Table? Clamp?

[Seth]

Hi! I am brand new here. I have done a number of carvings in the past, but now due to limited space I am trying to figure out how to keep carving without a dedicated work area.

Do you manage to complete flat plane carvings without a table and clamp? Are these traditionally done just with a knife and holding in a hand while sitting down?

Thanks for your help in advance!

[doris]

hi seth, the first time i had no dedicated carving place either, but still you can put a clamp at every table to secure your carving, even if you carve just at a kitchen table... if you got already the good habit of clamping your work, i would not recommend to leave it...once you hold your carvings in hand, the holding hand will get cut , sooner or later, even if you wear glove...and, you will notice a loss of control over your tool and it seems be less sharp when holding the carving in hand...see, many disadvantages of holding a carving in hand... welcome to wci :-)

[BobD]

Most of the flat plane style carvers, such as Joel Hull, Harley Refsal, Gene Messer, etc. all hand hold. If you plan to hand hold, GET A GLOVE. Let me repeat that: GET A CARVING GLOVE!

I sometimes hand hold (I don't do flat-plane carvings) but I can honestly say that I have NEVER been cut while wearing a glove. If I don't wear a glove, I get cut about 50% of the time.

Most flat-plane carvers use knives, which is why the gloves work so well. Gloves protect against a slashing cut, but can let a piercing cut (like a stab from a gouge) through. They will slow the stab cuts down, though.

Bob Duncan
Technical Editor

[kayapee]

Hi Seth,

I do my carvings sitting in a chair, holding the wood in front of me (no clamps). I have a small desk I made from plywood and 2xs in the corner of my bedroom for use as a painting surface and tool "holder." I use a few basic tools (razor knife/box cutter for rough out and medium detail, 1.75" carving knife and a couple Dockyard micro tools for finer detail, small bench strop (used while carving), carving glove and thumb guard and vacuum cleaner for cleaning the carpet of wood chips. Additionally, I use my basement workbench to hone/strop between carvings. Of course if the weather permits carving outside on my deck step is my favorite.

I have only been carving since February, but find my limited area more than sufficient for the kind of carvings I do - 2" to 6" height range. A clamp seems like too much trouble and probably not applicable for what I typically like to carve.

I would suggest Gene Messer’s videos on Youtube if you want to see the flat plane style done by a pro with as little fuss as possible.

Ken

[BobD]

Or check out a few of Gene's videos here:
Woodcarving Illustrated - Video

Bob

[Robert Cahill]

If you can get a copy of Harley Refsal dvd he not only shows flat plane carving but how he holds the carving as well.

[urbansheepdog]

Hi Seth and welcome to WCI. The guys here are great and really helpful!
I'm pretty much the same as Kaypee (Ken), sitting in a chair with a glove. Today I slipped twice with the knife which would have resulted in cuts, so the glove is a must, I'd say!
My figures are just over 3" so I hand hold the piece, which also means you can carve it anywhere, indoors or out.
Gene's videos are brilliant and really easy to follow. If you view them on Youtube you can click the 'full-screen' button which makes it better for viewing!
Best of luck mate, Simon

[Ron T]

Hello and welcome, Seth. It's nice to have you here with us. Lots of us carve outside at a table or inside on our laps in an easy chair. Do a search on lapboards.

[Seth]

Thank you very much for the informative responses. I will be sure to keep my glove on!

[Joggernot]

Try this...

Trying to find: clamp-on, swivel head carving vise

I carve outside on a porch swing or lawn chair. For larger work I had the screw-on clamp for a table (picnic) that I use.

Joggernot