knives/tools for shallow relief carving

[mrcharly]

I've done a bit of whittling with fruit hardwoods, and some lino-cut printmaking.

I really fancy doing some Celtic knotwork carving. I once carved a 1" oval broach and really liked it.

I prefer to work small pieces that I can hold in my hands and normally whittle with a frost mora sloyd and hook knife. Some Robert sorby palm gouges take care of deep hollows.

What tools do you suggest for shallow relief knotwork? I was thinking of a chip-carving knife (did have one but broke it) and maybe a palm chisel-bladed tool for tidying up corners.

[papasar]

Celtic knotwork is fairly easy to chipcarve but looks complicated when finished. When I display with members of my club people seem to bypass all the other types of carving and go straight to the knotwork. Just finished 15 Celtic crosses and they will be sold by word of mouth in the next 2 months.
Bill K.

[mrcharly]

So you think a good chipcarve knife is the way to go?
I can get Stubai or Two Cherries fairly easily. Previous knife was a Robert Sorby, not up to the standard of the robert sorby gouges.

[papasar]

If your going to chipcarve then you need a good knife. I have tried most of them but my favorites are Denny's (large and small) and a Notto. I have about twenty chip knives but those are my pets. Don't care for two cherries or Stubai at all. IMHO
Bill K.

[mrcharly]

I'll look for a dennys or notto. I'm not sure they are available in the UK.

I probably won't do much chipcarving, I just found the skew chipcarve knives good for cutting the knotwork shapes. I'll probably do some lettering as well, and they are suitable for that.

The Two cherries and stubai don't *look* any better than the Robert Sorby that snapped on me. Barton are available here, but at a hideous price ($70!).

[papasar]

The Denny's can be found at the "woodcraft shop" for about $23.00. I only use a chipcarving knife. Once you learn how, it is simple and fast. I cut the Celtic cross in the gallery in about 75 minutes. That includes coffee and a cigar.
Bill K.

Response was slow due to driving 15 miles and using a different PC.

[Dennis Taylor]

this post could not of come at a better time for me....I have read in a Lora Irish book, that a good chip carving knife is excellent for low relief work, and the only other tool she mentions in the book, at least so far, is a #3 and a small dogleg.....I am in the process of my 1st low relief, it is a pattern, can't recall where I got it from, of a carpenter with nails in his mouth, anyway, some of the area's are pretty tight....I have a few #3 Denny gouges, and was thinking about adding a smaller #1 1/4 or 3/8.....any sugguestions?.....I enjoy the relief work, but the tight spaces got me stuck right now....Dennis

[papasar]

Dennis,
As you read from L. Irish, a chip carving knife is great for relief carving. I use it to outline elements instead of #1 chisels and to undercut. Can't afford a series if #1's and it seems much faster for me. Mind you, I'm working in basswood or butternut on relatively small projects.
Bill K.

[mrcharly]

Brilliant shop, "woodcraft shop". I've ordered a denny, thank you for the info.

[Dennis Taylor]

My work would also be in basswood, and I am thinking about a chipcarving knife for the outline as she indicates, I have a detail knife already for any clean up....wondering if with my #3 I have now, would a dog leg be a good investment or not....you seem to use the chipcarving knife in the place of the dogleg, is that right Bill?...Dennis