A slightly off-the -wall question. When I was buying carving tools a couple of years ago, I picked up some gouges and chisels at an antique store (inexpensively) that I realize now may well be turning tools. Are these (assuming they're in OK condition otherwise) usable as carving tools if I sharpen them right? Some of them seem a bit hard to sharpen to a fine edge, and the steel is fairly "dark". Would the steel probably be of a different type? They come from manufacturers like Buck Bros., Craftsman, and Wilkinson (plus some with no stamp). Thanks for any wisdom.
Usually turning tools can be too bulky for carving. Often the metal is larger and thicker and the bevel is angled differently. I think you will find them frustrating to use as carving gouges, and will probably be difficult to get a razor sharp edge that is necessary. I'm not really familiar with the difference in metals. maybe someone else can contribute this information?
Hey Mary,
I've just joined the school and am enjoying the videos and practicing much.
I originally learned carving some years ago under the late "Nora Hall" who was a very wonderful person and teacher.
Then I put it down for a number of years and am beginning again.
I like to make furniture and right now am putting together a very complicated and beautiful hall tree, but before assembling it, I would like to carve some designs into the square portion of the legs and also across the support board of the bench portion. I have chosen a double scroll to be centered across the seat support board, which is kind of the center focal point of the bench, but can't figure out what design I can put at the top of the legs.
Then I saw this Sunburst design and thought that if I can shrink the size to about half of the normal size of the template, that it would make a lovely appearance.
Do you think this would be possible to carve at half size and would it be nice for the top of a leg. (The leg is turned to a round knob at the top with a vase under it and then about 10 inches below this it squares off to accept tenons from the cross members of the bench seat.)
Or what would be a good workable design for the top of a square shaped portion of a leg?
Thanks for you opinion on this dilemma.
Hi Charles. Welcome to the school! I think you might want to do some slight re-designing if you are going to make this half-size. I would make the number of "rays" in the sunburst about half (take every other line out). As it gets smaller, it gets more difficult to get the details. Let me know how it works and please put a photo of it on the student gallery when you're finished. Thanks!
I see that you have your wrist on the workpiece as a fulcrum of sorts which limits how far the chisel could travel. I doubt very much that you stand a chance of cutting yourself. With both hands on the tool you look pretty safe.
Hi Michael,
Yes, good observation. I have a very hard callous right at the base of both of my hands because of this. The only time I get a small cut is when I'm taking the tools out of the tool roll or putting them back in - very rarely when I am actually carving. Safety first!
From Jim Jackson on Workshop Tour - Beginner Lesson #16 - Introduction
Go to comment2015/08/08 at 7:59 pm
From Timothy Gillane on Sharpening a Curved Gouge - Beginner Lesson #4
Go to comment2015/08/01 at 11:15 pm
From Mary May on Sharpening a Curved Gouge - Beginner Lesson #4
Go to comment2015/08/04 at 10:12 pm
From Alex on Carving a Philadelphia Acanthus
Go to comment2015/08/01 at 7:29 pm
From Mary May on Carving a Philadelphia Acanthus
Go to comment2015/08/04 at 10:08 pm
From CHARLES BROWN on Carving a Small Sunburst - Episode 2
Go to comment2015/07/27 at 8:19 pm
From Mary May on Carving a Small Sunburst - Episode 2
Go to comment2015/07/27 at 8:57 pm
From CHARLES BROWN on Carving a Small Sunburst - Episode 2
Go to comment2015/07/27 at 11:06 pm
From Michael Quinlan on Carving a Grapevine, Ribbon, & Reeds on a Turning - Episode 1
Go to comment2015/07/20 at 6:39 am
From Mary May on Carving a Grapevine, Ribbon, & Reeds on a Turning - Episode 1
Go to comment2015/07/20 at 1:00 pm