Hello Mary:
I took a course with Roy Underhill and Peter Follansbee this summer..building a 17th century joint chest. I would like to know how to decorate such a chest in the period manner.
I'm sure that was a fun class. With Roy and Peter together, it's never dull! I will probably venture down teaching some of this style in a video lesson - it's really a lot of fun. And it often goes a lot faster than some of the fussy relief carving that I do.
The type of carving Peter Follansbee does is beautiful, often repetitive pattern from the 17th century. He can carve out a wonderful design in minutes. That's 17th century power carving! He's a great carver, and a great person!
That was a great explanation and makes perfect sense. I really like the idea of taking the photo and then reversing it. Also wanted to let you know just how much I've been enjoying the videos. You've done really good job of explaining certain techniques and I like that you keep flashing gouge sizes on screen every time you change tools. Keep up the great job! Really appreciate it.
Firstly I am grateful to have a teacher like yourself, as I live in the Outback of Australia, as you can imagine their ain't many teacher's of that old tradition around here.
I am was very thankful that I received a set of Mike davies record power chisel set for Christmas. So i am paying keen attention to the sharpening of the tools first before I a use them and practise the techniques. The Donut will be my first project.
Hi Mary. In this video, for demonstration purposes, you completed the left side and then completed the right side. Is this how you would normally tackle a piece like this or because each side is a mirror image of the other would you work on both sides simultaneously?
That's a good question, Carl, and I hope I will be able to explain my process. With all carvings, on my first time through, I simply carve the design (one side in this particular example) so I can make sure the depth, shape, and design is correct. If I were to carve both sides simultaneously, if I wasn't exactly sure of certain depths, shapes, etc. then I would have to adjust and correct both sides, rather than just one.
When I carve designs in reverse,as in this lesson, I often take a photo of the first side finished, and print it as a mirror image. This way I can view it in the correct shape and direction and don't have to figure in my head the reversing process. So, for this particular design, I would do one side and then the other.
If I had several designs that were exact duplicates, I usually go into "production" mode and line them up (after the first one is carved so I know the exact final design). This is where I would carve up to a certain point on each design, then go up to the next step in each design. This keeps it much more efficient, as I have particular tools selected for each step.
Hello Mary,
I have enjoyed your beginner lessons very much. I have been following you on You Tube until I found this site.
It is my birthday today and i am going to spend some money on Pfeil as I don't have alot of patients with ordering online, plus there is a Woodcraft store near me.
So with Pfeil and v-chisels, they seem to categorize them as v-Parting and they are numbered in terms of a sweep. I would like to follow your recommendation with the 60deg, so what sweep would that be or am I looking at the wrong chisels? Would there be another name? Also, if I look at the charts close, some appear to be sharp corner and other sweeps look like there is a radius. I have seen your video on sharpening v-chisels and from that I learned that the radius is a good thing.
So I guess my question is, what Pfeil v-chisel do you recommend?
Hello Allen,
The v-chisels I used from Woodcraft are number 12. Then you just need to specify a 6mm, #12. That should be the 60 degree angle with a slight radius.
From Joseph Chalovich on What videos would you like to see?
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From Mary May on What videos would you like to see?
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From Rob Drown on What videos would you like to see?
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From Mary May on What videos would you like to see?
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From Carl Johnson on Carving a Shell & Acanthus Leaf Design - Episode 1
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From Mary May on Carving a Shell & Acanthus Leaf Design - Episode 1
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