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carving - carving techniques and its instruments?!?

S

squirrel

Joined
Sep 27, 2007
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Location
Belgium
Hi,

A lot of woodturners use carving techniques.
I would love to follow a workshop , as complete as possible, about all types of carvingtechniques and the instruments who can be used for it.
Can I be informed who is giving good and complete workshops on this subject?

Thanks a lot - Squirrel
 
A survey of carving tools would be interesting. I find that most carvers specialize in one or two tools. They are able to safely do things with those tools which might never be shown in a survey.

A more effective choice might be to select instruction from a turner whose work you admire.
 
Just in the world of power carving the subject is huge. Just look ats whats available in the catalogs and you will get an idea. I agree you should find a carver whoose work you like and go for it. Many of these folks now carry a line of burrs to sell you cause when they demo they get asked. But pick one. If you use a shotgun approach the amount of money you will shell out on things you may never use is huge. If you zero in on what you like and focus on that you will get your feet still more wet than you may think. Do you like Trent Bosch, Jacque Vesery, John Jordan, Mike Lee, Graeme Priddle, Rolly Munro, Paul Fennell, to name a few? There is a big list.
 
I took a course from Trent Bosch several years ago and he likes to use reciprocating carving tools as well as rotary burrs and cutters. You can save a lot of money by purchasing cheap miniature pneumatic rotary tools to hold the burrs and cutters. A safety advantage of the pneumatic motors is that the torque goes to nearly zero at stall which is just the opposite of electric motors.The obvious implication is that the tool and workpiece are less likely to get away from you if there is a dig-in. I can't remember if Trent uses a needle scaler, but that is also a commonly used texturing tool.
 
reply and request for Betty Scarpino

Okay - I'm getting an idea how to start.
Should this not be an idea for some more articles in the magazine.
There are not so much articles about carving techniques the pros and contras.
I think as it is used quite often nowadays in woodturning it would be interesting to get a bit more articles on the techniques of woodcarving.

Thanks Squirrel
 
Squirrel, if you want carving info go to a carving outfit like www.woodcarverssupply.com they have lots of tutorials on various kinds of carving you can buy. there are a few outfits like that around including treeline. I dont have their full email. They are next to craft Supplies in Provo Utah. Each of the people I mentioned do their own thing although there is a lot of bleedover in the tools they use. i forgot a couple of the ladies. Andi Wolfe, Betty Scarpino, Dixie Biggs.
 
There have been carving articles in American Woodturner over the years. If you are an AAW member you can access all the back issues and read some of them.
There are also a couple of woodcarving magazines both here and in the UK. I learn a lot from those.
The best thing is just get one tool and start carving with it. That will lead toward a better understanding of what other tools you might want. I started with a small set of palm carvers and still use them to this day.
 
HI Squirrel, I will be hosting a class titled "sculptural turning" at the Center for Furniture Craftsmanship next summer, August 20-24 in Rockport, ME. E-mail for details if you are interested.
 
Hello,

thanks for all the interesting information.
I do have quite a lot of carving chisels and I use them now and then. But I am interested to buy some of the King Arthur tools and/or a kind of carving pen (high speed).

I would love to follow courses but ... I do not live in USA and in my country there are hardly interesting courses. A pity!
Thanks again - Squirrel

OW! By the way - the chainsawblades .... I suppose they can break, just as a normal chainsawblade can break. Did anybody heard aboutsuch a case. Of course, I know, you have to handle it the right way and how to handle is beautifully described on their website. But it can break anyway, does it not?
 
squirrel said:
Okay - I'm getting an idea how to start.
Should this not be an idea for some more articles in the magazine.
There are not so much articles about carving techniques the pros and contras.
I think as it is used quite often nowadays in woodturning it would be interesting to get a bit more articles on the techniques of woodcarving.

Thanks Squirrel
Click to expand...

Many woodworkers use a woodburner to "carve" or texture when adding fine detail, but for the most part, they paint the wood afterward, in the same fashion as decoy carvers (Jacques Vesery, Molly Winton, Graeme Priddle, Andi Wolfe, Dixie Biggs, Sharon Doughtie, Jennifer Shirley). Michelle Holzapfel's work is also an example of that, but she usually leaves the burn marks uncovered.

I have been waiting for my next three-year contract to be signed before publishing articles on carving in this woodturning journal. That event is close to happening, my contract is with the Board President right now, its final stage. (You would have to know the back story to truly understand, but suffice it to say that I am a woodturner who carves and embellishes her turnings, and many people were concerned that I would too highly feature an arty approach, leaving out more traditional techniques in the journal. I think I've proven otherwise.)

At the last two mini conferences I went to, the attendees were very interested in surface enhancement. At the Rocky Mountain Symposium, almost all of Dixie Bigg's sessions on relief carving and surface enhancement were standing-room-only.

I think I'm now safe to assume that articles on surface enhancement would be welcome to many in the AAW membership. And for those who think they are not interested, I offer a story:

I was a demonstrator at the recent OWVG symposium and presented four rotations. At the first, a gentleman came up to me and asked if I was going to do any turning. After explaining that most of my demo would be about cutting turnings apart after they are off the lathe, he left. Second rotation, he came up to me again with the same question. He left again. For the third rotation, this one on surface enhancement, he decided he would stay for the first part on how I turn grooves for adding bleach to. He ended up staying for the entire two hours, then stopped me afterward to tell me he might try some of what I demonstrated.

Playing with these techniques can add a lot of fun to your shop time. To respond to your query, Squirrel, here will be articles in future journals on carving and surface embellishment for turned objects. There is no end to the fun!

In the meantime, members can read all the past issues of AW online to check out the handful of articles that have been published on these topics.

Betty Scarpino, editor, AW
 
Betty I have noticed Woodturning out of England now has a lot more carving and turning embellishment than they used to. I think it's going that way even though the die hard traditionalists don't like it. You can only make so many bowls and platters before you decide to add a little something to one of them.
 
Thanks Betty!

I perfectly understand the difficulties you were/are dealing with.
I'm looking forward to see the articles in the next future.

Sincerely - Squirrel
 
I remember all the heat that was generated a couple years ago over the then alarming "artsy" trend in the journal. In my opinion, iit peaked when "Basic Black" (aka Chunk) was chosen for the cover photo of the winter 2007 journal.

I feel that there is a big differnce between trendy art that a mentally challenged chipmunk could create and highly embellished woodturnings that are without a doubt works of art.

I believe that our current editor (who I think has done a fantastic job with the journal) would not head down the path of trendy art and would instead focus on techniques for expanding the artist value of woodturnings. I'm all for that!

If it can be created by just dragging it behind a truck, feel free to call it art, but I don't want to see it or read about the process in the journal. I would love to read more about innovative surface treatments and mechanical manipulation of turnings to create new art forms.

I look forward to what you will give us Betty.

Ed
 
Ed_McDonnell said:
I remember all the heat that was generated a couple years ago over the then alarming "artsy" trend in the journal. In my opinion, iit peaked when "Basic Black" (aka Chunk) was chosen for the cover photo of the winter 2007 journal.

I feel that there is a big differnce between trendy art that a mentally challenged chipmunk could create and highly embellished woodturnings that are without a doubt works of art.

I believe that our current editor (who I think has done a fantastic job with the journal) would not head down the path of trendy art and would instead focus on techniques for expanding the artist value of woodturnings. I'm all for that!

If it can be created by just dragging it behind a truck, feel free to call it art, but I don't want to see it or read about the process in the journal. I would love to read more about innovative surface treatments and mechanical manipulation of turnings to create new art forms.

I look forward to what you will give us Betty.

Ed
Click to expand...

Made me laugh, Ed ... you're in luck, my pickup truck died about four years ago, so I'm left truckless when it comes to creating that sort of art.

Seriously, I appreciate your comments about the journal and my editorship. I've enjoyed the last three years editing--it's been rewarding and gratifying. The quality of authors' submissions continues to increase, so you can expect good reading in the future, too.

Thank you.

Betty Scarpino, editor, AW
 
Man I just got a new (to me) truck and it's 4wd and has a V6. I should be able to do all sorts of texturing. 🙂
 
John - Your truck + a red clay dirt road = twofer. Color and texture all in one process. 😱

I may not want to see it in the journal, but if you post a video on you tube I'll watch!!


Ed
 
Wish I could come down and visit. I've been wanting to take a good motorcycle ride and cruising around through that part of Tennessee is mighty fine. I may look at my schedule. Haven't been to Arrowmont in a couple of years now.
 
4 wheel drive

John Lucas -Many years ago when I was replacing the mining manager he said to me-"Stay away from 4 wheel drives, they will just get you into trouble." Good advice , the only advice worth listening to whether mining, turning or political.
 
john lucas said:
Wish I could come down and visit. I've been wanting to take a good motorcycle ride and cruising around through that part of Tennessee is mighty fine. I may look at my schedule. Haven't been to Arrowmont in a couple of years now.
Click to expand...


I'll buy you dinner if you show up.
 
I've had a toyota 4WD since 1993. Would not be without 4WD ever again. They are so handy. You do have to realize that just because you can go doesn't mean you can stop. Especially in icy conditions.
The best use was when I was picking up some 25" maple log pieces. I rolled the first on in the truck up a wooden ramp. It was really hard. When I tried the second one it got away from me and I would have probably brocken a leg or worse if I wasn't quick on my feet. I hooked a chain around it and drug it to the edge of a nearby ditch. I put the truck in 4 wheel drive and back the rear wheels into the ditch. I only had to roll the log up a 1 foot incline now. The truck pulled itself right out of the ditch. I had of course a very large grin on my face for pulling that off.
 
John, you can buy cranes that will bolt to the pickup bed, a crane that are rated for 500 lbs will pull a log that weigh over that amount
 
My comments about 4wd were said somewhat tongue in cheek, I ended up having one and only running off a gravel road once in 5 years. I see them against the metal barriers on the interstate here in Denver frequently during winter. It all depends on the driver. Enuf said for me. back to carving.
 
Special Interest Night in San José

Rooms will be set aside one evening at the San José symposium next June for special interest (SIN) groups. If there is sufficient interest in a SIN program for carving and embellishment techniques a room can be made available. From what Betty says and Squirrel writes, this is a topic which might have significant participation. If someone is prepared to volunteer to organise a program, as mentioned a room will be provided.
 
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