Does "hand carved" imply hand tools?

Kenny_S · #**131** 10-07-2008, 07:18 PM

Mike go to Grizzly.com -- Home and meet Grizzly. You will enjoy the site!

Have to stop at Grizzly most ever time I go through Springfield Mo. Even the little bride enjoys the place.

dnstehly · #**132** 10-12-2008, 02:09 PM

Thirty years ago, when I first began to show my work, the pictured sign was made for me as a gift. A year or two later I bought my first flexible shaft tool. I said to an old time carving friend, "I guess I'll have to get a new sign." His response was, "You show me a flexible shaft tool that carves without you having your hands on it and I'll make a new sign for you." The original sign still hangs over my display at every show.

K Karver · #**133** 10-12-2008, 10:08 PM

Didn't have time to read 131 comments. This may already be in the thread. Does cutting the tree down with power DQ anyone from hand carved work? Cutting into boards? Transporting it to your place? Where is the line? John K Karver

arbarnhart · #**134** 10-13-2008, 12:21 PM

OMG - what have I done? I started this thread over 2 years ago commiserating over the decision of whether or not to call the carved body instruments I make "hand carved" or not. It has come up so infrequently I do the long winded explanation ("some power tools, but all hand operated").

Keoma · #**135** 10-13-2008, 12:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dnstehly

Thirty years ago, when I first began to show my work, the pictured sign was made for me as a gift. A year or two later I bought my first flexible shaft tool. I said to an old time carving friend, "I guess I'll have to get a new sign." His response was, "You show me a flexible shaft tool that carves without you having your hands on it and I'll make a new sign for you." The original sign still hangs over my display at every show.

Amen to your friend!!! (((Applaudes)))

vacation212 · #**136** 10-13-2008, 12:43 PM

Hand carved is hand carved nothing to do with power

Keoma · #**137** 10-13-2008, 01:18 PM

As K Karver mentioned, all the wood that is readily available to carvers, has been machined. It was felled with a tool, it was milled with a tool, hauled with a tool,sanded with a tool, trimmed with a tool...all of these tools being power tools.
I think that by the time it gets to mass market for someone to grab it up and hand carve it is great. But some respect must go to the power tools that made it ready for you. If it was felled with an axe, trimmed with a hand saw, sanded by hand...good gawd...could you imagine the price?! I daresay there would no bargain bins of basswood on ebay anymore

mateo · #**138** 10-21-2008, 05:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by arbarnhart

OMG - what have I done? I started this thread over 2 years ago commiserating over the decision of whether or not to call the carved body instruments I make "hand carved" or not. It has come up so infrequently I do the long winded explanation ("some power tools, but all hand operated").

OMG, indeed Andy. I hope this teaches you to be more responsible with your matches and gasoline.

Matt

Carver/Turner_FromNowhere · #**139** 10-21-2008, 05:27 PM

Hey I thought I had already posted in this poll, well I if ya carve with power tools ya should at least say it's "hand carved (and then in fine print in the far corner) with power". I don't own any power carving tools yet, not sure if I would even like em, I can remove wood just as fast. A good friend of mine had a challange with me once carving out the back or a bark house, he used a foredom with a super carbide kutzall the green and orange ones and I used a spoon bit gouge and a 3/4" #8 gouge.
Carl

rales · #**140** 11-17-2008, 05:16 PM

Sorry guys to open this again - couldn't resist! Btw - first post in a long time - I hope to be more active in the future.

Thought you might want the perspective of a commercial sign carver on what "hand carved" implies in our industry. When submitting designs to a customer and I state "hand carved" - it refers first to the look of the piece and how it is accomplished is secondary. I do a lot of antiqued pieces that look like they could have been done 100 years ago... that is my niche. I compete against all the CNC crud out there. I stress that there will be tool marks and the paint/gold will be antiqued. If they want a slick look that is obviously machine carved I'll refer them to someone that can spit them out without looking away from their computer screen.

That said, I am not averse to using power tools - I use bandsaws, scroll saws and routers to remove background material - but every visible plane after that is hand cut with hand tools - it looks better and it really begs to be touched by other hands. Great concept!

When doing multiple pieces I get into resin castings as well. I make sure that the customer knows and agrees that the original is carved and the rest will be resin cast. This helps tremendously with the total cost and with the antiquing of the paint they will all look a little different anyway.

Designs: I make sure the customer owns or has permission to use all logos and artwork used on the pieces. If it is my design, I copyright it and the customer has no rights to use that design in any other manner without my permission. Yes - I will sneak my name in somewhere innocuous if I'm really proud of a particular piece. I think it is great that the the original carvers are recognized for their designs when others "hand carve" their roughouts.

So my definition of hand carved is summed up by - is this one of a kind or are there 20 more of these out there? CNC and duplicators are obviously out but I would contend that power carving and even a hand held (no templates!) routed camp sign is hand carved because your hands and skills are moving that power tool...

peace - rales