The influence of Pete LeClair Measurements

[Thomp]

I bought Pete LeClairs 2nd book first, carving caricatures from scratch ,
feeling lost as a goose and finding it hard to concentrate on whole caricature, i decided to buy his first book, carving caricature heads and faces.

by concentrating on the head alone i have some progress i got 2 heads roughed out. and a 3rd started on the scrollsaw.

To get size i just made a photo of the pattern in the book and working out the details re-sized the same measurement as that in the book photo of the pattern.. 4.5 x3"

Pete LeClair is notorious in evading actual measurements unless you pin him down in person, or write him in email, from what i see.

after reading everything on a search for LeClare i could find on the caricature thread. i came to the same conclusion many of you have listed.

my problem wasn't with the size of the caricature it was with the size of the push gouges, since i dont own full numbered profile sets of palm chisels its hard to choose different sizes..

in the books tools its often referred to as shape like "take a #9" palm chisel and cut a line extending from under the chin around the jaw right to the ear and leave the shaving take a sharp knife and clip off the shaving under the ear..

my problem was i want to follow instruction as best as i can. the #9 refers to a round shallow sided profile, palm chisels go up to 9/16 or 11/16" which is too big.. and down to like my dockyard micro chisels 1.5mm which would be barely noticeable..

if your going to carve under the influence of Pete LeClair its best to start with a gouge profile chart ....... he might not be the only instructor that teaches this way,

but from reading all the posts i could focus my eyes on last night i came to the conclusion,

By teaching this way Pete dont get you stuck in the ruler issues, Carve with the stock you have at hand and the tools you own... he is suggesting the shape of what the tool profile leaves

under this method your only limited to the size of your tools or how you can figure out to use them in a manor appropriate to provide the desired results..

most of the posts i read dealt with the size of stock blocks, Pete uses for stock. most all replies were of different size or height

has anyone else experienced this issue with gouges and how did you conclude or solve this problem.. ? im kinda stuck till i can buy more tools apparently?

Disclaimer:
I write this with understanding that i dont fully knowing everything. this knowledge its what i perceive..... and dont intend to aggrivate them who know it all, to get upset, just to invoke them to share knowledge ..... HA!

[Kenny_S]

Thomp,
I can't say anything about messurments or what Pete LaClair uses but did find out in the Bishop's class that you can use different tools than what they require for the class. I used several closed in size for my St. Nick and it came out fine. I do suggest that on the face, do use what he siggest or real close as the eyes pretty well needs the smaller size.
That is one thing I admire about you my friend is, your continue searching
and wanting to try different types of carvings. Had one local carver tell me to keep carving the same thing over and over and when you get that down good, then move on. My problem is life is to short as it is and to carve what you want when you want.
All I can say, go for it my friend.

[Plain_Ol_Ed]

Use what works for you. Most of Mr. LeClairs stuff can be done very nicely with only a knife.

[Blake Lunsford]

Thomp,

I pick up my #5 and #9 tools from Rick at little shavers. I used Denny tools which are numbered #3, #5, #7, #9, and #11. Check with Rick! Bart posted on the other thread that Pete uses Swiss tools, so I am unsure if there is any difference between the Denny and the Swiss. Seems to have worked on the bottlestopper that I carved that we discussed earlier. I hope this helps! Denny makes really nice tools, and I think the Swiss can be picked up at Woodcraft.

Blake

[Thomp]

instead of making 2 posts i added pics to this one of my current progress pic attached at bottom or Or Click Here

Kenny,

your right im into everything, its my daddy's fault, he was a jack of all trades. master of none so i blame it on him,
but im getting better im getting to finish a few more here lately, and the way i look at it if im ever going to catchup with a good carver, one carving of each is all i need for the experience in the different ways to twist a knife.
and hopefully remember the experience later..
thanks for the comments,

Plain Ole Ed,

I agree with that in most places, but im really trying to make a lasting effort in this learning stage of faces, im currently roughing out 3 heads on the same project at the same time, so the repetitive carving will stick in my dimly lit learning area of my brain, use to have a hundred watt light bulb glowing in there i think its only a dim amber left now days...

i dont know if it will work but if i pull this off i should be good at faces not a master like Pete, but good...

Pete only uses gouges in this project in a few places its his first book carving heads
but i wanted to learn with the proper tools and sized tools, as well, so i had a better chance of actually doing one per the instructions, at my age Ive already did it my way countless times, and its about time i follow the instructions at once...
ha...

Blake

i missed your post, due to which email i answered first.
i have a email in the works for rick, on a suggestion to cure my present needs, as i understand the numbering system its a classification of the profile of the chisel then within each number classification there is different sizes so in all you can be talking about 50 or more chisels if your talking about having them all..

i recently bought the flexcut #9 9/16" unhand led flexcut gouge, made a knob fit it and its a great tool, and i dont see why a set of flexcut blades wouldn't work for my needs, is there any reason you know, are they hard to keep sharp or too worry some.?
"em-mm, the wife just asked me what i wanted for Christmas ... " while i was typing that last line,,,
hahaha.

thanks for the confidence
Thomas

[mwilleson]

If you need it, here is a link to the Pfeil tools chart showing the various sweeps.

http://www.woodcraft.com/articles.aspx?articleid=396

[Thomp]

mike,

The wife came in last night and asked what i wanted for Christmas, while i was on the flex cut palm gouge page $179.- for their big kit is what i was looking at.
(HE-HE!), I got up and pointed at the computer and headed off to get a cup of coffee,
Now, i heard the printer buzz. and when i came back she was smiling like the cat that ate the canary,

Now i dont know what the smile was for, if it meant shes happy that ill spend that much on her,
or if im getting flex cut tools or a new computer??
the miracle and frustration of Christmas, man,

thanks for the link,
im trying to print all the profile charts out so i can get a better estimate of just how many profiles and sizes within them profiles there is. so far a BUNCH!

but like Plain Ole Ed, mentioned last night, most of pete's carvings can be done with a knife, i half heartedly agree, maybe with Ed's skills he could do it, but me, i need some babying along, help and reminders..

still as posted in the picture in last post, i got a lot of learning to do before Pete has any worrying in me taking his job...

thanks again..
Thomas

[Blake Lunsford]

Thomas,

Different people like different tools....I have Denny, Swiss, and Flexcut. I think it is all according to what you get use to and what gives you the results you are looking for. Let me know how that christmas request goes. I'm hoping to place some of those kinds of hints also in a few weeks!

Blake

[Thomp]

blake,

i like the flexcut #9, 9/16" 15mm gouge i got from rick recently, dont know how it will hold up to use and how long i can expect it to stay sharp,
but on the tests i made with it it cuts clean, and you can really hog off basswood with it as well,

thomas

[Claude]

Originally Posted by Thomp

mike,

The wife came in last night and asked what i wanted for Christmas, while i was on the flex cut palm gouge page $179.- for their big kit is what i was looking at.
...

Thomas:
For what it's worth, I have that Flexcut Starter Set ($180 one) - got it for my Birthday a year ago, and I like it a lot...especially the fact that it has the big wooden handle that can be used with a mallet for "light" mallet carving.

Claude