Suggestion for Authors

Capt. Bandaid · #1 02-03-2007, 02:21 PM

I would like to suggest to the authors who provide books and articles: START with the blanking cut out illustration. I have seen so many great carving ideas I could not try because I just could not quite figure out how to cut out the blanks!

Thanks!!!

mdallensr · #2 02-03-2007, 04:34 PM

Good point, Cap'n. We've had a lot of questions from newbies that start "how do I cut out the blank?" It may seem second nature, but if you've never done it, lack the tools, and don't know how to use shop tools, you could wander in the desert for 40 years and nver get started. I hate to see new carvers lose interest because they don't know where to start, use dull tools, or try to carve bad wood. Mike

Callynne · #3 02-06-2007, 08:35 AM

I agree also, one thing that should never be taken for granted is that someone 'knows' the first steps. When I started carving I knew nothing and wanted to see each step in detail.....great detail. I love the 'ahhhhh' moments, when total confusion gives way to understanding. Thanks to all the good teachers out there, both in book and here on the message board, that have given me so many of those moments!

Deborah

Irish · #4 02-07-2007, 05:13 PM

Hey Capt Bandaid,

I read this posting several days ago and considered going down to the studio to cut out a rough or two to show you ....

HOWEVER, yesterdays high here was 7 degrees and as much as I care about you guys ... well, there just ain't no way.

So if I can suggest the way my Dad taught me to cut blanks was using masking tape. Start with sometime simple like a fish decoy.

Trace the pattern to all sides. Once to the top and bottom sides and once to the left and right sides. All four sides should have a pattern. Go over that pattern with sharpie ... some type of dark marker so that you can easily see the guide lines.

Cut one side on the band saw. Keep the pieces! Pick them up and use masking tape to secure them back onto the blank.

Cut the next side ... keep the pieces ... tape them back into place. Do this again and then do it one more time.

OK ... by taping the cut off pieces back the blank remains square or rectangular making the cutting process easier. Went the tape gets a little too thick I remove it and retape for safety.

When the four sides are cut I can either go to my scroll saw to cut out the little areas or grab my coping saw, moving the blank to a vice for those little extras.

Hope this makes sense, hope this helps and hope the weather gets warm enough to brave the carving shop.

Susan

Standard Disclaimer: Take what you want and throw the rest away.

Hi_Ho_Sliver · #5 02-07-2007, 05:51 PM

only difference I see is that I use double sided sticky tape and I only cut 2 sides....not sure how or why you would cut 4 sides?

Irish · #6 02-07-2007, 06:19 PM

Maybe I didn't put it into a word picture well, Dave! I have been known to stumble over my own explainations before ....

Cutting a little 3-d dude.

Side one would be the cut on the front - forehead, nose, belly side.

Side two would be his back side and bottom.

Side three would be down on side from say his left ear, down his shoulder to his hips.

Side four down the other side, right side ear, right shoulder, right hip.

Four sides!

Susan

Hi_Ho_Sliver · #7 02-07-2007, 08:27 PM

OK

, never have seen them done that way, but doesn't mean it couldn't or wouldn't be alright.

Colin_Partridge · #8 02-08-2007, 10:16 AM

On my post from carving from the right side of the brain I talked briefly about two dimentional carving. I can see when cutting a rough out how it could be done cutting four sides. When I was out in Campbell River last year my friend told me of the two dimentional method. Now we are talking about very large carvings some as tall as 10 feet. What he does is takes a picture of what he wants to carve and enlarges it to the size he wants by projecting it onto a piece of cardboard. He does this from the front and the sides. Then he puts it up against the log and draws on his out line front and side. Then he takes a chain saw and blocks it out. I have included here a couple of pictures of his carvings his name is Jerry Streiloff. He always tells me if you can draw it you can carve it. Not sure what this has to offer to most of you but I found it interesting.
Colin

mdallensr · #9 02-09-2007, 10:23 PM

If you leave extra wood at the end(s) of the blank, you don't have to cut all the way through and remove the waste. I do that with my spoon blanks. The extra wood at the end (that you don't cut all of the way through) keeps the waste pieces intact (with your pattern) and you don't have to tape them back on to cut the other dimensions. When you make the last cut, you let the waste fall away, and then go the ends with the extra wood, cut it off, which releases the other waste pieces. After reading the aforementioned dirvel, I doubt anyone of sound mind has any idea what I was trying to say. Good luck.. Mike

Capt. Bandaid · #10 02-10-2007, 04:18 PM

Thanks for the suggestions! I have tried the tape and cut method and found that it works well most of the time. I think my problems may be in that I try to cut the pattern too close to the finished shape. Of course, my POS Craftsman 13" x 3 wheel band saw does not help. Fortunately, I can no longer find sawblades for it (odd length for 3 wheels) and I will have to buy a new one!!! For some reason, it never dawned on me to rough it out then make some final cuts by hand. I guess I am too anxious to get at the fun part!