After the Carving...

[ptofimpact]

So let me ask, is it cheating to 'sand' after the Chip Carving is completed?? Maybe to hide my unskilled chips.

[jdbcarving]

Maybe to remove some pattern lines. I sand before carving and use eraser for any lines left.
Light sanding should be okay. Your chips should be deep enough that sanding out bad cuts would not seem possible.
Jim

[Bill Whig]

Originally Posted by ptofimpact

So let me ask, is it cheating to 'sand' after the Chip Carving is completed?? Maybe to hide my unskilled chips.

I'm not a chip carver, but I've read in the books that sandpaper removes the natural sheen left by the cut of a sharp tool. So I guess it's not "cheating", you just have to be willing to accept the consequences. I have heard of teachers of yesteryear that forbid their students to use sandpaper. I'm not sure why. Have fun!

Bill

[dalboy]

If you are going to sand make sure all the carving is done as very fine particles from the sand paper can dull a chisel very quick

[Robson Valley]

In my experience, hitting a sand grain with a carving tool is dang near the "kiss of death" for the tool. You will work long and hard to recover the edge that you enjoyed so much. I still don't know when the "carving process" is finished. Then, if I don't want tool marks, I'm supposed to move on to sanding. . . . . .
Start sanding and I must believe that the bridge is up in flames, burnt and collapsed if I think I can "just carve that last little bit out of there" WRONG.

[Robson Valley]

I need to add one more embarrassing bit.

I have some poor wood that I'm working in for a pair of large Ravens. Good sized pieces of western red cedar AND, there are some knots in it.
Knots = those used to be dust-covered living branches, right?
They are still covered with dirt, even slowly buried in decades of tree trunk growth that eventually covered them over.
Well, I was lazy and thought that I could take a 9/15 right through a knot.
WHANG! sand grain. I have some "knot-buster" firmer chisels. 1
I will not forget to reach for them.
I will not forget to reach for them.
I will not forget to reach for them.

[ptofimpact]

Once again, thank you all for the advice and opinions. One excellent point mentioned, never thought about the sandpaper particles left behind, and the result.

[Dylan]

I've never noticed any real problem with sandpaper particles dulling my tools. But then, I don't generally use anything coarser then 220 grit. Cheap 80grit is bad to leave particles behind.

As to the original question, no it's not cheating to sand, it just gives you a different look.

[Bob K.]

I don't think sanding the carving is wrong but sandpaper is the kiss of death to a carving knife! If you're going to sand make sure it is the LAST thing you do!

[bob easton]

Nor am I a chip carver.
Yet, as a relief carver, I read the teachings of many other carvers. Those trained in classical architectural carving styles advise against sanding. They prefer instead the smooth sheen left behind by a keenly sharp tool. One even argues that while sanding leaves what appears to be a smoother surface, it is indeed "fuzzier" than that left by a sharp tool.

(Some of those authors are Chris Pye, Mary May, and Kurt Koch.)

Instead of sanding, the method of arriving at a satisfyingly smooth surface is increasingly finer cuts, cuts that remove those scallops and ridges of previous cuts.

Admitted, I'm not "there" yet, but my work is getting better ... and my sandpaper is getting very very lonely. Just the way I like it.