[Dan C]

Ron,

Yeah, I hear yuh! Safety is a good thing! I thought maybe you had some sight, so that you might be able to use something like this. But safety definitely is the bottom line. Stick to those old gouges with the razor sharp edges!

Dan C.

[Wes Leitch]

Here's another alternative to using small chisels and gouges. I have a flexcut scorp that I use for getting into hard to find places. There are many different styles of scorps available, both regular size and micro.

[Krum]

Sanding sticks will work in those areas. Also there is a fiberoptic pen that is on the market and works well. I haven't been able to find it but they DO sell them at sometimes at Wal-Mart I should have bought one when I had the chance!
Krum

[mark yundt]

This is one of 2 trees I'm currently working on to go on each side of a farm style sink.They are only roughed out at this point,but for reference the trunks are 3 inches wide and the branches are 6 1/2 inches.I'm basically in your situation where at times I'm working in a "box canyon" between the branches,some areas not much longer than 1 inch,,and at this depth,,not much room.The depth of relief so far is 3/4 inch ( see penny) .This will decrease as I refine the leaves above them.There are many of the tricks mentioned that I have tried over the years to varying degrees of success,but I have settled on just letting a chisel do it's thing. None of this is sanded,,and won't be,I prefer the look of clean chisel cuts which here was done using nothing other than the 2/5 pictured.A 2/8 was used to make the shearing stop cuts and the 2/5 all the bottom cuts. If I try using the chisel as a scraper ( in some areas I can) the finish is dull and frayed looking,,sanding does the same thing.But using the chisel as a fulcrum,,and applying steady pressure I can ,,even vertically ,,carve the bottoms perfectly clean.At this depth and such small confines a standard chisel can't be angled for a good cut,,and doglegs just won't fit,,a micro motor would just make a fuzzy mess sandpaper might get a few fuzzies out but not effectively clean the sides and corners,,but a chisel used in this way will produce perfecly clean cuts.Just don't try it with a flat chisel. Some might like knives but I personally haven't been able to get the same results with those tools.

[Alice in Wonderland]

AHHHH a Masters touch, how beautiful done ,I love to see your work Mark.
thanks for sharing
Alice

[brtova]

Hi Wes Leitch,

I have some flex cut scorps that are wonderful. Now I am looking for some larger scorps for carving the bowls of spoons. Do you know a source for scrops with widths greater than 7/16?

[Wes Leitch]

I would recommend not using scorps for spoon carving. I would however recomend using bent carving tools. Here are a few links to the new Rick Jensen Denny knife tool, as well some full sized Pfeil tools. Personally, I use a palm sized Pfeil #8 10mm, but these two links do show the larger sizes that I think you would prefer.

Individual Swiss Made PFEIL Full Size Long Bent Carving Tools

Rick Jensen Carving Gouge for Bark Carving

[brtova]

Thanks Wes,

That was just what I was looking for!

brtova