[therunt]

so i've done two so far. the first one i just started cutting away till it started to take the shape of something. the second one i had an idea of what i wanted to do started cutting to fit the idea and ended up with something completley different. with the one i am working on now i drew everything out on a peice of paper and outlined the block as best i could. with no power saws or anything to cut away the excess wood i have to do it all with a knife. as i'm cutting i notice that i'm taking away a lot of wood and not getting anywhere with it. any suggestions on what i can do to make this process a bit easier.

also where does one find lime wood?

[Hi_Ho_Sliver]

might pick up a coping saw, will help remove excess wood without a big expense

[Kenny_S]

Yeper, a Coping saw will help, but then, you will have to clamp the wood down.
Maybe you know someone who has a band saw or if small enough of a project, a scroll saw???????????????
Just an idea!

[Thomp]

runt,
i use a scrollsaw to make my blanks, becuse i can cut the size up to 2x2" but its only a electric coping saw.
one thing what will help with copingsaw work is to make a "V" board just a 1x4" with a v cut into it you point the v towards you and attach it to a table top. and work the copingsaw blade inside the v.. as you cut.
set your teeth in the saw to cut when you pull and get with it.
the v board takes all the stress out of cutting and helps keep things a little more stable

lime wood, i did a google and this is the second listing. below i suspect lime wood is from a lime tree? what would you use it for?

http://www.hearnehardwoods.com/Inven...hlimewood.html

[therunt]

i saw in an issue of WoodCarving a lot of the topic artist primarily used lime wood. the detail amazing. so i'm wanting, once i've gotten a better hang of wood working, to do a carving in lime wood see how i like it.

[squbrigg]

The English refer to Lime wood a lot, but really it's Basswood. Of the Linden tree.

As for removing wood quickly, a bandsaw is best, if small pieces then a scroll saw, or a coping saw by hand will work too. Or, you can buy blanks of some things, partly carved for you, roughed out.

What kind of wood are you using now? Maybe that's the problem?

Bob

[whitecree]

Small coping saw, absolutely. Get them for maybe $10, tops. Easy to use, blades are cheap and easy to find.

I 2nd the request to know what kind of wood you are using. My first couple of carvings were made on knotty, warped red cedar, and I had a terrible time. Almost made me quite right then.

[therunt]

so far i've been using pine. i have a couple of blocks of basswood that i'll be using next. i don't mind using the pine it's just frustrating when i'm trying to gouge out a small area and then take off a huge chunk making me have to completely rethink my carving.

another question i have with planning, i think my original question in mind is, after transering the design to the block my proportions are thown off horribly as i take the wood down to form. ending up making it to thin or short. i'm sure the more i do this the more adept i'll become. as with anything practice, practice, practice right.

as soon as i can borrow a camera i'll get some pics up of what i have done so far. thanks for all of the help.

[Thomp]

Originally Posted by therunt

so far i've been using pine. i have a couple of blocks of basswood that i'll be using next. i don't mind using the pine it's just frustrating when i'm trying to gouge out a small area and then take off a huge chunk making me have to completely rethink my carving.

another question i have with planning, i think my original question in mind is, after transering the design to the block my proportions are thown off horribly as i take the wood down to form. ending up making it to thin or short. i'm sure the more i do this the more adept i'll become. as with anything practice, practice, practice right.

as soon as i can borrow a camera i'll get some pics up of what i have done so far. thanks for all of the help.

---------
When pieces flake off, some folks use superglue. i have did it myself. its not normally pretty, but it keeps you on track with the plan.

First start by reading the threads on this website on sharpening and honing your cutting edeges,
get use to it, your going to have as much sharpening & honing time as carving time....

2 answers, for you

the gouge:
maybe the gouge is too big or dull. ?
Pine is difficult when not using ultra sharp tools.... it has a normal tendency to flake and chip especally if trying to make thin hat brims, thin ears, free floating unsupported fingers, and such,
a trick is to only make the edege thin or appear to be thin... let hands rest on legs or in pockets

cowboy hat brims cant possibly be made as thin as they appear in real life even in basswood, without lots of practice, thin wood in crossgrain is super weak, and if your getting it so thin bright light will show. Your getting into trouble.


THE PATTERN:
size your pattern to your block of wood,

when your just starting out, trace your block on a sheet of paper then draw your carving in the configns of the block you traced.

I try to make front view and a side view.
cut out one view then replace the scraps tape them in place with packaging tape and then cut out the other view

attaching the drawing to the block of wood with something I use arleens tack it over and over apply it to the back of the paper spread it thin and let it dry to tacky when touched with clean finger. and no adhesive stays on your finger.. when tacky apply the drawing to the wood, if you lightly place the pattern on the wood its possible to reposition it if your careful.

but i heard of folks using flower and water but havent ever tried that mess.

now begain by removing all the bulk material using a coping saw,
leave yourself some leeway from the pattern lines, about 1/8th inch bigger than pattern (you can always remove later but you cant put back chips)
remember great carving and fast carving is not the same thing.
take it off in stages. then return to places that need shaping.. then return for details. even if it takes you a month,
dont hurry yourself

if you feel the kneed to just make piles of chips . grab some firewood and chipaway till you get it out of your system. make a big jed clampit pile, get your hands good and sore it will toughen them...

[lorax]

Re: Squbrigg's comment about limewood- there is a difference between Lime and bass, but the diffence is so slight that you would have a hard time telling them apart. I purchased some at a woodcraft store, and had some fun with it, but for the extra money it is just as good to use basswood.