm sure I can do the carving chisel but I need to see some technique.
I'll take a look at that book that you suggested and also the one that Uncle Dunc mentioned. And maybe I'll just have to come to Montana to get an up close and personal lesson.
Thanks
Doug
I'm reading the thread with interest...thanks
one small aside, it is 'Hasluck', not 'Haslick' - might make someones search easier...
"there's enough for everyone"
Right you are, David.Thanks, Lee
I know. My cherry colored jet is on back order, awaiting that knotty pine interior...... or was that naughty pine?
Wicked Decent Woodworks
Rochester NH
" If the women dont find you handsome, they should at least find you handy........yessa!"
Edited 1/12/2005 8:11 am ET by unknown
You'll hear about different approaches to getting into carving. I'm a proponent of sets because it's important to learn what each tool does well and a novice's imagination is not good simply because (s)he has no experience. A set will expose the learner to a variety of tools. Would you send an artist out with only two tubes of paint?
Having said that, I understand that carving tools are damned expensive so it's not practical for most to by large sets. To that end I wrote an article for FWW detailing three different mouldings you can carve with three carving tools. Mouldings are a great place to start because they are so versatile.
Go here, http://www.taunton.com/store/fwarchive/index.asp and enter carving in the search box. Mine is in there somewhere. I noticed Nora Hall has an article about honing both sides of carving tools. Sharpening is THE first lesson and Nora Hall is a great wood carver so that might be one to get. I haven't seen it but the intro sounds good.
Here's a link to the page BG lifted that picture from. http://www.furniturecarver.com/carving.html which is a primer for you.
The only book I can honestly suggest is "Manual of Traditional Woodcarving" by Haslick. The first hundred pages are gold, the rest is pewter but it covers sharpening principles, carving styles and covers the fundamental mechanics you need to get started.
Someone said a dull tool is dangerous...I don't know, it's the sharpest ones that cut really deep. Hah, hah, ha...
I think the club idea is a great one, see if there are any in your area and sit in on a meeting or two.
Lee
Several years ago I was asking the same questions about getting started in carving. It really helped me to take a basic class (and buy the tools they reccomended). I've been a furniture maker for over thirty years and learning to carve totally changed my work. The Center for Furniture Craftmanship, check their website, is offering several classes by Chris Pye this summer. He's a great teacher and has a couple of good books to his credit. The cost is fair and it sure is a good place for the wife to also take a vacation. Hope this helps.
Dennis
I'd find a video that will guide you through the type of carving you want to do. It will have information on the necessary tools as well.
http://www.norahall.com/videos.shtml
TomS
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