Relief Carving tools - Art Nouveau

[DaleM]

I apologize in advance if this subject has been covered adnauseum or I have posted in the wrong place. I look forward to your responses as I am itching to get started.

My background:
I was essentially born in a wood shop, my father had one in the basement before I was born - the smell of sawdust is what makes me feel at home. I have always had access to my fathers shop until I had to move a couple states away for work. When I go home for the holidays I will usually dream up some small project that keeps us in the basement for a few days. I feel the need to create something - my hands get fidgety if they are not busy.

We made furniture and other stuff, carving was something neither of us every tried.

A couple years ago I started thinking about carving when trying to come up with wood working projects I can do in an apartment (I doubt my downstairs neighbors would appreciate a Delta table saw above their heads). I then recalled some articles in Fine Woodworking about carving scallops, shells, etc - and that got my juices flowing. A couple years later and that desire has not dissipated and thus I am here.

I have been looking at some of Art Nouveau bronze castings and carved wood panels and feel that is something I would like to pursue.

The question
My goal is to carve smaller panels - I imagine I would start with 1 square foot panels of some easy to work wood (Basswood, etc) - that are Art Nouveau inspired.

What would you consider a good combination of chisels sizes and shapes for projects of this sort?

I imagine I would start with 6-12 chisels.

I am leaning toward Pfeil chisels.

I imagine I will begin with basic flowers:
http://www.carvingpatterns.com/kiss/images/Image01.jpg

Examples of the style I hope to accomplish - some are images of large items, I am only referencing styles:
http://www.artnouveaufurniture.com/i...doordetail.jpg
http://www.lacewoodfurniture.com.au/...ov_carving.jpg
http://www.zakurdayevfinewoodcarving...rtnewframe.jpg
http://www.zakurdayevfinewoodcarving...ass2-image.jpg
http://www.faccents.com/gallery/item662b.JPG

[whittlinJim]

Hi, Welcome to the board! I dont know exactly what tools to advise you on, other than to say that the Swiss made are a good choice. Dont get caught up in the brand, most manufacturers make good tools. When I first started Pfiel was all the rage and anything else was no good. Then it moved on to Stubai being the best you could get. I've lost touch and dont know what the prefered brand is now. (theres some that say I've lost touch years ago!) Anyway I have tools from several different makers including Pfiel, Henry Taylors, Henckles and even Millers Falls. I really dont see a dimes worth of difference between them, they all seem to hold an edge and take the abuse I give them pretty well. As far as the specific tools sweep and size, I'll leave that to some of the more experienced carvers here!
Welcome once again and sorry for rambling!

Jim

[Ron T]

Hello and welcome, Dale. Sorry I can't help you since I've never done a relief panel. Good luck.

[bigEd_H]

Hi Dale, welcome to the forum. You will find that everyone here shares your love for wood. There is nothing like putting a tool to wood and manipulating it to make something that appeals to you and others. The feel of a nice sharp tool gliding through wood just cannot be beat. Take a look at Ashley Iles gouges and chisels. Many woodcarvers prefer them. The brands Jim mentioned are also very good. Those images you linked to are all something quite doable with either hand tools or power.

[twilli227]

DaleM, this thread might be what you are looking for:

My tools

You can check out other threads by Mark to see the kind of work he does.

Todd

[Donsexton]

Hello and welcome to the group. I don’t do a lot of relief carving now a days but I used to. I never hear anyone recommending a bent macaroni tool. Back when I did a lot of relief carving that was my go to tool in different sizes. The tool can be used to remove background and the edge of the tool can be used as a V tool. Do any of you carvers that do a lot of relief carving make use of the “bent macaroni” ??

[pallin]

I'm glad someone included the link to Mark Yundt's postings. He does a lot of "architectural" work, professionally, and knows a lot about reliefs.
I do mostly reliefs, but I don't like the bent Pfeil tools. My favorites are #3-12, #7-6.

[Thor]

Hi Dale and welcome,
I enjoyed looking through the images you linked to. The inspiration you've found were images that I had never seen.
You'll get a lot of different opinions about tools and brands here. I use Pheil and really like them a great deal.
Good luck getting started. A recommended basic set can be found in many magazines, books, and this forum. My favorite book to recommend to beginner carvers is Richard Butz's How to Carve Wood. It has many projects that are simplified to follow.
Enjoy.
Christina

[mdallensr]

Chris Pye has a website that has a lot of useful information, including his suggested tool sets for different styles of carving. Mike

Chris Pye - Woodcarving Toolshop

[DaleM]

Thanks for the feedback.

I made the jump yesterday and picked up some Pfeil chisels at Woodcraft yesterday.

Starting with four and will add more as needed.

12/8
9/10
5/12
2/12

I got off cheap as far as I am concerned.

The glass plate sharpening method I use for bench chisels is acceptable for carving tools and I learned I can strop against the cardboard backs of notebooks - using appropriate compound, of course.

So far I have only made a mess, today I might actually try to find some exercises and move forward logically.