This is a brief introduction to "Carving a Rice Sheaf."
This lesson teaches how to carve a sheaf of rice in shallow relief. This particular project was one of two details for a butternut fireplace mantel.
- Lesson Contents: 2 episodes; template, tool list, and photo in Episode 1
- Type of Wood: Butternut
- Size: 3-3/4"w x 6-1/2"h x 3/16"d
- Tool List: 3mm v-chisel; 6mm v-chisel; #3, 3mm; #3, 6mm; #3, 14mm; #3, 25; #7, 14mm
- Skill Level: Basic/Intermediate
= More Lessons at the Basic Skill Level =
Mary May:
It looks like your dimensions may require a change. If the width is 61/2 ” the height looks as though it should be about 12″-13″, no? Also, I have a nice set of tools but a limited number. I don’t even have #3’s, but I can probably make do with my #4 and #5.
It’s a beautiful project.
Jon
Hi Jon,
Thanks for noticing the wrong dimensions! That is now changed.
With the #4 and #5 gouge, it will be difficult to get a smooth background surface, but just make it a feature in the carving – like waves.
Mary,
Is there a significant difference carving air dried lumber versus kiln dried?
If you prefer air dried, what is your preferred commercial source.
Thanks, and my apologies if you’ve already covered this elsewhere.
Walt
Hi Walter,
I often receive wood from clients that are building furniture, and am rarely aware of whether it is air dried or kiln dried, so I honestly can’t say which one I prefer. The best people to ask are furniture makers who select the wood. My assumption is that air dried is preferred, but am not sure. Sorry I can’t help any more than that.
Any other ideas out there?
I have made an attempt at carving this Rice Sheaf, i am quite pleased with the result of the carving itself but I just can’t get the background right. I have used Oak, I am unable to find anywhere in the UK that stocks Butternut, I did find a place that could sell me a piece of Basswood, but that was rediculously expensive ( it would work out to $380 per cubic foot) , I can get Lime for a reasonable price but as most of the furniture I make is from Oak it would be difficult to blend the lime in. I have in the past used a background punch to make the background as presentable as possible, is this the way to go with Oak or should I continue to try and smooth it out? It looks OK in some lights but a bit ‘raggy’ in others.
Hello Harry,
Oak can be very challenging, and many pieces of antique English furniture do have the “stippled” background. It makes life much easier! With that price of basswood, maybe I’m in the wrong business! Wow! If you are in the UK, English oak is much nicer to carve than American oak. It tends to be softer and more forgiving. Using the background punch will work fine and really make that show up differently than the carving.
Happy Carving!
Im in the UK as well Harry and people just laugh at you when you ask for Basswood or Limewood those who do sell it charge ridiculous prices used to get loads of free Oak where my daughter worked at a wood manufacturing business and also Walnut i find Walnut a lovely wood to carve but cant seem to find it now got a bit after daughter was made redundant from the wood place , i find Pine.Meranti, Sapele and Cedar quite good for carving i dont make furniture just carve a bit .great website Thanks Mary
Hi Ronnie,
I’m sorry to hear the Limewood is hard to find, even in the UK. Walnut is beautiful to carve, but is much harder (and I think European walnut is different than American black walnut). Pine in the UK is better than the pine here, I believe. So, experiment, play, and above all, have fun!
What would be the most you increase the size of this template?
Hi Daniel,
There really is no limit to the size. It depends on what you are using it for, and you would just need to adjust the size of tools you use.
What is the dimensions of this project? Could I use Popular in place of Butternut? Thanks Dan
Hello Daniel,
The dimensions are listed in several places – under the intro video, on the template, and at the beginning of episode 1. The size is 6-1/2″ high x 3-3/4″ wide.