• From Mary May on Carving a Dragon and Acanthus Leaf Design

    Ummmm... Well - I need to wade through 8 hours of video to gather all the tools. One day I will do this. For the time being, here is a good start:

    6mm-v-chisel, #3-6mm, #3-14mm, #5-14mm, #7, 6mm, #7-14mm and probably the #8, 10mm

    Surprisingly, there are not a huge amount of tools used.

    Or - watch the 8 hours of video and let me know, OK? 🙂

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    2015/04/01 at 11:14 am
  • From Scott Currier on Carving a Samuel McIntire Styled Fruit Basket

    I just posted my finished carving in the student galleries - I did my carving in pine - which had all sorts of challenges associated with it including its softness - but what I liked best was finishing the carving with Danish Oil which really brought out the details. Maybe after I gain some more experience I might be able to justify investment in a nice hardwood. Now that I have completed two projects its probably time to look at the "how to sharpen" lessons....

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    2015/03/31 at 9:15 pm
    • From Mary May on Carving a Samuel McIntire Styled Fruit Basket

      Scott, The basket carving is really beautiful - and in pine! Yikes. I avoid carving in pine if I can help it. It can have alternating wood segments - spongy, then very dense - spongy, then very dense.

      Yeah - carving first and then sharpening is sort of backwards - but hey, if it works...

      Thanks for sharing your work on the gallery!

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      2015/03/31 at 9:25 pm
  • From Tom Grande on Basic Finishing Techniques for Basswood Carvings

    I am new to relief carving. You can tell by the many bandaids I proudly display. I was looking forward to seeing more on basic finishing especially using wax. Your guest referred to staining/tinting and using wax. I have done only 6 carvings to date and am getting tired of messing up hours of work by trying to finish them. I just signed up to your website and am looking forward to your instruction and inspiration. Do you have a lesson on how to get blood stains out of basswood? - Tommy G

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    2015/03/30 at 11:19 am
    • From Mary May on Basic Finishing Techniques for Basswood Carvings

      Hi Tom,
      Well, the blood stains truly prove that it is hand carved. You have definitely become a part of your carving!

      I am working with Dan Hamilton on getting more lessons that go to the next step of putting a finish on carvings. I too have stayed away from finishing because of the fear of destroying something that I have worked so hard on. Working with Dan has caused me to relax a little and not be so terrified of it. Stay tuned... more to come.

      Thanks!

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      2015/03/30 at 12:21 pm
  • From Robert McCabe on Carving A Celtic Knot

    I enjoyed this as celtic knots are something I am trying to do, my main problem is only having the use of one hand, I cannot switch hands but I manage with perseverance.Where you use a mallet I use a power carver ,which is one handed the rest is done copying you by hand.
    Your site is excellent and your teaching is magic,if I lived over in the U.S I would come for lessons

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    2015/03/24 at 3:59 pm
    • From Mary May on Carving A Celtic Knot

      Hello Robert,
      Thanks! Great idea about the power carver (I do have several and use them when I really want to take a lot of wood away quickly). Do you use the one with the reciprocating chisel? They often work better than dremels.

      You also may want to consider using shorter palm gouges. If you only have the use of one hand, they can be easier to control.

      Have fun!

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      2015/03/24 at 9:12 pm
      • From Robert McCabe on Carving A Celtic Knot

        Power carver with chisels (proxxon) and the chisels are flexcut with palm handles. I did notice the plaster that is common with me, fortunately I have a good supply,my carvings are not quite the same without some of my blood on them.I have completed the camellia as per your video so even at 70 yrs old I can still make progress. Thank you. Bob

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        2015/03/25 at 3:31 pm
  • From Jon Stern on Sharpening a V-Chisel - Beginner Lesson #5

    What is the recommended hardness of Arkansas slipstone? Hard vs soft?
    Thanks.

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    2015/03/23 at 6:41 pm
    • From Mary May on Sharpening a V-Chisel - Beginner Lesson #5

      You can use soft Arkansas stones for more aggressive sharpening, but use hard Arkansas stones for final sharpening. Surgical black or translucent are the best and are the hardest, but they can get quite expensive. It is also best to use hard Arkansas stones for slip stones.

      Go to comment
      2015/03/24 at 8:57 pm