holding down small pieces

[stave]

I have a commission to reproduce carving from a hall tree. There are 22 pieces altogether to be carved from 1/4 sawn oak. Most of these pieces have curves and when finished will be very delicate due to the grain. They will have to have clean backs to glue to the hall tree.

My problem is how to hold them down while carving them and how to release them when finished. The pieces are to small to nail or screw. I have thought of double stick tape but don't know if it will work. Hot glue is to hard to remove from the finished carvings. The original carvers had to have had a method they used. Does anyone have any ideas?

Stave

[Dagwood]

use wood glue an a pcs of construction paper glue paper to wood dry.. glue carving to paper.. once done scrape off with a putty knife... done this a cpl times

[therenow]

Try Marty at mychipcarving.com. He has some anti slip material and a demo video

Ed

[Akumanubis]

I have had good success with water soluble children's glue sticks. Glue stick wood to paper then paper to some kind of base. I like the glue stick much more because I don't have to sand off the paper remnants after removal and the removal is much gentler just wet it and slide, no prying.

[Robert Cahill]

would that chip carvers lapboard feature in this issue of WCI (49) work for you.Just a thought

[stave]

thanks for the suggestions, I am going to experiment Monday and see what works.

Stave