Newby, Retired, in an Rv

bigbob7777 · #1 03-09-2008, 08:38 PM

I've been browsing for quite a while - I love this site. Haven't worked up the nerve to try yet, but I think I'm just about there. My problem is really space and weight.

I live and travel full time in an RV, so I don't have room or weight capacity to lug around heavy tools like band saws.

I would love to learn to carve caricatures and things like this. Will it be difficult to shape blanks without power tools? Due to the traveling, it is difficult to really get involved in a club. What are my chances of learning this beautiful art?

Any suggestions on how to get started, what to buy, etc? I plan on buying the beginners kit at littleshavers.com, but what about the blanks? I will take your suggestions and get the wood at Heinecke, but what wood should I get? I will start by trying some of the tutorials on this site.

Any and all suggestions are really, really appreciated.

bob

Hi_Ho_Sliver · #2 03-09-2008, 09:40 PM

You could buy roughouts, but that would get costly...you could buy a small benchtop bandsaw, not large or heavy.....worth their weight when carving tho. Another alternative is a coping saw....as for tools, thats something you kind of lean into as you go, you can't go wrong with Ricks beginners set tho. Look up scary sharp and find out about sharpening, on the road you can't beat sharpening with a few sheets of sandpaper ....get a good glove as well...............and a strop

JIM QUILICI · #3 03-09-2008, 11:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bigbob7777

I

I would love to learn to carve caricatures Will it be difficult to shape blanks without power tools?

Any suggestions on how to get started, what to buy, etc? I plan on buying the beginners kit at littleshavers.com, but what about the blanks? I will take your suggestions and get the wood at Heinecke, but what wood should I get? I will start by trying some of the tutorials on this site.

Any and all suggestions are really, really appreciated.

bob

I miight sound like a broken record.........( record ....us older folks know about them things.) but pete le clair has a book out showing you how to carve a caricature no cutting with a saw just a knife ( book called ......carving caricature figures from scratch) and with just a 1 1/2 x1 1/2 x 6" or 2x2by 6 inch plus or minus....... bought from Heineche.... carving are endless no band saw ...just a knife and you can have a ball ...and I bet his book will even teach you a lot about carving.
have fun Jim

squbrigg · #4 03-10-2008, 06:39 AM

What a wonderful opportunity, travel this great land, seeing all the sights you've always wanted to visit, and carving up a storm while you do it.

Don't need a big saw, just get a supply of wood to the dimension you want and cut it off with a hand saw when you need a fresh piece. Caricatures are usually a basic size, so but your wood in 2" x 4" or 2" x 2", or whatever and use a hand held fret saw to rough out. A basic set from Rick at Little Shavers and perhaps a detail knife, and your laughing. Once you get started, let us know how you're doing and we'll offer more suggestions on tools, like small set of Dockyard micro's for detail.

Best advice I can offer, find a good book on the subject, study it and practice, practice, practice.

Enjoy the journey, physical one on the trip and spirtual one in carving!

Bob

Plain_Ol_Ed · #5 03-10-2008, 08:19 AM

No band saw needed. I have a 12" in the shop, but never use it for making cutouts. My caricatures and other carvings are usually 3 X 3 or smaller, so like Bob just said, I cut off a piece of the appropriate length with a hand saw. Everything else I do with a knife and a small set of gouges.

Robert Cahill · #6 03-10-2008, 12:27 PM

All read good advice also Jack Price has a book titled Carving Small Characters. That is based on using a 7/8" square by 2" high block of wood and in my opinion excellant instructions

mikeg · #7 03-10-2008, 01:46 PM

I agree that both Jack Price's and Pete LeClaire's books would be just what you're looking for. Jack's book is better for a beginner but either one would work for you. I have and really like both of them.

mikeg

Tucson Bill · #8 03-10-2008, 05:36 PM

Bob,

My wife and I travel in an RV 6 months out of the year and I take my carving stuff with me. Heineke sells what they call practice strips (real cheap) in 1x1, 1.5x1.5 and 2x2. All are 12" long. All good quality basswood. Buy a half dozen of each and your set to go as far as wood for small carictures.

Definitely go with Rick's beginners kit! It is a real steal!

If you are going to be near Colorado in July I highly recommend the Creede Woodcarvers Rendevouz. My wife and I will be there this year. Great fun and dozens of classes.

If you get to Tucson, our club meets the second Saturday of each month.

Woodcarving is a great hobby for a fulltimer. Very little space needed and virtually no weight. Take your chair out to the front of your MH and sit down and carve. Seems to draw in people like flies to honey!

Good luck, good travels and have fun!

Bill

psychomikeo500 · #9 03-10-2008, 06:32 PM

i'd get one of those spinable metal vices. a couple small earth magnets in scraps of wood work well for jaw pads. You can use a c-clamp or a squeeze tighten clamp in this vice at different angles to hold the work.

Tom H · #10 03-10-2008, 06:41 PM

Hey Bob, You can have a lot of fun with just a good pocket knife and a practice piece of 1x1x12" basswood. Everything from Christmas tree ornaments to the smaller "little guys". Your retirement sounds like fun.

Tom H