User Profile

[Brian T]

I am surprised that Gregg (Kestrel) has not put the entire booklet on the internet.
However:
There are centuries of experience by Pacific Northwest carvers in that little thing.
I'm fussy about copyright issues so it's a $4.00 small-sized recipe booklet for adzes.
You get one...

[Brian T]

Probably the best thing you can buy right now is the 12-page booklet "Adzes & Ends" from Kestrel.
Full size adze handle patterns (55 degree elbow) for the Sitka, Baby Sitka as well as the D adze.
Lots of pictures, drawings and information.

I've used all the Kestrel...

[Brian T]

You're being stretched in an unusual way = take it easy to get back into it.
Any way you can lay the carving on a sheet of cupboard foam mesh to carve so you don't have to hold it?

[Brian T]

Hot air rises. The coolest part of my house is sitting on the floor (on the couch cushions.)
Sketching a new 24" Raven but the relief from the heat makes me sleepy!...

[Brian T]

I would walk with that. The eagle is wide enough to be comfortable under the hand.
Dry/cured diamond willow still has better compression strength than bone. It does.
I depend on that strength when I have to lean on my stick.

There's more diamond willow where that came from....

[Brian T]

I don't suppose we know what the blade tangs would look like without bashing one apart?
I'm guessing that they are center-hafted in the handles.
I'd add wood to the end and bulk the hand area with VetWrap to get what I need before I'd trash one.

[Brian T]

Although they are rarely shown, I think that chain saws have led to much more dramatic and larger carvings in the Pacific Northwest.
There's such rapid progress from design to finishing in many poles these days. Large sizes of modern gouges have helped a lot as well.

[Brian T]

"Kestrel Constant" for wood carving tool handle diameters. That's what I call it.

In the Pacific Northwest, at least, carving knives are often held in a palm-up, fist grip.
The cutting stroke is a pull towards yourself. Push strokes often use added pressure from the opposite...

[Brian T]

Just with the blades turned for a pull stroke. Some dogmatic views claim you shouldn't.

[Brian T]

Thanks.
I have big hands and use the Kestrel Constant for handle diameters.
GM commented on short handle length = I believe that.

Would not hesitate to bash off the factory handles and make my own to fit me.
The first 5 or 6 are slow gowing, then you get the pace.

[Brian T]

Thanks for the link, to be able to see the tools and how they cut.
GM didn't say much about the edges and sharpening. BUT for all appearances, well worth the buy.
Got a lead on vendors or distributors on North America?

You probably make little use of a skew blade.
They...

[Brian T]

Sure, this is a 2015 thread. Worth reviewing.

Take a look at my posting#4 with the Photobucket picture =
How is that? I assumed that I got wiped out until I signed up again with money.
Do I have <250 images so my stuff is free again?

[Brian T]

I think that chunky roughouts are less work when I make a bunch of cuts with a coping saw (or bigger).
Then pry/bash off the lumps. One shaving after another with a knife is tedious.

I agree = I highly recommend that everybody make a few knives from some other steels.
That...

[Brian T]

I wish. I've still got blades on the bench that need hafting.
More power to you.

[Brian T]

This will be fun! The arrangement of scale s between the eyes and the nose is the give-away for species, even with turtles.
I hope that you can show us some middle steps.

[Brian T]

Restoration carving has to be the hardest of all = making parts which match the (missing) originals.
Keep us posted with the progress, please.

[Brian T]

Get the tools right:
A digital mictometer will measure sizes and distances but it will not measure bevel angles at all.
A digital protractor or digital anlog measure will measure bevel angles to a degree or so.
My mechanical swing arm protractor is sloppy but maybe 2(?)degrees which...

[Brian T]

As a group, all of the conifers split fairly easily so they don't hold detail like you might hope.
I've seen some very fine work in Huon, if you can get it.

Key thing is to take a ruler and do a "ring count" = the number of annular growth rings per 25mm ( 1 inch).
...

[Brian T]

I'm curious = I'd like to see more examples of your "power carving."

I've had drill bits slip for no apparent reason. Then the next one cranks up tight for as long as I need it.
The only thing that seemed to help was some 400 or 600 grit sandpaper to take the shine off...

[Brian T]

Tell us all a little more about yourself and your carving....