The best things to NOT DO.

[xsailer]

I've been reading the forum now for 2 years and I've memorized all of the suggested "best" techniques of carving, finishing and tool handling, well almost all of them. I wonder if we, the forum, think it worth while to suggest the things to "DO NOT" based on what we've learned from our past experiences?
For instance
Rev A:
"Do Not apply your antiquing over unfinished acrylics! I think it's better to apply your Deft or other similar finish to the acyrlic then apply the antiquing. My experience has been the antiquing is very hard to remove and subdues the acrylic colors unless the Deft has been applied over the acrylic. After the antiquing has dried then I usually add another light layer of Deft.

Bob

[Tom-H]

Hey Bob, great idea. If my memory serves me, my "do nots" outnumber the "dos" by about ten to one.

Tom H

[gene-messer]

Bob .. I guess Iam backwards .. but I have always applied the antiqueing after I paint the figure and then finish it off with the Deft ..

I might be doing it wrong .. it has always worked for me ..

Gene

[xsailer]

Gene, I sorry for the confusion. What I mean is after applying the acrylic to the carving then apply your Deft and then apply the antiquing. Don't apply the antiquing until you apply the Deft

"Do Not apply your antiquing over unfinished acrylics! I think it's better to apply your Deft or other similar finish to the acyrlic then apply the antiquing. My experience has been the antiquing is very hard to remove and subdues the acrylic colors unless the Deft has been applied over the acrylic. After the antiquing has dried then I usually add another light layer of Deft.

I going to revise my earlier statement for clarifiaction.

[xsailer]

Gene, you are an excellant carver and I would not ever consider telling anyone my way was the best, never. I just do it the way I described because I had a bad experience doing it the other way. I appreciate your comment though. I could have written it better. I'm really trying to spark others learned experinces so I might not make the same mistake or at least consider the possible consquences.

[Colin-Partridge]

Two major lesson I have learned from experience are as follows.

1. Dont step back and admire your chainsaw carving with the saw running and not wearing chaps

2. Dont use power tools like the Lancelot with out a guard on it you cant hold onto that thing when the wheel touches two surfaces at the same time.

I have the scars to prove it just thought I would share those it may save someone a limb.
Colin

[xsailer]

Colin...........OUCH!

[Claude]

When you drop a knife or gouge, Don't try to grab it on the way down. It takes less time to put a new edge on the tool than it does to do a round trip to the emergency room.

Let's see, how can I word the corollary to be a "don't"... Don't be a penny pincher and continue to carve over a concrete floor, get a rubber mat from Woodcraft instead and your dropped tool will likely bounce instead of chipping the edge or tip. http://www.woodcraft.com/family.aspx?familyid=4762
Claude

[Thor]

Don't give up trying to learn to sharpen your tools yourself, even if it takes years.
Thor

[Joy]

Don't wear a carving glove with a power carver and aggressive bit.