[sludgeguy]

Okay Gene,
Now for all of us that have been danglin on the edge of the flat plane abiss...

What do you use for tools to get goin on it. (I assume knives and gouges but what ones.) How long of blades what shape and that kind of stuff.
Upon closer inspection of my earlier works looks like I wasn't too far away.

Thanks for sharing your work with us,
Doug

[mwilleson]

Doug,

I've been experimenting with flat plane for about month, so I am certainly not an expert, but I'll take a stab at your question.

One of the beauties of flat plane carving is the simplicity of the piece itself. The other beauty is the simplicity of the tools used.

I use a Murphy knife (1 3/4" blade) for most of the work. If I have fine cut to make I grab a detail knife (thinner blade, 1 1/4"), and on rare occassion I used a palm v-tool. That's it.

I have a small toolbox (9" x 4" x 4") that I bought for $1.50 and I keep two knives, glove, thumbguard, and a few blanks in it and take it with me wherever I go.

[gene messer]

Doug .. Mike is right .. There is no special tools to use .. Remember it's just like old time whittling ..
I use only a 1 1/8 inch Ron Wells knife and two small v tools to do all my piece's .. I know this sound's crazy .. but that's all ..

Maybe people think Ia'm crazy to use so few tools .. but that's the way I learned .. 95% 0f the carved piece is done with a knife ..
Thanks Doug
Gene