Three Questions in one post

[rjw@watson-law.com]

I am new both to woodcarving and to this forum, so I am not exactly sure whether I should combine questions or do separate posts. I will go with combine for now, and look to some of your more experienced folks to "gently" correct my errors!

TOOL BAG

In my first ("say hello") post, one person was kind enough to suggest a web site that sold a variety of bags. He recommended a canvas bag (for about $10) that had a number of pockets. As the holidays end, I am probably going to order that bag, but it got me thinking. What other ways / methods do you more experienced folks find works best for you? Would it be possible to post a picture? I have now taken two classes at a local Woodworking store, and one of the very experienced carvers (who still enjoys coming to the classes) has built his own (wooden, of course) carrying case that has a center handle with space for larger items, but he has built "racks" on all 4 sides where he has drilled slots for his gouges, numbered them and "faced" the racks with plexiglass all around!! Pretty fancy, but a nice set up. One motivation for taking up carving has been to try and carve neckerchief slides for Boy Scouts, so I am kind of looking for something that would be a little more "portable" to take on camping trips. One other suggestion I saw on a blog site I linked to from here was the use of rubber wine corks to stick on the tips!! I like that one too. Any other ideas?

NECKERCHIEF PATTERNS

As I said, I would like to carve neckerchief slides, and several folks sent me some really fine links in response to my introductory post. I have now copied a bunch of them that I really want to work on, but although most of them have "pictures" of the finished product and some of them even have rough outlines for the major wood removal, most of them lack dimensions! I found a block of basswood (12X4X2) that I got from somewhere, and I want to start cutting it up to start making slides, but I am not sure of how big / small to cut the initial blocks. One (really cool) slide that does have dimensions is a ball in a cage that has two chain links, one on each end. However, two other projects I would love to start on would be "Paul Bunyon's Molar," and a Knot. (We Boy Scouts are big on knots, and it think it would make a great slide.) I am just unsure of how best to cut the block of wood that I have.

VIDEOS

It is hard for me (and I suspect other beginners) to really get a "feel" for exactly "how" something is done. We see the beautiful finished product and we understand that you need to "cut away" to wood to get to it, but exactly how one does that certainly leaves me being very tentative. I went to Youtube & actually found some folks who had posted videos on carving different pieces, and that seems to work for me. (While the two woodcarving classes I have taken have been worth every penny, they only have one a month, they are skipping January and after a while it could get a little pricey.) One video that seemed really good is one with a guy carving a bear. (I would like to learn how to carve bear figures. Right now, they seem like a delightfully cute / funny thing to carve in many poses.) Are there any links / videos that anyone suggests would be good for us beginners? (I hope I am allowed to ask that kind of question. If not, I am sure the moderator will delete this last section.)

Thanks to everyone who posts here. Your willingness to share your experience and knowledge makes this a really special forum.

Roy

[AlArchie]

Roy, Maybe this will help on the slide sizes. I just went down and measure my collection. All the full figured ones were carved from 2x2x3" blocks and were finished up to about 1 3/4' Wide by 2 3/4" top to bottom and around 1 1/2 to 1 3/4' front to back.

I've also made a few sheet copper ones and they are in that same range except for thickness. A few I've carved, like a spread hand of cards and the scout hand sign are around 1/2 to 3/4 inches thick and staying within that 2x3" front profile.

One exception was the longhorn steer which was made a with a full 3" face length and a 6" horn spread.

If you stick to that 2"x2"x3" block, you should have a pretty good size to work with, but don't be afraid to work bigger or smaller. some of those peach stone monkey slides are quite a bit smaller and I would think that the monkey fist knot would fall in around 1 1/2"x 1 1/2" x 3/4 thick.

Al

[TreeWizard]

Be careful with wine corks. I use them, but I went to the local wine making supply store and bought new ones. I'd be afraid of the effect tannens or residue in the cork would have on the metal blades.

For a carving bag I have a DeWalt tool bag that has a large middle compartment and a number of smaller ones along the sides and ends.

[cgm]

Roy, welcome to the forum!
To get free videos go to youtube and do a search for carverswoodshop. There will be many to choose from.
Also do a search for whittler0507, again many to choose from.
Lynn Doughty also has a blog with free videos.
Also you can do a search on youtube for wood carving and find more.
Carl

[Mitchell]

For question 1 -

OK lets see your Tool Box

Show me your tool rack(s)

carving chisel tool box

Storage rack for gouges

new tool storage

Revamped Tool Box

For question 2 -

Hopefully someone else can help.

For question 3 -

You're on the right track with You Tube. Try Allen Goodman as a search key.

Others have mentioned Lynn's site and Carverswoodshop.

There have been a few links to others on this site as well by members....for example:

New Video: Learning Sticks & Carving A Very Simple Woodspirit Face

This site has some videos by Gene Messer - use the link on the left side of the page: "Carver Video Galleries"

You can look to purchase videos (DVDs). I'm not sure what your ultimate interests are, but here's a good source:

CarvingVideos.com

[Magicman]

Hi Roy

Carving Caricature Pins and Bolos

This is a Fox Chapel book for carving Pins and kerchef slides it gives you the pattern to work from .
Hope this helps
Larry

[Dicky]

Amen Paul, I have pitted Pfeil blades by sticking them in used wine corks.

[rjw@watson-law.com]

WOW!

I have just spent over an hour looking through the links on different tool boxes!!!! You guys are unbelievable. Those links were SUPER helpful in giving me a bunch of ideas. I am still brand new at this. I have a total of 7 gouges and a knife that I bought for the class and I am still carrying them, and my two unfinished faces (Santa and Elf) in the same paper bag they sold them to me in!!

In looking at all of the pictures and all of the links, I now see that Andrew did not "make" his box, but rather bought it. Tempting, but I am too new to justify that. I am going to start shopping around to see if I can "build" my own carry case for now and see what happens. Thanks all.

Roy

[Mitchell]

Good luck Roy....

If you are like most, you'll go through MANY different arrangements for storing/carrying your tools. Look forward to seeing what you come up with.

[chuckbolton]

when i started carving i carried it all in a shoe box-- it became such a joke-- i carried one for 5-6 yrs ( i went thru several) but i finally found one i liked and purchased it- at a farm supply store-- like a dewalt--but some other brand. paid about 20 for it.

keep watching the utube video-- carversworkshop-- arlene carves 90% with a knife-- im trying to get to where i dont change tools so much-- make the knife do what you want it to do.

you will likely get as many opinons here as you get responses-- and time will tell you what is best for you-- and maybe the idea wont have origiinated here.

good luck--- have fun