How Is One Of The Best ~ Letter Carvers ?

[schooner]

Hi Guys

I'm interested in learn' how to crave LETTERS; like in SIGN CARVING.


Question(s) Please:

1- Who of all the Letter Sign Carvers is one of the BEST ?


2 - Maybe you can name a few that I might get thier books or videos.


I'm still a newbie to this wonderful art of wood carving.


Thanks Guys

GOD BLESS

[davidinsarasota]

Chris Pye

Amazon.com: Lettercarving in Wood: A Practical Course: Chris Pye: Books

[arapsang]

Hello Schooner,
Its good to hear from another would-be letter cutter. You'll find great encouragement and advice on this forum. If I were starting again I would read everything I could lay my hands on about letter carving. Chris Pye in the UK is an obvious choice as are Sam Bush and Roger Schroeder in the US. Be critical and take what is relevant to you. Remember that rules are for the guidance of the wise and the absolute obedience of fools. Before you start carving, sort out your spellings. If you can, get someone to proof-read your work. Then sort out your layout choosing an appropriate font, bearing in mind that most fonts were intended to be written rather than carved and some woods dont carry small detail well. If you are carving a sign will it be exposed to the weather? Will this govern your choice of wood? Finally keep asking questions. All the carvers I know are keen to pass whatever knowledge they have gained on to the next generation.

Best Wishes

Peter Connor

[RUssL.]

Chris Pye also has a DVD that helps where reading and photographs leave off.

There are also a couple of other DVDs/videos on letter carving out there.
Nora Hall has one, and her methods are dramatically different than Chris Pye's.
Wayne Barton's chip carving DVD also has a section on letter carving with chip carving tools.
Taunton Press also has a video with Sam Bush & Mack Headley called "Carving Techniques and Projects" that 1/2 of which is about carving letters...and offers a thirds perspective and how to do it.

I find carving letters very satisfying and have been doing it for my own enjoyment for almost two years, making signs for friends and family. I got started with Chris' book.

If you're thinking of doing it commercially you'd probably be better served to learn how to do it with a router, at least in part. I think that most commercial letter/sign making is done with a router...

Lastly, just grab some wood and a set of tools and have at it.
Each letter & each sign gets better and better.

Start with a simple set of initials and/or some of Chris' excercises from his book.

Good luck.
It's all practice, practice, practice...
and time.

All the best,

Russ

[schooner]

Hi Arapsang

Fistly, Thank you 4 such sound advise Peter.

I use to be in the art field as a Commerical Artist. Of course I've been out of the field sometime. However, I've always kept my hand in with: Water Coloring/Fine Line Illustrations etc,etc up to the present time.

So I'm pretty familier with fonts but still willing to listen and learn from guys like you Peter.

I just really got into carving with a bunch of ol' young guys in my neighborhood. Actually, right around the corner from my hse. here in Vegas.
We get together on Saturdays in each others gargages and carve/talk/kid around. So I've been carving only about 2 mos.now and really like it.

Some of the guys are so good you can call 'me Professional Carvers boy are they good.

Now about Carving Letter In Wood I ordered the book from ebay used and a good price. Man, Peter with Gold Leafing and cutting those letters, is something else.

So I'm a type of guy who asks lots of questions and then I try. And I keep on trying till I'm satified and 4 me to be please with my art take a lot of doing.
I'm my own very tough task master.

Again Peter THANK YOU so much 4 your reply.

Oh, Peter let me ask you something about this letter carving knike that in the booK " CARVING SIGNS " It mention and shows a picture of this knife called ' THE MILL KNIFE '

I google is and came-up with nothing. The knife is BIG with from what I remember a 37 degree staight on the blade and one carves with the blade dowm; like GOD forbid someone stabbing someone.

Do you know the right name of this letter carving tool ?

Take Care Peter
GOD BLESS

Ray

a.k.a. Schooner

QUOTE: The more i surrender the more i win :-)

Originally Posted by arapsang

Hello Schooner,
Its good to hear from another would-be letter cutter. You'll find great encouragement and advice on this forum. If I were starting again I would read everything I could lay my hands on about letter carving. Chris Pye in the UK is an obvious choice as are Sam Bush and Roger Schroeder in the US. Be critical and take what is relevant to you. Remember that rules are for the guidance of the wise and the absolute obedience of fools. Before you start carving, sort out your spellings. If you can, get someone to proof-read your work. Then sort out your layout choosing an appropriate font, bearing in mind that most fonts were intended to be written rather than carved and some woods dont carry small detail well. If you are carving a sign will it be exposed to the weather? Will this govern your choice of wood? Finally keep asking questions. All the carvers I know are keen to pass whatever knowledge they have gained on to the next generation.

Best Wishes

Peter Connor

[arapsang]

Hi, Ray, I'm sorry I can't help you with the knife. I use good, fashioned carving tools to make my signs. I see that Paul McCarthy in 'Fine Woodworking On Carving' uses a Murphy knife and seems to do OK with that. It seems to me that knives are a lot more common in the US that here so I'm sure you'll get the information you need closer to home.

Don't worry too much about gilding. Cut your letters first then worry about the finish. Ive only ever gilded one piece of work since I started. Most people are happy to let the wood speak for itself. When you cut letters you expose the 'endgrain' and whatever finish you apply to the wood darkens this and makes it more prominent. The attached signboard show it better than I can describe it.

All the best

Peter

[papasar]

Ray,
I bought a "mill knife" as recommended in the Krochter/Schroeder book and never used it. Ended up chip carving my signs.
I bought it by catalog from Highland Hardware.
Greg Krochter demoed at my carving club and made using the knife look easy.
Had a laugh with two other members of club who also bought the knife and never used it.
Bill K.