[Blake Lunsford]

Anyone have any advice on what to use when trying to sand deep v-cut grooves? For some reason, whenever I try to v-cut the face lines from beside the nose down to the side of the mouth on a caricature, it ends up leaving rough areas and fuzzy places in the deepest parts of the cut. Anything I can use to smooth those out before finishing the piece.

Also, is this due to the tool not being sharp enough to make a smooth cut??

Thanks in advance for the advice!
Carve On!

Vacaricature Carver

[BobD]

I think those rough spots are caused by a less than sharp tool. But to solve the fuzzies, I use emory boards that I borrowed from my wife. I use my shop scissors to cut them to a very fine point that is just right for getting into tight crevices.

Bob

[kaiserb]

Your tool should leave a smooth surface. You may have a chip in the cutting edge, causing the roughness.

As for cleanup (from using a sharp tool, cutting too deep) I use the Dockyard brand microgouges. They work great for the eye to brow, and nose to cheek curvatures.

[Greyhair]

It is most likely a dull V tool. If you take a small paint brush and brush the area with boiled linseed oil, 2-3 light applications, and then take a very sharp mirco chisel you can clean it up nicely. Do Not Sand. The linseed oil improves the surface so that a clean thin shaving can be removed to smooth the surface.

[Blake Lunsford]

Thanks for your responses! As always, they are very helpful for a beginner like myself.


Another question.....statement......I seem to get a more smooth cut when I carve across the grain as compared to carving with the grain. Is one way better than the other....or does it matter which way you carve if your tools are as sharp as they should be?

Thanks again!!!

Vacaricature carver

[rick-in-seattle]

VCC,
I agree with the earlier postings; if the bottom of the V is fuzzy, the tool is dull.

Also the direction of your V-tool makes a difference in the result; if your tool isn't as sharp as it should be.

Finally, trying to make this cut with a single tool may add to the less-than-satisfying result.

Try this: make the V-shaped cut on each side of the nose with a detail knife.
(It requires three knife cuts to remove the chip)

Then use a V-tool to cut the smile lines from that point to the corners of the mouth.
Once past the mouth, use a gouge to fade the lines out.
(I can't tell you which sweep to use, it depends on your desired result)

All of these cuts are made with the grain, resulting in a cleaner look (and no sanding)

Strop all the tools used on face carving before using them and test them before making any cuts on your carving.
(Be sure all the strop compound is off the tool before using it)
Good luck

To answer your question; don't sand them, sharpen your tools and re-cut them.

[Blake Lunsford]

Thanks everyone for your responses!! I will definitely take your advice and try to proceed with my caricatures. I will let you know how the next one turns out!

VACC

Carve On!

[AlArchie]

OK, here's a "cheat"! First let me state that this IS a cheat for a dull tool, but it works, and if you really can't get the cut clean with your V tool, pick up a set of FINE rifflers, either carbon steel or diamond.....makes no difference. In among that set should be a knife edge riffler and a "V". You can use either to clean up those little blurbs in the bottom of v's, make fine lines and really put a fine finish on extremelysmall details. I even use them to clean up the micro-vanes in those crawfish tails I do. Rifflers are, after all, considered carving tools, so use them to your best advantage.

Now, that said, get those tools SHARP!!! That will solve a multitude of problems. Either figure out how to sharpen them yourself or get them to some one who can!

Just had a second thought that you may not be familiar with rifflers...they are simply small, specialized files with different profiles. Here are two "V"s. the larger coarse one is about 8" long and the fine is around 6". The cut on the fine rifflers is finer than a regualr fingernail file by about 1/4, so they are really pretty smooth, and won't tear up your tool cuts.

Al

[Clifford_Parker]

While I agree that your problem is most likely caused by a dull tool edge I must also agree with BobD. The shaped emery boards work well for cleaning up small details.

Despite the "Do Not Sand" stance of the "purists" I use whatever tool I need to create the carving and finish that I want. This includes sandpaper, files, and shaped emery boards.