[Jim-K]

I don't know if this is the right spot for this type carving or not but here goes.
If its not Please move to the correct spot.
I just got the new SR Foredom kit and the # 50 reciprocating carver That I plan to use for my carvings.
I have a thick cherry bowl I plan to carve some cherry leaves on it with some cherries. I will finish turn all the bowl and leave enough thickness at the top of the bowl under the rim for the carving. This will be my first carving on a bowl. I have carved a few things before but not many. I have found some nice drawings of the leaf and cherry clusters and I plan on tracing it to the bowl and carve. any other Tips to help a new carver?
I'm a very detailed type person and I try to do things at the best of my ability. Is there any tutorials/web sites to help me on carving leaves?
Thanks
Jim

[wade clark]

Jim,
I don't know of a site with a tutorial on leaves, especially cherry. Do a search and you should find something.
I carved a bowl with frogs and grapes, leaves and vines using artificial grapes as a guide, but cherries may be harder to find! The good news is, cherries have a small simple leaf with serrated edges. If you find a picture it shouldn't be too difficult to do. With grapes, a common mistake is to reverse the raised and lowered areas. I don't think you'll have that problem with cherries. Try one on a scrap of wood before doing the "critical" ones.
Have fun!
Wade

[squbrigg]

Hi Jim...as I understand your question, you have the design and the bowl turned and just want some direction on the carving?

First, get your design on there good and ledgable, then I'd use the Foredom, not the recriporcating carver, I would think it would generate too much vibration and may crack the wood....but at this I'm guessing, I just don't have first hand knowledge of that type or carver. The Foredom with the right burrs should work great, outline first, like a stop cut and then shape away, piece by piece, leaf and cherry, one by one.

You may have to make a jig to hold the bowl and leave your hands free to work, but that should be pretty easy.

I hope I've been helpful. Pass along some WIP pics so we can watch how you are doing. Best of luck.

Bob

[Jim-K]

Thanks Wade and Bob for the help!
I will probably leave the bowl mounted to the scroll chuck that I use to turn the bowl on the lathe until I get all the carving done. I plan to make something to hold it off the lathe ASAP. I make a lot of my own turning tools and Jigs.
I Have a Turnig club meeting tonight at Woodcraft I will look at getting some carving books to help me some.