[Dan Wegiel]

Hand carved to me is by hand with no use of power tools. The only power tool I use is a chain saw to cut the piece to size if needed.

[carvedbears61]

Goody, Is to tree with a bloom a Catalpa Tree ?

[makinchips]

Just my 2 cents.

I explain it this way to my customers..."All my work is hand carved using knives, chisels and gouges. All the surfaces are left from these single edged tools. I don't do any sanding."

I say it this way just to explain the production methods I use.

I think the problem arises from the use of the word "carving" not "hand".

"I carve using single edged tools." (Chisels, gouges and knives)

"I carve using power tools (or a combination)." (Hand grinders, sanders etc.)

These two statements are both correct and more accuratley describe our method of production.

However....If you substitute the word sculpting for carving, we seperate the production method from the product.

"I sculpt using traditional carving tools."

"I sculpt using modern power tools (or hand grinders, if you will)"

Notice that the term carving describes a specific group of tools and so does grinders/sanders.

I have great respect for all you sculptors out there no matter what tools you use. But as the original question implies, clarification is necessary.

OK, thats my say....now back to the jokes.

Thanks for your time,

Joe,

Make Chips!

[torpidhummer]

Well let's see,I use both hand tools {knives,gouges,etc} and power tools,I have no interest in entering competion so I could care less about the carving rules to each his own. What ever one of these tools I use to the final ends to whatever I'm tring to carve is ok by me. Nest thing I probably hear if carving feathers,then inserting them into a bird is not natural carving. I don't want to start a controvercy but as far as I am concerned. Hate to ruffle anybodies feathers but if I ever train a monkey to do my foredom tool power carving and only then will I ever brag that I only use hand tools ( I wouldn't want to train a monkey to use knives, he might stab me},I can do that on my own.Oscar

[VAwoodcarver]

I believe HAND carving is with HAND tools. I think that everyone is over analyzing the definition. Its not the definition that i believe matters, it's what hand carved originally meant and thats using traditional HAND tools(gouges,knives,etc.) And everyone knows what someone means when they say hand tools and everyone should know what they mean when they say hand carved. Hand carving is using the muscles in your hands and arms to slide that keen(hopefully) edge through the wood and its as simple that to me..And this is not to put any power carvers down in anyway don't get me wrong. I just believe that hand carving means using ur own strength and power to sculpt..

[DiamondWillow]

Yep, they used hand tools (stones) and then someone started using power tools (mallet and gouges and knives) made out of metal and the race was on.
Gene

[Kenny_S]

Well, hmmm, I guess using my toes is out then, eh?

[torpidhummer]

I use both knives,gouges,etc and power tools, until I can train a monkey to us my foredom power carving tools, I will use both methods of hand carving. As long as I achieve the end results while using either methods so be it. However it looks like we are all going to train monkies to crank up some type of generators,do our addiction to fuel, let the games begin.
Oscar

[Larry A.]

Well, it looks a lot like the mountain laurel I had in a yard once, several years ago. Let me know how far off I am??

Originally Posted by decoycarve

Lets take the Christmas In July Thread. Last year and again this year I send out 25 roughouts from my machine. Ok, you get one.
You take it in your Hands and only using Hand tools you complete the Santa. You did not touch the Santa with a power tool. Did you hand carve the Santa? If I pick up one of my blanks and do the same thing is it Hand carved. Did the Lumber Jack fell the tree with an axe or a chainsaw? Was the block you have in your paws milled with a band saw or hand hewn?
You know it all boils down to creating a piece of art. I always say carve from your heart. Do what you feel is right. Get from Point start to point finish with whatever you enjoy. That carving, that little creation you finished was nothing more than a little seed that spent its life as a tree. It will spend eternity as your creation.

Theres a roughout from the wood of the tree that this blossom is on for the first person that names the tree.
Goody

[Larry A.]

I think it's a mountain laurel. Try once to do this, but messed up, I guess