Chip carving

[Rich2008]

I have not posted in awhile so I thought I had best jump in here. I have been carving for about 2 years now; carving some flat plane figures, some in the round, some low and high relief, some walking stick faces, but I have never tried chip carving! I have seen this style for years and it has fascinated me as to what one can accomplish here with decorative plates, boxes, free style, and any design one can draw on wood and carve. So, I have jumped in with both feet here and ordered lots of books by Wayne Barton, Pam Gresham, Dennis Moore, and several others. I started with the practice manuals ( Pam Gresham), which is turning out to be excellent, and have been skimming through several others. I got all the knives, Wayne Barton's, Lamp Brand (nice and thin), and some more on order. My shop is now at 95 degrees here in South Mississippi, so back in the house I go with my chip carving! It is really relaxing to just sit and carve, not much of a mess, etc. The thing that puzzles me is that there is very few chip carvers here on the site. I have seen some beautiful chip work here though, very talented. I'll be posting something soon, and will have lots of questions. I may even join MyChipCarving with Marty Leenhouts soon.
Thanks for reading,
Rich

[JimSawyer]

I've had a few books on chip carving, and could never quite get the hang of it. Then I got Wayne Barton's DVD. It made it so very clear.
Just a suggestion. I don't have much to show for it yet, (I've got a lot of other woodworking projects going), but with summer here and having to hide in the air conditioning of my living room, there may be some projects coming out of me soon......
Good luck.....
Oh and the Flexcut chip carving knife is really nice too.

[RUssL.]

I go through stages when I do practically nothing but chip carving. I have in a bunch of books on the subject, mostly for patterns at this point. I also have invested in a bunch of different chip carving knives and I keep several plate blanks for the occasion when the mood strikes me to get back into it.
I for one really like chip carving and people seem to be impressed with even modest finished pieces.
What's not to like about that? :-)

[Rich2008]

Thanks for the comments! I too, am like you guys on the air conditioning. I have not advanced far enough yet to create something to post on my chip carving. I want to go through all my training manuals first, and get to make all the cuts right. I'll have to admit, I have impressed the hell out of myself, so its not all that bad so far. Once I feel I can cut a project the right way, I'll try and do a plate or something later. The transferring of the patterns still have me puzzled, but there are lots of ways I'm finding out.

Good carving on yours;

Rich

[minowevie]

Hi Rich, I am a beginning chip carver as well. I started last year. and have practiced till my thump got numb. I thought at first I would just never get it. and finally put out some pretty nice stuff. won me 3 blue ribbons, and best of shows. but the best part was just accomplishing it. chip carving is very satisfying. and it is something you can take anywhere. with your knife a peace of wood and well maybe a apron. HEHE. Marty at my Chip Carving .com was a lot of help for sure. looks like you have some good books to start out with. good luck, and looking forward to your chip carving. I agree, there is not to many chip carvers hear, but we are. so lets do it. Evie
I forgot to mention. that I had problems with the transferring patterns as well. I just hated the drawing part. so I just go to staples, copy my pattern to the size I like. and use spray adhesive to the back of the pattern. and put on my wood. let it dry good. then cut away. I haven't found it to bad on my knife to cut it. and it is accurate. if any paper is left on the wood after the cuts are done. I use mineral spirits to take off the rest of the pattern. works for me.