I have only been carving for a few months and enjoying it very much. I have gotten conflicting advice from 2 VERY experienced carvers regarding sanding a project before the carving is complete. One says it's fine and the other says that it dulls the carving tools quickly and that I should only do that when I am done carving. ??? ??? ???

[makenchips]

Carver_Bob. Â*Everyone has thier own way of doing things but I tend to agree with the person who told you to save the sanding till after the carving. Â*The grit of the sanding paper no matter how fine always finds a way of getting into the pores of the wood and dulling the knife. Â*Unless you like sharpening your knifes that much I would hold off until you think you are done carving.

I learned the proper use of sandpaper from Harold Enlow of Dogpatch, Arkansas.
I keep my tools in a wooden cigar box with a 2x2 inch square sheet of sandpaper. This way, as my tools rattle around in the box, they sharpen themselves.

Yes, I agree it's best to wait til the carving is finished before taking sandpaper to it. If I need to use something to 'clean up' an area before the carving is finished, I'll use tiny chisels or even a riffler. Sanding just gets grit in the way of your chisels...and then you spend much more time getting your chisels sharp again and less time carving :-)

Teri

As one who often flouts convention, I will admit to using sandpaper during the carving process. Since I strop my knife and tools often during carving anyway I have never noticed any dulling.

Good whittlin, Cliff http://www.geocities.com/cliffordpar...ffsSticks.html