Find Mike Davies Carving Chisels

[Gary E Hill]

I enjoyed the book and would like to find the chisels mentioned in the book, similar sizes and quality. Does anyone know where I can find them?
Gary

[Just Carving]

Hi Gary

I found from somewhere in the book it might be MEC tools. I searched the Internet and never could find anything on it. So, if you find out, let me know.

Bob L

[Mike Davies]

Hello Gary

Mike Davies here - We produced the tools for a number of years and they were available only through mail order in Britain. Unfortunately we stopped produing then when I relocated to New Zealand around 12 years ago. The good news however is that the blades where produced by a company in Shefield called Robert Sorby.... and to my knowledge the same profiles are still in production. From memory, we put a "sheffield list" reference code next to the profiles used in the book. This should match with the codes in the Sorby catalogue. If you have any problems let me know and I will get the exact Sorby ref codes for you. All the best - Mike

[mdallensr]

Welcome to our group, Mike Davies. Maybe your ears were burning recently because we were discussing your book on this message board. I really enjoy your book and have carved a couple of times from your patterns. We have a few acanthus carvers posting here, and I'm guessing we would all enjoy hearing from you. Best regards. Mike Allen

[Mike Davies]

Hi Mike

Thank you for your welcome and great to hear that you enjoyed the book....Carving acanthus leaves...an extremely versatile ornament. The majority of my training was based around carving acanthus leaves. Quite a challenge to start off with!! Back then we specialized in the restoration of finely carved antiques from 16th, 17th and 18th centuries.

When the carving was finished it would be coated in a fine clay, which was then re-cut to remove all traces of grain..and then gold leaf was applied…

We restored mostly mirror frames which where really quite intricate. Have you taken a look at the work of some designers like…William Kent, Robert Adam and Thomas Chippendale…they frequently used acanthus designs in their work.

[mdallensr]

Hi Mike: I googled Thomas Chippendale and found a site that showed some of his work. Incredibly detailed and intricate! I enjoy heavier work, such as Baroque and Norwegian. Your swag was fun to carve and a bit of a challenge with the flower petals.

Are you going to do another book? I expect that's a lot of work and time that could have been spent carving. It's a great reference for those of us who consider ourselves artistically challenged. If I had to design every carving I made, I'd still be staring at a blank piece of paper and cleaning rust off of my tools. Thanks again. Mike

[RUssL.]

Mr. Davies,

How about the availablity of the video produced by Chimera Productions that is mentioned in the front of Woodcarving Techinques & Design as complementing the book?

Google comes up empty.

I consider your book to be one of the top woodcarving books I own.
It has more good stuff in it than a half-dozen other books on the subject.

The only thing I could imagine more instructional would be to watch someone actually working on the techniques and designs from the book.

Thank you,

RussL.

[Mike Davies]

Hello hello

we decided to withdraw the video as it is now quite out of date and lacking in quality by todays standards. We do have an intention to produce another though at some point in the future....great to hear that you enjoyed the book. I will post some great books with lots of ideas in when I get a spare mo.

just racing off to work now though. it is the last 2 days of a really enjoyable project that I have been involved in...really had some fun. I have posted some links to the project. We have had a live webcam watching us work but this comes down tomorrow. There is a documentary produced on the making of the project.....which I think will end up as a dvd. prob a few months time though.

Here is a link to the NZ Herald which covered the story.

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/1/story.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10488662

Here is a link to the live webcam and also the Website of Maori TV where more info on the project can be found.

http://www.maoritelevision.com/waitangi/index.php
http://newzealandfilmtv.co.nz/2008/01/22/maori-carving-commisioned-for-waitangi-day/

all the best - Mike

[RUssL.]

Mike,

Thank you so much for taking the time to reply to my inquiry.
Also thank you for the links to your latest project. I missed the live webcam but the article and photo were most interesting.

I look forward to seeing more of your work and recommendations for further readings on woodcarving.

All the best,

R.Lavigne
Vermont, USA

[lorax]

Hello Mike
I am one of the ones that was reffered to your book. It was neat to see you on here just a few days after I received it. I am working on learning to carve decorative/architecual pieces to compliment my figurative work. I love the challenge of the precision it takes. One question about your book: you mention "backing off" and I am unfamiliar with that term. It appears to refer to hollowing or thinning out the back of the work, is that correct? If so, how would that help the strength?

Also, I love your book, but I was looking for more of a step-by-step on acanthus layout, and carving. The leaves with the curled ends have been a goal of mine that I cant seem to get a convincing result. So if you have any suggestions I am still in search of the acanthus holy grail Smile

Pat