Harley Refsal Carvings

[Rodster]

Normally I carve little figures from a block of wood 1.25" square. Currently my characters are 4" in height. When I was learning to carve, I bought a couple of Harley Refsal cutouts and carved Karl Oscar and Kristian. I think they turned out okay. Have a look for yourself.

While I know I am in the minority, I hold that carving from a block of wood is a good option. Give up on patterns, use a block of wood and you may find that you get a more original Karl Oscar and Kristian. Or something you might like even better.



Karl Oscar.JPGKristian.JPG

[Rodster]

I'm decluttering the basement. I'm getting rid of my woodworking stuff as well: clamps, saws, planes and the like ... I hope to clean things up a lot. Passing it along to a younger generation, who have the time and interest, but little money to buy tools, is my recycling choice.

I've kept the workbench (15" x 60" with two vises), two small hand planes, two small hammers and three small hand saws, a miter saw and a few other useful tools for home maintenance, small projects and woodcarving. In short, I'm left with a workable, but more limited workshop.



Workbench in alcove.jpg

[Brian T]

You can actually see the floor! How weird is that? I think you need a second bench.
What kind of a chair do you like the best?

[Rodster]

You can actually see the floor! How weird is that? I think you need a second bench. What kind of a chair do you like the best?

The above workbench picture was taken when I built the 'workshop alcove'. The paint was fresh and everything looked neat. Today the floor is still clean, but the workbench is messier. I don't have a chair, as the workbench is for stand-up work only. As you can see below, when I carve, I travel light.

The toolbox and carving board were new when I took the photo. Today I carve with two # 9 Drake gouges, a 1/8" Drake v-tool, 1/4" Drake v-tool, a Helvie detail knife and a D Lyon rough out knife. It's all I really need, other than a miter saw to cut my wood to the proper length.

Small Tool Tote & Wood Carving Board.jpgimage_14247.jpg

[Brian T]

Very fine-looking tools, indeed!
I see a handsaw miter box on your bench. Do you need a special saw for that?
I need a big unit for slabbing soapstone for carvings.

Things changed when I moved away from the city and have a big shop which seems to lend itself to big messes.
Big gouges and adzes throw chips all over the room. I have to sit most of the time. I have a tall drafting chair on wheels.
So I have to keep enough floor space swept for "rolling room."

I'm prepared to believe that Heidi-cat finds the chip piles to be the wrong texture.

[Tom Ellis]

Rod, You can carve from a block. Draw your pattern on, and carve away the extra wood. By cutting out the pattern with a saw, it saves you a lot of carving off wood that a saw could do in seconds. May save some carple tunnel in the future also.

[Brian T]

Thanks for the info on the miter box saw.
None of the models is big enough for stones and salt blocks for carving.
I don't need precision, either.
But they will give me ideas for something to bash together from 2x4 and scrap plywood.

[uvawyo]

Nice carvings, tools and carving bench

[scotia carver]

Hi Rod
I have been making a lot of my caricatures on triangular basswood blanks,it enables me to carve two items from one square block,lets me to sell a for the same price with double of the revenue, If customers prefer to have a a full block carving they pay more. This works for me .
Bruce

[Dwight]

Good job Rod, I like these little guys they look so cool.

[Rodster]

Hi Rod
I have been making a lot of my caricatures on triangular basswood blanks,it enables me to carve two items from one square block,lets me to sell a for the same price with double of the revenue, If customers prefer to have a a full block carving they pay more. This works for me .
Bruce

How do you cut a block into a triangle, Bruce? I assume you use a band saw. I wonder if it's dangerous for your fingers? Or can you buy wood cut that way? On your carving philosophy, I like the way your mind works!

[Randy]

Before I got my band saw I used a regular hand saw to cut basswood blocks at a 45 for carving Santa faces. I put the block in the bench vise and cut down the first half of the block at the 45. Then put a small wedge in the cut then turned the block over in the vise and cut the other half.

[Rodster]

Before I got my band saw I used a regular hand saw to cut basswood blocks at a 45 for carving Santa faces. I put the block in the bench vise and cut down the first half of the block at the 45. Then put a small wedge in the cut then turned the block over in the vise and cut the other half.

Good approach. I could do that with my scaled down workshop. Thanks, Randy.

[Steve Reed]

Guess I'm the adventurous type. I have a Delta 3-wheel bandsaw, and I stand the block on the diagonal, using the slot in the table as a guide. I've seen arrangements where the block is put on a "sled" and done that way, but guess I'm used to doing it my way. Still have all my digits!
Steve