• From David Taylor on Carving a Queen Anne Fan - Episode 2

    I'd rather see more than less myself. As you say, the grain changes for each "lobe" of the fan, and watching how you deal with that change is very instructional.

    I really appreciate your lessons!

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    2015/05/23 at 12:43 am
  • From Harry Bishop on Carving a Queen Anne Fan - Episode 1

    Mary,
    You sure got some exercise in episode 1, even the gloves came on 🙂 Would it still be authenticate to use a router for this excavation? If so what bit profile would you advocate, a cove bit?
    The template doesn't indicate the depth of the excavation to form the bowl part.
    Thanks for the detail you are putting into these videos. I watched the 1080p version and the clarity is remarkable on an iPad with retina screen resolution.

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    2015/05/21 at 12:50 am
    • From Mary May on Carving a Queen Anne Fan - Episode 1

      Sometimes you need to use whatever works to get the wood out (and when you do it for a living, getting more than minimum wage is a good thing). Since I don't even own a router (that's my husband's job) I wouldn't know what profile to use. I would assume simply a flat one to remove the flat surface and remove the curved edge by hand.

      I mention it goes down 1/4" in the video, but forgot to put that in the template. I'll get that updated soon.

      Thanks and enjoy!
      Mary

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      2015/05/21 at 8:45 am
  • From George Neireiter on Carving a Queen Anne Fan - Episode 1

    Kudos to the graphics artist for adding the semi-circles and dimensions (early in the video). Very nice visual. I assume that is Caleb May. Well done.

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    2015/05/19 at 6:43 pm
  • From Jim Scheltens on All About Gouges - Beginner Lesson #3

    Hi,
    I ordered two number 1 fishtail pfeil gouges from Woodcraft and when they arrived I was surprised to find that they were double bevel, not single bevel as I expected. The description did not mention that they were double bevel. What is your opinion on double bevel number 1 gouges for a beginner carver? Should I send them back or keep them?

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    2015/05/19 at 1:48 pm
    • From Mary May on All About Gouges - Beginner Lesson #3

      I prefer the single bevel because then it can be used as 2 different chisels - sometimes bevel up and sometimes bevel down. However, it has been very difficult to find a single bevel flat fishtail carving chisel (that's a mouth-full). Lie Nielsen has them, but they are not necessarily a "carving chisel", but are still very nice (as all their tools are). I am still on the search for a good supplier of a single bevel flat chisel, and so far I have not had much luck. Double bevel flat chisel fishtails work fine, and might just have to do for now. I will announce when I can find a good supplier of single bevel fishtail.

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      2015/05/20 at 2:10 pm
      • From Jim Scheltens on All About Gouges - Beginner Lesson #3

        Hi Mary,
        I kept the double bevel flat fishtail gouges. I found they were OK to use for some smoothing of the donut beginning lesson, but I found the different bevel angle troublesome when I was doing the lettering lessons. I have some single bevel non-fishtail gouges and switching from single bevel to double bevel made it more difficult for this beginner carver to hit the right angle when making letters.

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        2015/05/27 at 10:28 pm
        • From Mary May on All About Gouges - Beginner Lesson #3

          Hi Jim. That makes sense. The double bevel can be awkward in getting it positioned correctly. I'm still searching for a supplier of single bevel fishtail flat carving chisel. Anybody out there want to make one??

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          2015/05/27 at 10:47 pm
          • From Bill4042 on All About Gouges - Beginner Lesson #3

            Hi Jim and Mary. I would love to make one, but I am in need of a new anvil and furnace. (I may need a new shoulder too, given I haven't forged my own tools since I was in high school. 🙂 )

            Anyway, I have been searching single bevel carving chisels and found that Woodcraft carries the Pfeil straight flat and straight skew chisels in single bevel (Ex. 1/8e, or 1S/8e), but there was no listing for the fishtail variety. Searching further, I found a brand called Lamp at Wood Carvers Supply, in addition to the Mastercarver brand they carry. The Lamp brand does include single bevel fishtail flat carving chisels in 6 sizes from 6mm to 25mm. However, I have no idea about the quality of this brand.

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            2015/06/03 at 2:10 am
          • From Mary May on All About Gouges - Beginner Lesson #3

            Thanks! I think the Lamp brand are German, but I am not very familiar with them. From what I understand they are similar to Two Cherry - in shape and appearance. As most German tools are high quality, my guess is that you can trust that these are good tools. Maybe I'll go shopping!

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            2015/06/03 at 7:09 am
  • From Byrom on Sharpening a Curved Gouge - Beginner Lesson #4

    Hello, Mary. Quick question about the video: is that water or oil on the diamond stone?

    Thanks, Byrom

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    2015/05/18 at 1:49 am