Author Archives: Dave Fisher

Adze Owner’s Manual

Posted on January 17, 2025 by Dave Fisher

This idea was sparked a few months ago when I restored an adze. The owner wanted a new handle and some edge reshaping. The head was made by Hans Karlsson. The owner purchased it a couple decades ago from Country … Continue reading →

Posted in adze, classes, publications, sketch, tools, Uncategorized, writing | Tagged , , , , , | 32 Comments

Savoring Snow and Announcing a Spring Opening

Posted on January 15, 2025 by Dave Fisher

We’re actually having a winter this year. No grass in sight for weeks, and that’s fine with me. I like how it transforms everything. We walk familiar trails with fresh eyes. Snow seems to defy gravity. Even around the camp … Continue reading →

Posted in classes, nature, Uncategorized | Tagged | 1 Comment

First bowl of 2025

Posted on January 2, 2025 by Dave Fisher

This is the bowl I was carving in a post in early November. It was nice to carve 2025 on the foot. 4s aren’t as interesting to carve. I decided to do a small painted scene on the foot of … Continue reading →

Posted in paint, trees, Uncategorized, walnut | Tagged | 7 Comments

A Little Sip to Bring in the New Year

Posted on December 31, 2024 by Dave Fisher

I just finished this little cherry whiskey cup (or kuksa or whatever you want to call it) requested by a friend. It holds about four ounces, more than enough to toast the new year. After making some big bowls recently, … Continue reading →

Posted in bowls, cherry, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | 24 Comments

Fresh December Snow

Posted on December 22, 2024 by Dave Fisher

The perfect surface goneCriss-crossed and written onWhere the wild creatures rangedWhile the moon rose and shone. May Sarton, “December Moon” from Coming Into Eighty Looks like it will be a white Christmas here this year. The bird tracks in the … Continue reading →

Posted in nature, quotes and excerpts, Uncategorized | Tagged , | 7 Comments

Finishing the Big Round Walnut Bowl

Posted on December 4, 2024 by Dave Fisher

About a month ago I wrote a post about laying out this walnut bowl to account for the shrinking that would come with drying. Well, I got lucky and it dried pretty close to a circle, but there was still … Continue reading →

Posted in bowls, finishing/oiling, layout, Uncategorized, walnut | Tagged , , | 26 Comments

Bowl from a Plank in FWW Issue #315

Posted on November 30, 2024 by Dave Fisher

Back in February, Jon Binzen came to my shop and shot photos as I carved a bowl from a board. It will all be in the next issue (#315) of Fine Woodworking magazine, which should go out in a week … Continue reading →

Posted in publications, Uncategorized, writing | Tagged , | 6 Comments

Ambrosia Maple Bowl — Butterflies Included

Posted on November 14, 2024 by Dave Fisher

I should take my own advice. I tell people to be careful to look for the tiniest checks in the end grain of a log because they will open up as the bowl dries. If a log section has been … Continue reading →

Posted in bowls, figure, finding wood, patterns, trees, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 14 Comments

Fall Fluttering

Posted on November 13, 2024 by Dave Fisher

My workshop is our attached garage at one end of the house. While it’s not an idyllic cabin-shop among the trees, I did get pretty lucky that there is a grove of quaking aspens just outside one window. For much … Continue reading →

Posted in nature, quotes and excerpts, sketch, trees, Uncategorized, video, writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 22 Comments

Carving the Hollow: A Trick and Some Video Clips

Posted on November 5, 2024 by Dave Fisher

Sometimes, after you’ve hogged away most of the wood and the hollow is nearing the final shape, your hands and eyes tell you that one end/side of the bowl has a steeper slope than the other. Your hands and eyes … Continue reading →

Posted in adze, carving, holding, layout, tools, Uncategorized, video | Tagged , , , , , | 7 Comments