Tools

[Joedeeni]

Since I am in the military I have limited space, need for mobility and limited funds I want to get a saw and power tools(band saw etc.) are out of the question so I was thinking of getting a hand saw but there are soooo many out there I don't know what would be a good choice for carving. I plan to use it for roughing out carvings(if this is a good idea).

[TreeWizard]

I'd look at a coping saw, small yet useful for wood up to 5 or 6 inches thick.

[Claude]

Joe:

The suggestion for a coping saw is a good one. Another alternative for you would be to plan your next several carvings, and then order the wood from Heinecke Wood Products in the sizes you need. For example, if your dragon is planned to be, say, 12 inches long, 3 inches thick, and 6 inches tall, you can order this size from Heinecke, along with, say, half a dozen 1.5 x 1.5 x 12 inch pieces you can carve into Santas or try flat plane caricatures, or whatever. The coping saw would be perfect for cutting the 1.5 square pieces to length, and would work for cutting away the waste wood of the dragon. You could also just use a mallet and gouge to cut away the dragon's waste wood just as fast as using the coping saw. I'd suggest a #5 x 12mm gouge as a great wood removal tool.

A power tool alternative to the bandsaw/scroll saw is a saber saw or jig saw, such as Craftsman 4.5 amp Jig Saw with LED Worklight With the correct length blade, you can (slowly) cut wood up to 3 inches thick with this (would need to be a longer than standard blade, which I think is good up to 2 inch thick wood). These saws start at around $25 and go up to $250 or so... Also buy a C-clamp or other clamp to clamp the wood to your table/bench for sawing.


Claude

[chuckbolton]

you are going to get as many opinions as people who respond to your post-- if u were to do relief carvings-- you could order the size wood you need or adjust your pattern to fit. if u plan on other figures-- id stick with smaller 1 1/2 or 2 inch square stock-- you probably wont have so much waste to work away. lynn diehl has done a couple of books using 2X2 block with very little waste wood to remove. also has done some santas from 1X1 and i know there is a dvd of that santa-- im curious? u wanting to be the next harold enlow-- he did a lot of his early carving while in the military-- so it would seem that is a good place to start.

[Farmall]

For a saw, get a coping saw to do the details and a folding japanese saw like this one at Rockler => Folding Dozuki Saw - Rockler Woodworking Tools
They cut well, have a small kerf, and are very portable. I use one for most of my smaller carving roughouts. My 2 cents worth, and worth every penny!

[Hi_Ho_Sliver]

Another tool besides the coping saw, by the way, they make large throat coping saws! A "Rotozip" is a doggone handy tool...you might take a look at those, and another hand power tool that would be very helpful would be a good sabre saw...now I guess they are called jig saw...which is what we "used" to call a scrollsaw LOL.....you have to learn the language all over again for each generation! geez!

[chuckbolton]

i lied when i said ud get one comment per person responding-- im just now adding comment #2. get a power tool--dremel like but one of the more powerful-- it will remove lots of wood fast and the one i have (ryobi) fits in a plastic case 3X10X12 or so-- then get some kutsall bits and you can knock out the waste pretty fast--tho i think ull want to do it outside-- lots of sawdust.

[Gulf Coast Handyman]

Just a thought, I have limited carving time due to my job, lately I have been buying roughouts. You can get them in all price ranges, and no saw needed. Cut out are another option, and less money.

Dave

[Gulf Coast Handyman]

Here are some cutouts.

Basswood Cuttouts Refsal's Figures

Dave

[Mark Dellinger]

Joe,
Are you stationed in the states on a base. Would it be possible that there would be some sort of machine shop or wood shop on base that you could utilize some of the equipment from to do your cut outs.

Safe Carving and God Bless,

Mark