[pamopfl]

Hi All, I'm new to chip carving and purchased the Moor Knives from Chipping Away in Canada. I didn't have any trouble getting these knives delivered to Florida (saw that someone in NC didn't have good luck with their delivery). My problem is in that I have small hands and trying to get a 65 deg. angle with the large Moor knife my thumb is barely in contact with the wood. Needless to say it doesn't look anything like the picture shown in the book. I also normally wear a thumb protector but took it off for these pictures.
Any advice?

[Hi_Ho_Sliver]

I have a small Wayne Barton knife, that is too small for my hand I will swap you for your larger Moor knife.......mine is sharp too oops...I should have sent this in a p.m. sorry 'bout dat!

[meipo]

Hello, there!

I have the Moor's knives, too: both the regular size and the small one. I wear size 7 gloves. I believe that is not considered big either.

Your photos showed only your hand and the wood. From the picture, however, I have the feeling that your posture is the core of the problem. I am no expert on chip carving. Yet, from what I know, I have suspicions that if you hold your upper arm closer to your torso so that your elbow stays down, things will work much better. In other words, the handle of the knife should be rotated a little downward so your thumb can touch the wood for support.

In Dennis Moor's book, he has pretty good pictures showing how to hold the knives and making cuts. Also, if you follow his instructions in using your knife, you should not need to wear a thumb guard at all because the relative positions of your fingers within the grip stays the same the entire time. The distance between your thumb and the blade should stay constant. Your thumb is the guide as your whole hand glides along the wood surface. NEVER keep your thumb at one spot and then draw your knife towards it with the other fingers. That is how you add unwanted color to your carving.

Good luck. Hope this helps.

meipo

[CarverRog]

Hello! First of all I'm not a fan of the plastic handled Moor knives because with the finger grip they only will let you hold the knife in one place and not all people are the same. In the classes I teach I tell the students to lower the blade angle a little or move their hand toward the blade which will allow the thumb to rest on the piece. I will post a couple of pictures tonight or tomorrow to show you how I hold my knife.

[pamopfl]

Thanks to all for the input. Perhaps I am trying to hold the knive in too upright a position. I'll keep practicing and adjusting my posture.

[CarverRog]

This is how I hold my knife.

[Hi_Ho_Sliver]

Roger, as you said, everyone is a bit different, I hold my knife like you except that I hold it up at more of an angle..it could be the picture, but looks like its getting down towards 45/50 degrees, I try to hold mine higher, Wayne Barton recommends 60 degrees if I remember right?

[Hi_Ho_Sliver]

Pamopfl...now that I look at your picture again, you are too high...you have the blade in the position to come "out" of a cut....drop the back end down some......the position you show is not only incorrect for carving, but would be very hard on the wrist and very tiring! When I started, I bought the Wayen Barton's book "Chip Carving, Techniques and Patterns" (gold color front) and followed his directions to the letter.....it was awkward at first, but I also knew, I didn't want to start any bad habits right at the first......I would recommend that to anyone starting.

[BobD]

Dennis' book, Chip Carver's Workbook is also an excellent resource.
Wayne's new book, The Complete Guide to Chip Carving is another excellent resource.

Bob Duncan
Technical Editor

[CarverRog]

You are right HI HO about the 45-50 degree angle and this is because of the ornament being only 3/16 thick I would have cut thru the back.

Yes Bob the Moor book is a very good book with great pictures of the cutting process and plenty of hints throughout the book.