Caricature Carving with Helvie Knives

[helvie Knives]

Hello Again to everyone out there. Over the past year I bought many roughouts and gave the knives I make a try at Caricature Carving, boy I got hooked real quick. It is definitly a great way to relax, until you cut yourself! I took a class with Gerald Sears and one with Floyd Rhadigan, I see why they love to wood carve, I had a blast with both of them and they got the chance to visit our shop. While carving I kept wishing I could hold my knife like a paint brush for very fine detail work, our knives are fairly heavy and this style did not work to well, so I am in the process of making a "stick" knife, about the size of writing pencil with a thin small blade. What do you all think about that, I am not sure if you should ever hold a knife like that, so your opinions will help me greatly. Thanks to all of you!!!!

Rich
Helvie Knives

[slivers&dust]

I would be interested in that design!

Although I don't hold a knife like that I do hold most of my full size gouges 10mm and smaller like that when doing hand held carvings, for more control.

[Ron Davidson]

Rich I would be interested in that design also. I currently use a Denny detail in this manner but it is still a little bulky. It would be nice to have a small notch or recessed area for your finger to rest in at the tip before the blade. Just a thought.
Ron

[Just Carving]

If it's any help, lately, I've been resorting to using an X-acto knife to do some fine detail carving and to be able to "draw" or carve with the knife while holding it like a pencil.

Bob

[fpace]

Interesting idea... if you need a tester I'll be glad to volunteer!Wink

[MackTheKnife]

Rich, a "pencil" grip is pretty common among flat plane carvers when doing detail or trying to get into a small place. It is absolutely not a grip to use for power cuts, but for small, precise cuts nothing can beat it. A knife designed with that kind of cut in mind would be very welcome. Del Stubbs has recently added such a knife to his offerings, but there is definitely room for competition, especially since your knives are so different from his.

Bob

[Anthony Filetti]

Rich,
Not sure about the need for a new design...already have a Butz which is similar. I think the biggest I would say about any of the knives I use for caricature carving is that the first thing I do is to modify the profile to fit my needs. I remove the bevel and round the spine which allow me to carve in my fashion. In doing so alot of the metal has to be removed. Also I have heard of another carver who removes the bevel and then places a small one back in near the edge. Either way these modifications make the knife pull easier and also allow me to make some nice curl cuts.
Given this, I will state that Helvie knives make up the most number of any brand in my box and I do like the larger handles which fit large hands like my own very well, but I would address the fact that the handles are considered "slick" especially in a gloved hand. I also notice that the current knife handles have the knuckle grooves on the edge side, not the spine which for me is backward. Most caricature carvers use "pull" cuts which places the fingers on the spine. For a scissor cut I do reverse my grip but it does not make up the majority of the cuts I make. Just something to consider. For other 'grip' ideas I would look at how other have modified their handles on their Wells/Shipley knives. (FYI, I bought a drop point handled knife for my wife and still haven't figered out how to grip it)

...just my two cents! Thank you again for continuing to supply a great product!

[scooter]

I often use a pencil grip, but am comfortable with the thickness of my handles as they are right now. So, I may not be your demographic, but I can certainly see why a lot of other people go for a thin, pencil-sized handle. I'd be interested to see what they come out looking like. Go for it!

[Buckskin]

I would be interested in your design as I to pick up an x-acto from time to time.

[Farmall]

Would be great for the small details....I use a reshaped pen knife for them now and hold it like a pencil.....