Which tool or technique?

[rmessick]

I have been trying to carve Native American heads to practice over the last couple days. I am having trouble keeping the inside corner between the head and the feathers hanging down next to the face clean. I am using 2x3 pieces of basswood and I am really trying to get this area deep. When I try to remove wood it splinters and wants to follow the grain so I get an uneven surface in that area. Should I chip cut like the corner of an eye or is there a different technique or tool?

[Claude]

I'd say the chip cut technique is probably the best you can do. I use a very thin blade to do this (Bütz detail...). Another thought is to not cut quite as deep as you'd like, then later on but some antiquing or dark wash in the bottom of the cut to give the illusion of greater depth...

I just did some reading in "Carving the Human Face", Jeff Phares. Caption for photo 100 says "Using a small #3 fishtail gouge, I clean up the lines where the hair meets the wolf hide. I use the corners to get into the nooks and crannies to make nice clean cuts." He doesn't mention this tool in his list of preferred tools, but it looks to be about a 4-6mm #3 fishtail.

Claude