[doris]

i dont know if this is the right place to post this question, but ,,,

i ran into a problem with holding my new carving. i am doing a full figure, standing upright, and i had planned to hold it by letting a platform under the feet, and fix it to the table with 2 clamps pressing this platform down. when the carving is finished i wanted saw this off. so far, i had the piece lying on its back, so to say, but now i wanted stand it up to be able to carve on the sides and back, and also to better see what i am doing ... BUT, though the clamps hold the wood securely, it is trembling like mad when i hit the chisel with mallet.

my question : is that normal and i have to learn to carve this way, or is my way of fixing the carving wrong ? and if so, how can i fix it in upright position correctly ?

[squbrigg]

How big/small is the piece, and the platform you have mounted it on? And , what is it clamped to?

The idea being , the bench must be steady and stable first. Then the platform heavy enough to support the piece and wide enough to secure it properly. Last, the piece needs to be mounted on the platform securly. Any one of these can cause movement when you are carving.

There are several ways to secure the piece to your bench, other than clamps too.

Bob

[doris]

oh.. thanks for reply, bob.. ..seems i made lots of mistakes...the carving is a little more than 30 cm high, the platform is 15cm wide and 6.5cm deep, and it is one piece still with the carving, i just sawed more wood off than needed for the figure. the desk, it is not bench, just my desk i use for everything else too. it works with carving lying flat though, since i have put it into corner of room, so it cannot move when i carve.

what ways other are there to secure carving on bench than clamps ? and do these hold more fixed ?...
maybe my platform is too small, how can i fix a bigger one underneath (i have no machinerie, so it needs be a solution i can do with handtools) ? would this white wood glue be strong enough to fix a new platform underneath ?

[Fred Zavadil]

Hello Doris,
I seems that your table is not secured well enough.
When I carve figures, I screw a piece of plywood to the base of the carving and then screw the plywood to my stand; I have several of them - different heights and sizes and change them according to the need. I also screw my stand to the floor to make it stable and secure - well, it sounds like a lot of screwing but it works well for me. No need for clumps, enough room to move around and for sure I do not have to worry about hitting the wood.
Fred

[sitesby]

Doris,
First thanks for the link to your site. You're carvings are very good, and I also was able to see you desk you use for carving.
I would recommend that you use something like the "poor man's carving vise" see http://www.woodcarvingillustrated.com/articles2004/poormancontest/poormancontestpg1.htm

Also I have a modified verson on my site http://http://woodcarving.sitesby.com/carvingvise.html

The vise can be clamped to your desk and is portable. There are other vises avaiable on the comercial market such as The Jerry Rig that comes in at a higher price.
I often use it on picnic tables when camping or cooking out in the back yard, and is a stable as what it is clamped too.

Good Luck,
Jerry
http://woodcarving.sitesby.com

[Fred Zavadil]

Doris,
Sorry, I have just found your second post - when I was replying there was only your first post, did not know you are working on a desk. My reply does not help you much, sorry again.
Fred

[doris]

thank you both. ... at some point i really need make me a desk, or table or whatever just for carving. i like the small ones you showed fred... but for now, it has to go with this desk. i checked the stability, it is pretty good. the desk is not the problem, but the platform is too small. now that bob has explained that point i made some tests and see my platform is not deep enough. the carving is stable when hit from side, but not when hit from front or back... so i need put another platform... i tried, but for the hell, i cant get a big screw into the wood. i feel odd to ask that, but how do you put a big screw into wood ? i can rotate the screwdriver atmost once, and then i am stuck, the screw just a tiny bit into the wood. sigh... sorry for stupid questions... but please help

[Doug Ridley]

Drill a pilot hole a little smaller than your screw and then drive the screw .

[doris]

oh, yes i try that..thanks !!

[Doug Ridley]

Doris make your pilot bit the same size as the shank of the screw or even slightly smaller and if it is still too hard put a little beeswax or even soap on the screw.
Doug