What's your carving weakness?

[chipper67]

I was just wondering what is your carving weakness in the sense of what do your find the most difficult right now in your carving? For example, I used to dread doing eyes and now I don't mind carving them. Then it was noses and now it's not a big deal. Currently, for me it is hands. I just have not done many and I just find it a bit of a challenge. I haven't searched this site yet but are there any tutorials on carvings hands (open, clenched, etc.)? I'm talking caricature here. It just lead me to wonder what other people find difficult for whatever reason to carve and they just keep putting it off and off. A carving weakness could also include sharpening, painting/finishing or whatever carving related. Anyway, just something to think about. Maybe this would be a subject for a survey if it's not been done before.

Chipper67

[mdallensr]

My top 10 carving weaknesses are:
1. original designs
2. original designs
3. original designs
4. .........

Mike

[chipper67]

Mike,

That's a good one. I, for sure, have to agree with that one too. I've been mainly using patterns from books and roughouts, but an original design is a goal of mine. I just don't know what original really means, but that's probably a topic for another thread.

Chipper67

[Keoma]

I thought you meant what I cannot say no to...that kind of weakness!
As for your question, I wish I could keep my carving closer to the pattern. I guess it's like driving in between the lines huh? Just takes practice

[mikeGinSC]

I've never been one to go by a pattern or even a plan as far as woodworking. Even in building a house I use the blueprint just as a starting point. Most houses don't resemble the initial plan anyway. There's always some changes made here and there either by the homeowner or the builder.

My weaknesses are sharpening and faces. I always tend to make my faces too flat. And I can sharpen a plane iron or a chisel to a super sharp, mirror finish, but can't seem to sharpen a knife or my gouges worth a hoot.

Mike G. in SC

[Plain_Ol_Ed]

Following a pattern and/or directions. I get about a third of the way and then say to heck with it and go off on my own. It's even that way with rough outs.

[markken5889]

first of all, it's finding time to carve. secondly, for me, sharpening seems to be an ongoing learning experience. I don't think I've gotten it all together with that one yet. I'd also like to burn feathers on duck decoys and songbirds better.

Mark

[Iowa Carver]

Faces in general I would say.

Corey

[R-OLDS]

1.) Painting I just don't care much for it...
I have abt 20 carvings that need to be painted now and would much rather carve..

2.) Original designs, I have only had a few of my own..

3.)Hands; which I am getting some better at as I have been doing more of them..



Randal

[chuckt]

Mark stole mine . . . TIME to carve. It's funny, as much as I pipe up on here of late you'd think I'm a carving Tasmanian Devil - but - I'm only posting so much because I work at the PC and its been very slow of late. Finding time to sit & actually make chips . . . MUCH tougher.

This weekend - I WILL do some carving!!! I will I will I WILL! Me thinks some of TomH's 5 min wizards.

ChuckT