Swedish style engraving knives

GILLY · #1 02-03-2006, 11:08 PM

I was flipping through my "Swedish Carving Techniques" book and came across a knife that the author uses to engrave and decorate his spoons. I googled the knife, found nothing, so I went out and bought a $3.00 bastard file and made two, one large and one small. It took less than an hour on the grinder and I had the blanks done. I then polished and sharpened the two to a razor edge, and put them to use on a spoon I am working on. The first photo is the two of them with apple handles. The second is how they are held for engraving, plus you can see how small they are. Hope you like.

rick-in-seattle · #2 02-04-2006, 01:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GILLY

I googled the knife, found nothing, so I went out and bought a $3.00 bastard file and made two, one large and one small. It took less than an hour on the grinder and I had the blanks done.

Gilly, you make this knife project sound like more fun than a barrel of monkeys, but I am guessing you had one heck of a time with it; to get so riled that you resort to calling files names like that.

The company I work for is going through the "politically correct" transition.
We must refer to Bastard files as "Crosscut files" and Dikes as "Side cutters".

If we smash a finger with a hammer, you should hear the new words we are required to use; ie. Fiddle-stix, shoot, dang, Gee-Wiz, and holy-cow(this one is marginal as it may offend people who worship cows).

My favorite new cuss word I took from Homer Simpson's neighbor Ned Flanders; Diddley-darn. Sometimes when I am pressed into a corner,
I resort to the Coup de grace (pronounced Coo-da'-gra) of acceptable swear words
Diddley-Darn!-Darn!-Darn! (note the exclamation marks after each Darn) this must be used with care, as it may be deemed inappropriate in mixed company.

If you are unfamiliar with the engraving Gilly is talking about, see below.

woodcarver55555 · #3 02-04-2006, 04:07 AM

I LIKE, VERY MUCH. And where did you get this book you are talking about? Who wrote it? Thanks Duncan

Hi_Ho_Sliver · #4 02-04-2006, 08:33 AM

Isn't that called "Rosemaling"? and if so, I believe there are several tutorials about it on a google search....as for the words...aw shuck'ens....i liked dem udder wurds...err other!

Hi_Ho_Sliver · #5 02-04-2006, 08:35 AM

Gilley, from what I can see you did a good job on those files....can't believe you did them both in an hour??? Sure hope you cooled in water constantly!

GILLY · #6 02-04-2006, 08:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hi_Ho_Sliver

Gilley, from what I can see you did a good job on those files....can't believe you did them both in an hour??? Sure hope you cooled in water constantly!

I sure did......I had a can full of water and snow.......I cooled the metal constantly and only a couple of times got a bit of bluing but on the shank where it joins the handle. I had the basic blanks done in an hour, I forgot to mention that I spent a few hours on a series of Japanese waterstones to get the final shape and mirror finish with and 8000 grit polishing stone then finally alot of stopping both on the edges and flats to deepen the polish.

The book I used for this project is by Wille Sundqvist, master craftsman, teacher and author of Swedish Carving Techniques.

Hi_Ho_Sliver · #7 02-04-2006, 09:54 AM

Well I did a google search for "rosemaling" but couldn't come up with what I was looking for? Before I lost everything on my computer..."twice" I had a tutorial on what they were calling rosmaling, wood etching and they rubbed coffee grounds to darken the cuts, the cuts were very minute scratches almost? But have no idea where I saw it.......the rosemaling I get on google is all colored flower designs ...

mdallensr · #8 02-04-2006, 10:29 AM

This a good place to start for Norwegian wood crafts. I'm going to visit this place someday, just to see all the wonderful carvings they display. Their classes sound like things I'd like to learn. I have alot of the patterns they offer for acanthus style carvings. I haven't done the rosemaling(sp?) yet. I suppose that adds to my list of "when I get 'round to it". Would it be OK if I retired early so I could carve more?

http://vesterheim.org/about/index.php

GILLY · #9 02-04-2006, 07:47 PM

Well I dug deeper and found a maker for Swedish engraving knives, however, they are much more modern than the pattern I used. Here's a photo of the modernized ones with work done on a spoon.

Just Carving · #10 02-04-2006, 08:43 PM

Dave,

You're thinking of kolrosing. Here's sort of a tutorial:

http://www.pinewoodforge.com/kolrosing.html

I believe rosemaling is a general term for several different Norwegian painting styles. Here's a few links for those interested:

http://www.rhodafritsch.com/rosemaling/explanation.html
http://www.rosemaling.org/

Gilly,
I like the knives--using files....hmmm...now why didn't I think of that. Bet those files aren't 40-50 years old like mine, or my Grandfather's files that I turned into carving tools!

Rick,
Aw, fudge! Don't you just hate it when they tell you how to poop and when to tinkle?!?! LOL