Mary May – WoodcarverWood Carving Tips
Duplicating details for an altar table
I am in Savannah, GA working with master furniture maker and restorer, Greg Guenther (www.guentherwoodgroup.com). He is making a new altar table to match an existing one, and I am going to be carving the details. There will be 2 large capitals, egg and dart going around the entire table, and some leaf molding at [...]
Carving a Tiny Little Rosette
I had a fun little job the other day where I carved a tiny little rosette to match a rosette for an antique chair. It was about the size of a quarter. I got out my micro-tools, and it’s amazing after carving a huge thing like the shell niche, and then go down to something this [...]
Carving Egg and Dart Molding
I have been working on carving a large egg and dart molding in quarter sawn white oak. I have spent a lot of time sharpening my tools, because about 90% of the time I am putting my chisels into the wood, I am using a mallet. This is HARD wood! But it really is very [...]
New Web Site Plans
I have recently had issues with people taking my DVDs and making them available for free download. I am assuming it is some company from overseas, and taking any legal action will be too much for my little company to handle. So, I am considering changing my DVD/film process. – Make a new web site [...]
Carving a Large Bracket with a Kings Head
I have a very interesting and also challenging project going on. I am re-making a large wooden bracket with a king’s head carved on it. It is probably about 60 to 80 years old, was positioned on the outside of the house (in Birmingham, Alabama), and is very dry and weathered. The original is extremely fragile, and pieces [...]
Working on reversing diabetes
I know this doesn’t have a thing to do with woodcarving, but diabetes is something I have been dealing with for the past 12 or so years. I hope this will help others who are in the same battle. I should make a disclaimer that this is NOT for everyone. Please take caution if you [...]
Carving reeds
(I made a previous post and mistakedly called this carving “flutes”. I get to use the excuse that my carving teacher was Greek – it’s all greek to me?) I have a project at the moment where I am hand-carving reeds on a turned leg. It would take longer to set up a router jig [...]
Carving lessons
I received an e-mail from Dale Bullock who has taken a woodcarving class from me when I taught in Atlanta, GA. He sent the following: Here are some lessons which I have learned from woodcarving: 1) DMT stones are great, stropping is better. 2) No amount of sanding makes up for poor carving. 3) Super Glue is [...]
Another You Tube video
Here is another short video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IT059Dj4-Dg If it doesn’t come up automatically, just copy the address and past it into the web browser bar above.
You Tube Videos
A student from a SAPFM (Society of American Period Furniture Makers) carving workshop found some short videos he took from a class I taught back in 2009. It was on how to carve the ball and claw foot. I always hate to see me on video – I really am my worst critic. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IT059Dj4-Dg Enjoy!
