European carvers?

Fergster · #1 11-29-2007, 03:18 AM

Hi all,

just wanted to ask if any of you are in Europe (specifically Britain or Ireland)?

If so, any good recommendations for resources? Eg anything really - supplies, carving groups, good websites etc.
It might be handy to swap a bit of information around. So far I've found one pretty good online store in England, but I wondered about anyone else's favourites.

,
Fergster

doris · #2 11-29-2007, 04:51 AM

hi, yes i am in europe, in germany ... good question, i am searching for european, or rather german forum too. but i was not lucky until now... hope you get many replies and answers, as i am interested in your questions too ... only info i have to share is, that well, chris pye is located in britain, he has a great website, and gives carving teaching

kitaye · #3 11-29-2007, 05:16 AM

We have a couple of people from Italy, England, and I believe Scotland. Hopefully they will hop on to this thread and help you out. BTW welcome to WCI.

aulddiy · #4 11-29-2007, 06:18 AM

I live on that little off shore island Britian, Scotland to be more accurate.

Wood I source locally from the saw mill,
Axminster Tools in England
but with the low $ just now I buy mostly from the US and Canada.
rgds
John
Glenrothes
Scotland

arapsang · #5 11-29-2007, 08:58 AM

Hi there Fergster

There are many sources of wood and tools around and which you use will, I suppose, depend on where exactly you are based. Here in West Yorkshire I use ASK Tools, Birstall for tools; Craft Supplies, Bradwell for my exotic woods, as well as John Boddy's, Boroughbridge. Local woodyards produce ash, oak, beech mahogany and the like. Usually local suppliers know whwere the local groups meet.

All the best
Peter Connor

Donna_T · #6 11-29-2007, 09:37 PM

Hello and welcome,
You might try contacting Peter Benson who is chairman of the British Woodcarvers Assoc. He's been in the US a few times visiting clubs and carving friends over here.

He can be reached at Stockwell House, Laindon Common, Little Burstead, Essex England CM12 9SY or email him at bencarve@talktalk.net

Good luck!

Donna T

Fergster · #7 12-01-2007, 01:27 PM

Thanks, all.
Doris, I came across a carving site auf Deutsch, if it's any use. I think it is in Austria though: http://www.schnitzschule.com/cms/website.php
John, good point about the currency. Is the shipping cost not very high though? One I have used is Ockenden Timber in Shropshire - http://www.ockenden-timber.co.uk/index.html . Very prompt delivery - I got my gear the next day after ordering.

PeteM · #8 12-01-2007, 02:20 PM

I'm in north Wales (Anglesey), and had the same problem with the lack of forums, clubs and timber supplies in the UK.

It seems that woodturning is more popular in the UK, judging by what I have seen.

I have bought Lime from Ockenden timber, but prefer the northern basswood imported from the US, which is also planed rather than rough-sawn. I bought enough to last me 6 months. The Lime is more dense though, and produces more solid carvings. I plan to use this more when I start using my chisels.

I have bought knives from the US (Denny, Lee Ferguson, Ron Wells and Deepwoods) which have been really good. Lee Ferguson makes a nice knife for under £10, and doesn't charge postage to the UK - bought through ebay.

I've also looked at tools from Austria, Switzerland and Germany, and bought a bargain set of Kirschen (2 cherries) chip carving knives.

doris · #9 12-01-2007, 02:50 PM

hi thanks.... yes, is austria, quite some travel from where i live. but good to see german language pages exit also... what i really would love to find however is a forum, like wci, but with european members, so i could try meet those of them i feel inclined to. thats the only point i miss here in wci, namely that most members are from the other side of ocean, and so i cant meet with them or go to wood carving shows to meet them...anyway, thanks for sharing the link...