[martyslc]

Do many of you guys clamp down your carvings? The one I'm working on is about 7 to 8 inches tall.

- Marty

[doris]

yes !! :-) ... it frees both of your hands, and even for very small carving is just more convenient, and you cant cut yourself, since both your hands are behind the cutting edge...and, gouges seem sharper when piece is clamped, because you can use all your strength for the cut, and not part for holding the piece... just a few of the advantages... :-)

[hruukki]

Also there's more control if you can use both hands - see some carving manual for useful grips.

[markken5889]

you might be interested in checking out Chris Pye's articles in WCI on carving grips, and also in the thread here on Vice Advise.

-Mark

[Mitchell]

Try this:

holding device

or these:

The Rock Work Holding Device

Vise for holding sticks

securing a carving to carve?

Carving pipe vise

[Ashbys]

Depends on what I am carving. I never clamp walking sticks, I lock them with my legs so that I can move them and rotate them when needed. If I am doing a relief caving Yes I clamp. Small figures , rarely . It is really something you have to decide with the piece your working on. Some pieces just do not make sense to clamp, like a twist down a walking stick .

Ash

[Kenny_S]

No I don't clamp.

[Ron Davidson]

I clamp everything so it frees up my hands.
Ron

[Plain_Ol_Ed]

For smaller carvings, the God gave us the best and most versitile of all clamps, our hands. My clamps to seem to have acquired a few scars along the way.

[mark yundt]

For me,,,EVERYTHING I carve is clamped. I do pieces from just a couple of inches to 10 ft tall. I just can't carve well nor accurately if it isn't clamped down. I feel that I can take massive cuts to very delicate cuts much better if I have total control of the tools and the piece isn't squirming around. Yes,,I have a pretty good grip after all these years of carving,,,but I simply can't hold something like a good secure clamp of some sort can offer.I believe the accuracy,control,finesse,and clean cuts are the direct result of having a solid carving to work on.
This is one of those things that when done properly can greatly improve your carvings once the proper techniques are learned,,,once you do you can never carve another thing without it being held securely.