How To Cut Blanks ?

[carvedbears61]

I've tryed and tryed to learn how to saw out blanks look at countless artiles
on web and in magizines. I wish some on would write or post a how to page in a tutioral on this method of steps for us newbies Head Bange. I cut one last one last night it looks awful ! Maybe Wood Carving Illus. can get a hint from us. Thank You

[Hi_Ho_Sliver]

it doesn't have to look good! Its just to remove excess wood...thats all! If its that big a chore, just carve it down with your knife.

[North Wind]

What kind of blanks are you cutting out.

[carvedbears61]

It't might be better to show ya'll what I end up with last night with a pic.

[carvedbears61]

Basswood tryed to do a Angel but I think it's going to end up a shepherd will have to drill for staff, trying to figure out face and beard.

[Eddy-Smiles]

Your picture never showed up. Like Hi Ho said a blank doesn't look pretty but it's got to be functional.

The secret is to carve it out of a big enough piece of wood so that you can glue back on the piece that you cut off. In this way you can cut out the perdpendicular side. You can use hot glue which will generally hold long enough for the second cut but is still safe enough that it won't harm your blade and is easily seperated after the cut is finished.

Didn't you post last week concerning not having a band or scroll saw. If that's the case the, the same process basically applies. Just keep your saw cuts level across the balnk so that both sides are at the same depth. Generally a manual cut is rougher than a power cut but don't try to get too close to your finished line using either method. Leave enough room to carve out saw marks and adjust for for errors.

[MelNM]

OK, Have you tried taping or spot glueing the peices with a glue gun you cut back and then do the other, then you just take the tape off. But I'm not really sure what is going on with your blanks, it could be a number of reasons.

If you post a picture, we might be able to help more, we all been there and I'm sure someone can help.
Mel

[Mottles]

YES, please post a picture of what you are trying to tell us. One thing I find helpful is to begin with the profile or side view first. Then cut out the front--if you have to tape back the wood you removed. Then make your outline cuts on the front. I find by cutting the side view first it's much easier.
Hope this makes sense. Are you using a band saw or hand saw?
Kathy

[Thomp]

once you complete this you wont need to read it again,, hopefully
really its just not that hard..

• photograph scan or copy two views of project.
• put the cut out pattern on the block, insure feet and nose align in height on the block, then affix the pattern to the block
• Follow the pattern and cut the block, keeping all the scraps
• reassemble the block and secure it tightly (i use package tape)
• saw out the other view, stop and re secure the block as needed
• remove all the tape and scraps, Keep the pattern

now you have one really ugly cut out, draw center lines down center of all 4 sides if possible.
from the pattern pencil in the features, you need to carve around, that count like nose ears chin hat bill arms hands,, remove the waste,,,

at the point your saw cut out pops out of the block, tape and scraps its really ugly, with a lot of rolls of bumps across the cutout,
each bump represents some feature, you have to interpret which feature each bump is depicted in the pattern, so lay it next to the cutout and spend some time getting familiar with each bump.
use a pencil and trace the area, write in the area what it is,
when done with the reinterpretation phase, you will see what your about to do,

make sure you use centerlines, draw a line down each side if possible, if you get the nose to left or right of center it will surely look weird,,,
refer back to your sketches you made the pattern from as well.

this is the hardest step,
we all cut out wood, we all carved a block,, but here we got a little left brain right brain stuff going on, stick with it you will get the pattern features transferred,

if necessary shade the waste wood areas that need to be removed, do it on both views then study it for mistakes before removing any wood,

fix the scrap markings then get the glove on and get with it,,

take small chips and redraw the charter map when you get lost by carving it away,
keep your marks light, and remember you can erase pencil with eraser or sandpaper,

thats best i know how to explain it, hope i didn't miss any major steps..
good luck..

[Merle Rice]

Hey Thomp, You should write a book on instructions. Very well said,exactly the way I do it,only you say it much better. Thanks I'm sure you made it easier for a lot of people. Merle