[Dan S]

Hello all,
I just joined the forum and I'm hoping for a bit of shared wisdom. There are few if any carvers in my area and it seems that the local carving club died some time ago. I rather hope those of you with experience can help. There are just a few things I can't seem to get a grip on. The largest seems to be time. It seems that any time I want to carve there are a thousand other things on my to do list. It's a bit frustrating. How does every one else manage?
My other questions relate to sharpening systems. I really like my water stones but again, time is a big factor. I need to find something for touching up my chisels and knives. I'm thinking of building my own out of a couple of pillow blocks and a motor. (time permitting) I really like to keep things simple so I don't want something with a lot of parts.
Lastly I need the name of a really good knife maker. I tend to carve found wood so I need a knife that is harder then most. Generally I make my own out of old planer blades but again, time is a factor. Any help would be appreciated more then you know,

Dan Slater
Las Vegas Nevada

[Mottles]

WELCOME, Dan
Can't help you with the finding time part as for me I just have to make time. Not always successful though LOL
As for a good knife maker www.littleshavers.com makes custom carving knives and standard carving knives. There are others out there too I believe www.dockyard.com is another. You can also find them on various carving sites www.mid.com , www.treeline.com , http://www.thewoodcraftshop.com , http://www.texaswoodcarvers.com/ , http://sugarpinewoodcarving.com/ I know others will add to this list, but take a look and see if there is anything that fits the bill.
Kathy

[kitaye]

Dan, my solution to time is simple.I carve while sitting in front of the TV for an hour or two before I go to bed. I carve small easily picked up and put down stuff. Now my painting box, on the other hand, is beginning to overflow with stuff that needs completing.

[Eddy Smiles]

Dan.... I had a boss once who explained to me that whether folks paid his bill on time or at all was based on perception of worth. I think that finding time to carve is a very closely related concept. It all depends on what the value of carving is to you, not necessarily in real dollars, but in pleasure, stress reduction, peace, solitude....etc... Like Kitaye I carve in my Den after my wife has gone to bed... I carve at the doctor's or dentist's office waiting on my wife... I carve at Goodyear while waiting on my truck to be serviced... I carve just about anywhere, anytime because it really helps ground me and settles me down, not to mention the pleasure that I get from watching the faces of those that I give my work to. And also like Kitaye my project painting list overflows!

As for sharpening I was and still am an advocate of diamond hones and hand stropping. They're fast and it's a very reliable method but this past month my mentor introduced me to a power strop and made a believer out of me. He makes his own out of thick cardboard cut into 6" diameter wheels and laminted together until they are about an 1" thick but he suggested that I get myself a hard 6" felt wheel for my grinder which I'm in the process of looking into. Once you get an edge on a blade apply some compound to the the power strop it very quickly puts the finishing touches on on the blade.

[Dan S]

Thanks for the replies,
I spent most of Sunday carving and now am more at peace with the world. Lord, I can't wait to retire.
I purchased a very old bench grinder this past weekend. I plan to put a paper wheel on it to do final touch ups. The system looks to be cheap and from what I've read, it works well. I hope this will cover what I want to do. I'm really fond of my water stones but I need something to touch up an edge in a hurry.
Has anyone tried knives made by cape forge? They look nice and I thought I might try one.

Take care,
Dan

[mdallensr]

Dan, re. finding time to carve, it really helps to make a space dedicated to carving so you can get right into without a big production. If you have a spot all set up, you can go to it, carve for a half hour, hour, or longer without thinking how much time and effort it takes just to get started. Have a couple of projects ready to work on, your tools ready and sharp, then grab that piece of available time and carve. Mike

[Dan S]

I do have a nice place to carve. My workshop is really rather nice and will be better when I get time to build my new benches. I just get frustrated when the projects pile up and the time to complete them gets scarce. Once I get the 14 items off my to do list I'm making a strict policy that there will be no more then three items on my list.

[squbrigg]

Welcome aboard Dan. Carving is a great way to relax and unburden the mind of day to day worries and stresses. Many find it therapudic, as I do. Time for carving can be found in most days, if you really want to, it's all a matter of priorities. The nice thing about carving is that you can do it anywhere, any time and for as little or as long as you want. I have a shop for carving, but carve often in the car, (waiting), or in malls (also waiting), waiting rooms (waiting again), on the deck, or in front of the TV. Sharpening is something you only need to do once, unless you damage a blade, and your stones should deal with it nicely. So take your time and learn to do it properly. Stropping can be done regurlarly and should be, and there are lots of strops available or it is just as easy to make your own. Stropping compounds will last for years, and most are similar and work well.

Enjoy carving, take your time and practice, practice, practice.

Bob

[torpidhummer]

Welcome aboard Dan. My meaning of Frustrated is loss of Control and some Blood from all the cut fingers I have had by being frustrated and out of control. So all can say is control your carving time and learn as most of us that llive in areas where no fellow carvers exist,use your computer, be open minded and ask questions buy carving books, DVDs and just go for it.
Good luck.
Torpididhummer
aka Oscar

[Dan S]

Thanks for the tips, I'm a bit confused however. I thoiught bleeding on a project was the best way to sign it:-) They cant forge DNA!

Dan