[shane_c]

What do most people use for cutting away excess wood before beginning carving? I'm attempting my first carving and tried using a hacksaw to get rid of the extra wood but that didn't work very well. Then I used my jigsaw which was better but still not that great. I'm guessing a scroll saw wouldn't be able to cut a very tall piece of wood so that's out. What about a band saw? Or are there any other hand held saws that work better than the hacksaw? Thanks in advance!

[Randy48]

Most carvers use a bandsaw and some a coping saw. Others also use a power rotory tool such as a dremel or the larger motors like a Foredom. Depending on the cuts being made I use all 3.

[decoycarve]

Band saws are the tool of choice for removing wood. A good coping saw is probably the best hand held saw for this purpose. For decoys I have also used Drawknives, spokeshaves, and a hatchet. I will fire up my cad system and try to do a drawing on how to cut a pattern out and post some pictures for you.
Goody

[Hi_Ho_Sliver]

my first choice is a bandsaw, by hand I prefer a "jewelers" saw with a scrollsaw blade in it...some places call it a fret saw...I also have coping saws and just use those for larger straight cuts...

[decoycarve]

Ok lets see if I can import a cad drawing!
Mark your pattern on a block of wood just a little bigger than the pattern.
Draw the top view on and leave about an 1/8th" of wood all the way around.
Line up the side view and draw it on the side of the block.
on the top view Saw in where I show the gree line and Stop where I have the small lines drawn. Back the blade out of the kerf and make the other three cuts on the top view.
Now turn your block on the side and cut out the whole side pattern.
Lay your block back down and and snap off the four pieces that are left where you made the four saw cuts.
This method allows you to keep your block on a flat surface when you make the side view cuts.
Hope this helps
Goody

[wade clark]

I prefer roughing out with a chainsaw, but I like doing larger carvings. The bandsaw is sure the best for smaller carvings. I like Goody's advice on cut-outs.
Wade

[rick-in-seattle]

Some carvers use larger (mallet driven) tools and a carving vise to rough out their carvings. It is quick, although not nearly as precise as a bandsaw.
If you need an accurate profile, a bandsaw is the preferred method.

[AlArchie]

Here's a pipe dream for future carvers....if they happen to have a hundred grand or so to spend! Just got back from Holmes County, Ohio, and stopped into the P. Graham Dunn studio. It's advertised as a "carving studio", but most everything is done on CNC controlled routers and LASERS! Beautiful, consistant work, albeit mostly relief type work, but it would seem to me to be feasable to take one of those CNC lasers, put it in my shop, and do all the "roughing out" in absolutely accurate, quick-time!

It was quite a tour....all the design was done on computer using Corel Draw, then fed into a CNC burner, then stand back and watch dozens of accurately reproduced carvings done in a few minutes.

Sure wasn't "hand carved" anything, but interesting to see the new technology in use!

Al

[Bob_in_TN]

Al
Did you happen to see the famous Weaver Homestead? Where is this Dunn studio, had not heard of it. We'll probably make a trip this fall and would like to check it out. Have to see if I can scrape up some money for gas. Did you happen to stop at Sol's in Berlin? I've thought of renting a space in there and try to sell a few carvings plus some other wooden things. I assume you hit Lehmans and dropped a couple of bucks.

Bob

[AlArchie]

Of COURSE I hit the Lehman's Hardware! didn't actually buytoo much there this trip, though. Did pick up a Henry Taylor "V". got home and when Iwent to tune it up, found a thin forging on one wing. I'll have ttake the other down to get a good grind, but will have to wait till next week when our club meets so Ican use the Tormak.......oh, well.

The Dunn Studio is just north of Kidron, off #52. Just follow the signs. It's an impressive operation. Not at all what Ihad expected. It's a totally modern manufacturing and shipping operation. Mostly they do signs, doors, alters, mantle pieces, etc. And a lot of custom work.

We've been to Sol's in the past but now we usually prowl the back roads and find the individual craftsman's (and women's) work shops. No crowds, get to talk with the artists and get better appreciation of their work. Karen had a very intricate basket repaired for a very reasonable price and in short order, too.

Never have been to the homestead you mentioned, but have visited the Moony Warther museum, just down the road. That man was far more than a carver, or even artist!

Have fun on your visit, there......tell Lehman's I sent ya! That and $6.50 up in Creek will get you a great rasberry pie at Troyer's bakery!

P. Graham Dunn Gallery
1417 Zuercher Rd.
Dalton, Ohio 44618 (still the place is out of Kidron)
330-857-0306

Al