Cleaning Out Corners

[Robson Valley]

Grapes! Of course. Exactly the same issue.
I'll maybe get to the nail trick later today.
Thanks.

[scooter]

RV,

Don't let this little bump in the road cause you to abandon detailed carvings altogether.

In your case, I'd be pulling out a Drake detailer. Long (1.5"), thin, flexible blade allows you to get in the smallest nooks and crannies. With a slight flick and turn of the wrist, you can pull out those pesky flakes that seem to remain plugged in to those crevices.

Since it sounds like you'll be modifying exacto blades, try bending the _very_ tip of one, creating a tiny barb that could grab the detrius and extract it.

My $0.02.

S~

[Robson Valley]

Thanks scooter, I'll try that too.

Has been a lesson: I prefer to see the tool marks and long sweeping curves.
I know that I sit at the bench for hours making hardly enough shavings to bother brushing off my clothes. (I have hall runner carpet up to the front door then up to the main house floor. That's my chip catcher.)

[Sharon of the Dell]

I just noticed this thread R.V. How about a pin vise with a small diamond burr? I've used one around the eyes of some of my wood spirits to clean them up.

[Robson Valley]

Thanks Sharon. I'll try that too. Busy time of year for me: 2 birthdays, Nutcracker Ballet to watch (which I no longer work for) and A winter solstice party, then Christmas with company, then I can get back into my shop!
119 years ago December 18, Tsaikovsky's Nutcracker Ballet went on stage for the first time.
21 years ago December 15, I began the year-long invitation to design sets, props, masks and costume parts for a Nutcracker Ballet production, illustrated by a full symphony orchestra. Did that for 10 years then carefully weaned myself off the run-away freight train.
I sat "out front" on Sunday 18th by invitation (20th anniversary) and thoroughly enjoyed the entire Ballet. Quite a ride.

[Sharon of the Dell]

I love the Nutcracker Ballet, but have yet to see it in person. Last year my daughter was fortunate enough to go see the San Francisco Ballet of the Nutcracker and brought me back the Rat King. Her and some others escorted a troop of 4 and 5 year dancers there. What an awesome experience for the kids!
I bet doing sets and costumes and all that was fun! I had 3 years of drama in high school and a semester at college. Enjoyed the back stage goings on more than the acting.Merry Christmas!

[Robson Valley]

Well, I finally got around to trying the various suggestions.
1. I had sanded the carving so I didn't want to hit a sand grain with a nice knife. Using the rainbow cedar knife that I just got from Brandant was out of the question.
2. I made up a couple of punches from common nails = they work just fine but I couldn't seem to corral all the fuzzies at the same time.
3. Like most other people, I have a couple of those "hobby knife" kits with the 47 really hard to sharpen blades. In one of the kits was a handle like a pencil with a collet on the end and, lo and behold, a 1/16" drill bit! That worked. I got the fuzzies out and left a small mark which will get some paint. Push/pull, slight rasping action which worked in other grooves. Dental pick to sweep out the grooves.

I must be a sucker for punishment, I've got an idea in my head for carved hummingbirds and it won't go away except to make them 3X or 4X life sized..