User Profile

[Brian T]

The internet examples just show off how much experience comes from practice.
Some of those people have lots of time and do lots of carving.

Some of that experience comes from "learning the wood" as I call it.
What you can and can't do with cuts into a particular wood...

[Brian T]

Russian Olive = Ealeagnus angustifolia.
Very fine woods, designs and finishes.
I always admire the innovations on the handles.

[Brian T]

Fantastic! Never would have imagined making scorps out of box-end wrenches.
I now see the value in those one-of-a-kind yard sale orphans.

[Brian T]

E-S: do you complete one carving at a time or do you have several "on the go" at the same time?
I wonder how far you could get with a single knife before you needed another. Half a day?

I used to pack my tools with a "just in case" attitude. Needed maybe 10%....

[Brian T]

Rare carving subject and good wood for the design.
I'd be busy with power tools to hog out the rough waste.
No rewards for wasting effort.
But, "happy sanding."

[Brian T]

I have used beeswax as a waterproof finish on birch carvings (dishes) at my kitchen sink.
It picks up dust and you can't wipe it off. For appearance, it isn't matte, satin or gloss unless you power-buff it.
I applied it melted (ultra messy) and did my usual oven-baking process to set the...

[Brian T]

I bought a leather covered box in a garage sale. Kind of peeling off in places.
Might have been a musical instrument case 50+ years ago.
I hope to call it a "day-box" for a few tools, apron, sharpening stuff and a couple of projects to hack at....

[Brian T]

Turning the carving sideways to see only one side works quite well!!!!

By good fortune, I have had Haida carvers show me their sketch books
and explain how they get the left/right symmetry made.
Better drawings and a careful center line help a lot.

Jof makes me...

[Brian T]

Ah, I'm never that precise or careful. Might explain why all my carvings are a bit lop-sided.

[Brian T]

Can the surfaces be just smooth enough for the application of the drawings?
I wonder if a table-top band saw might be useful.
Mine is about 8" throat which would easily cut the blank sizes that you describe.

A hand plane such as a Stanley Bailey #5 Jack plane will certainly...

[Brian T]

I go on and on about the importance of the diameters of the tool handles.
Just enough arthritis so the "squeeze" is apparent after a while.
I'm glad I found out about that. Different sizes, the right size, make quite a difference to comfort over a day.
Gloves ease the vibration...

[Brian T]

But Rickm, you got the conversation started.

A new carver would learn that it takes the right tools for the job.
That you pick the style of carving that you most admire, that you would like to do.
Then you get to drool over the tool choices for that style!

I was...

[Brian T]

I heard whispers about the sandpaper, a new release from 3M, I believe.
However, the whole business does not appear to be 10 times better than anything
we use now so there's no cost effectiveness.
I, for one, have no desire to spend my time picking sticky bits of shredded sandpaper...

[Brian T]

These are the facts.

rickm asked the real question = what do you really need for basics?

Every style has a different tool kit. Pallin brought that point up, GG added the focus.

If anything, big tool sets are a mistake, depending on what you want to do.

[Brian T]

In the Pacific Northwest style of the First Nations:
Straight knife, crooked knife (about a 'C' Kestrel bend) and a Kestrel Baby Sitka elbow adze.
Expect to buy blades and make the handles.

In the western european style:
Straight (detail) knife, 8/7 gouge, 5F/14 gouge

[Brian T]

You're stuck. I've had that happen to log pieces that I was trying(?) to dry slowly so no cracks.
All I could do was wipe them all with a clean rag, hoping to damage the mold.
Imagine snow-white 6" x 24" willow, covered with black freckles that don't wipe off.

The...

[Brian T]

Great looking bear. I'm always surprised to see how big they really are.

[Brian T]

Hang onto that stick. Sure to be a conversation-starter.
You never know when that stick will become an essential for someone.

[Brian T]

Heritage. What do those people want to be called, I wonder?
As a kid, I was taught that "eskimo" was derived from a French label which means: "eaters of raw meat."
I believe that "Inuit"means "the people." Probably I'm guilty of a gross generalization,...

[Brian T]

The mittens on the Inuit hands look OK as do the snow goggles.
I like the clothing colors, look like seal skin hides.
Just a point of form but we don't use "eskimo" any more.