Fine detail

[Nick77]

Do anyone use a mallet and hand tools to do fine detail? I was looking into doing so but wasn't sure which hand tools to get started with. Any suggested websites?

Nick,

[Schaef]

I do, it's one of my favorite things. I started out as a mallet carver before learning the big machines. I buy mine at Woodworking Plans & Tools | Fine Woodworking Project & Supplies at Woodcraft , but there are plenty of sources. Only buy the best! I use Pfeil, Henry Taylor, some Addis. And then learn to sharpen them! Cheap tools and dull tools will leave you discouraged. Avoid the Chinese Sh** on eBay, you'll hate carving afterward and put them back up for the next poor guy to buy. You get what you pay for.
One thing to think about: Chainsaw carvings are large, and shiny carved wood looks entirely different than chainsawed, burned and sanded wood. You have to decide to fine detail only where you want to highlight (like a facial expression), or put a moderate level of fine carving over the entire work, or use the chainsaw for blocking, then doing the entire piece in fine detail. Your eye will tell you.

[twoclones]

Rarely. I like carving with mallet tools and own a large set of Dastra but at most, I 'may' use a knife to detail the eyes. It's more of a "one or the other" thing with me. Nothing at all against hand carving.

[Donsexton]

I use gouges and V tools for facel detail claws ears and so on. Lets say you want the 6' eagle you just carved holding a fish in its talons fish scales are better done with hand tools. I use Henry Taylor and some days I just dont want to hear a saw or grinder run I will use a 2" fish tail #7 sweep gouge with a 32oz mallet. Not as fast as the saw but no slouch at wasting wood.