Adze Adjustments

Posted on March 10, 2018 by Dave Fisher

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I’ve been getting a lot of good questions from people that, unable to find a good bowl adze, wish to make the most out of a less-than-ideal adze or refurbish an antique adze head.  I’ve written about adzes in several posts, but I thought it would be helpful to pull some ideas together here in this post.  With that in mind, I sketched some ideas above based on the first adze I bought over fifteen years ago, made by Pfeil, that I’ve reworked.

Here are some references that might also help if you’re looking to adjust or tune your adze:

  • Although one adze is versatile enough to many different things, there is no one perfect adze head shape, inner/outer bevel relationship, or set of angles.  Having a general understanding of how adze geometry and bevels work allows you to determine what will work best for you.  Although far from comprehensive, This post should help, and there is a lot of good information in the comment section as well.
  • In the sketch above, I have a simple diagram on grinding a new bevel.  It can involve a lot of work, which requires patience and frequent cooling of the edge.  To grind the outer bevel, I would essentially use the same technique for grinding a gouge bevel described in this post.  And once the grinding is done, this post shows how I go about honing the edge of an adze.
  • Some more good news:  Blacksmith Jason Lonon plans to focus on lots of adze production this year, so hang in there.
  • There’s other stuff about adzes on the blog here.  Check under the “adze” category to the right.

 

 

Posted in adze, sharpening, tools, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | 8 Comments

Three Minute Bowl

Posted on February 28, 2018 by Dave Fisher

Ben Strano at Fine Woodworking just posted a video condensing my FWW bowlcarving video into three minutes, so if you want it in a nutshell here it is: http://www.finewoodworking.com/2018/02/27/dave-fisher-carves-greenwood-bowl-3-minutes

Less than two months until the Fine Woodworking Live event in Southbridge, Mass.  I’ll have the axe and adze swinging in a couple demonstrations, and I’ll probably have a chance to throw the drawknife in there as well.  But I’ll start off assisting Peter Follansbee in a hands-on spoon carving class.  I’m really looking forward to catching up with Peter again.  They don’t make ’em any better.  If you haven’t seen his blog post today featuring a beautiful video by Jögge Sundqvist, check it out here.  Pure poetic inspiration as only Jögge can deliver.

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They’ll be together again at Greenwood Fest in June.

 

 

Posted in events, sketch, Uncategorized, video | 11 Comments

Putting the Wood in the Driver’s Seat

Posted on February 26, 2018 by Dave Fisher

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One of the things I enjoy most about greenwood carving is the challenge of making the most out of the wood that becomes available.  The individual characteristics of the log or branch drive the design, while I navigate among the possible directions and destinations.

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Even for pieces that don’t require a special crook or bend, the position of the growth rings and the shape of the log enter the equation.  This big walnut bowl (20 inches long, 13 inches wide, and almost 7 inches high) I just finished is a good example.  I don’t come across ideal logs for that design every day; a very big clear one with nice regular features.

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Once I’ve busted up a log for a bowl blank, I often try to get other usable blanks within the log roughed out for drying as well.  Then they can be set aside for as long as it takes to get back to them for the after-drying carving stages.  A lot easier than storing a wet log in some ways, and it eliminates any storage time constraints altogether.  The bowl above is one of the walnut ones waiting in the wings.

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Normally, I make spoons from crooks, but with a deadline that was looming and no crooks handy, I used this straight-grained radially-split cherry blank, adapting the design to the attributes of the wood.

 

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Here’s the handle after carving some lettering.

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Then some great crooks in cherry and maple came my way.  Crooks allow for different curves and thicknesses, while still maintaining strength following the fibers.

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These three still need a little work and oil.  Some even bigger crooks are outside in bags waiting to be bird bowls.  With spring around the corner, I can hear them singing.

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Some pieces of tree get me thinking about shrink pots.  I get them hollowed out, and a bottom fitted, then I can get back to them eventually after drying.  More on these and others down the road.

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Tulip poplar or the tulip tree (Liriodendron tulipifera) is a very traditional wood for bowl carving, and it’s not uncommon in my neck of the woods.  Somehow, I don’t think I’ve made a single bowl out of it until now.  I guess I wasn’t seeking it out much if cherry and other woods were available, but I was pleasantly surprised when I dug into this tulip tree log.

In board-form, some of the best characteristics of this species are lost, I think.  It grows at a rapid rate, thus the widely spaced distinct growth rings that stand out purplish against the creamy light green in between.   For better or worse, this distinction will mellow to an extent over time.

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The strong pattern of the growth rings in this log was just one thing to consider.  It was from the butt of the tree, so the lower end of the log flared out more widely as it transitioned into the root buttress.  Going with the flow, I decided on an asymmetrical bowl with one broader, taller, and steeper end.

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Roughed out for now, and I’ll return to it some day after drying.  Anyone got a shovel?

Posted in bowls, carving, drying, finding wood, Lettering, spoons, trees, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | 17 Comments

Revisiting the Ale Duck

Posted on February 14, 2018 by Dave Fisher

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It had been a while since I carved an ale bowl, so it was fun to make another recently, in this case an ale duck.  I’ve written several posts about ale bowls, including some that go into my carving process, but  this one inspired a couple more thoughts about making these things.

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The form is complex enough that I still have to think about how it all will come together.  For example, it’s difficult to visualize the final curves around the tail in the early stages of roughing.  Then I remember not to think of such details until much later in the process; to cross certain bridges when I get to them — whether it’s a new design idea or a version of one I’ve done before.  Take care of the overall form before any details; don’t worry about where Broadway is until I’ve found my way to New York.

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Once the form is established and 95% of the wood to be removed is already on the shop floor, a whole new phase begins.  The wood is dry and the form itself is there, but that last handful of fine chips can make a big difference.  Time slows down a bit and I focus on the final flow of the lines and the surface cuts.  In his 1945 book How I Make Woodcuts and Wood Engravings, Hans Alexander Mueller expresses working in a “delirium of concentration.”  That describes this stage well.

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This one was 10 1/2 inches long and 6 1/2 inches wide, in black cherry.  Lots of fun.  One of several bowls I’ve been working on that are already spoken for, then I’m ready for some freestyling.

 

 

Posted in ale bowls, bird bowls, carving, cherry, quotes and excerpts, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | 15 Comments

Coopering Connections

Posted on February 11, 2018 by Dave Fisher

As athletes from around the world gather in Pyeongchang, I’ve been thinking about the craft of coopering.  That may seem like an odd connection, but it’ll at least result in some great video links, so hear me out.

I can’t get into medal counts and all that jazz, but there is something about the Olympics that appeals to me: the idea of people putting aside differences to share a common bond.  Sport is a powerful shared bond, and so is craft.  International connections both online and in person abound in the world of craft.  Greenwood carving is certainly a good example, but there are many others, including coopering.

Now, I’ve never made so much as a single stave, let alone a bucket or barrel, but like most crafts, I find coopering fascinating.  I stumbled upon a video this week of Australian cooper George Smithwick.  I loved it, and it reminded me of a couple old favorites.  Each cooper from a different continent, yet bound by a shared craft.

If you need a break from ice dancing, check ’em out:

Here’s the aforementioned George Smithwick from Australia.  Wonderful video, including the end parts where he discusses his decision to enter into the trade. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GE7QA1chUzw

This one brings back lots of memories for me.  I still have it on VHS ordered from Drew Langsner at Country Workshops years ago.  Ruedi Kohler was one of Drew’s original woodworking teachers.  The serendipitous story of them coming together in rural Switzerland ended up benefiting many people over the years.  The video is a great example of craft transcending language barriers.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v4kB7JOVkqw&t=1708s.

If you like this last video featuring Alex Stewart, an incredible character and craftsman from the Appalachians of Tennessee, then I’d strongly recommend the book Alex Stewart: Portrait of a Pioneer — one of my favorites.  Here’s the video link: http://www.folkstreams.net/film-detail.php?id=224

I like to listen as I’m carving.  I’ll have some bowl photos to share next week.

 

 

 

 

 

Posted in books, Uncategorized, video | Tagged , | 2 Comments

Look What Arrived From Brittany

Posted on February 3, 2018 by Dave Fisher
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Yesterday, a package arrived from Jane Mickelborough.  After having the pleasure of getting to know Jane at Greenwood Fest 2017, I requested a porte-cuillères, a traditional Breton spoon rack that is meant to hang over the table.  It incorporates a clever arrangement of cord that allows the rack to be pulled down for access, then raised back up to clear the view.  I tested and admired the porte-cuillères in the workshop this morning.

Jane is a fascinating person and incredibly skilled in many ways.  She carves, she turns, she makes fan birds, she dances elegantly and can sing you a sea shanty.  And that’s just scratching  the surface.  She’s also deeply steeped in the craft traditions of Brittany, which you can read about more in an interview with Jane that Peter Follansbee shared in this blog post last year.

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Many Breton elements are featured in the details of the walnut porte-cuillères that Jane made for me, like the brass tacks:

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And the intriguing and beautiful wax inlay technique that Jane used around the central hub of the porte-cuillères:

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Kalon digor is Breton for “bon appetit” which is French for something.  Seems to make me hungry.

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The ermine is a Breton symbol.

The rack will hold many spoons made by friends:

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Jane’s crossing the pond to be at Greenwood Fest again.  Still time to sharpen your knives and practice your sea shanties.

 

Posted in historical reference, spoons, Uncategorized, walnut | Tagged , , , | 11 Comments

An Encounter with a Woodworker

Posted on January 20, 2018 by Dave Fisher

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It was a balmy 35° F today, and I got out for a walk in the late afternoon as the sun was getting low.  As I was walking along the high bank above the river, I spied one of nature’s greatest woodworkers.  Drawn out by the warmer temperatures, she(?) was squatting on the ice along the edge, eating the thin bark off of the branches she had clipped.

The soft snow made for quiet walking, and beavers have poor eyesight.  I walked within 20 yards and stood watching her work the stick like a long ear of sweet corn.  I could hear each little nibble.

I just had a little point-and-shoot camera with me, and snapped the best shot I could get before moving on, grateful for another encounter with one of my favorite animals.  Most meetings have occurred while canoeing, and they usually let you get pretty close, not knowing quite what to make of it.  My son and I have even been splashed by a thrilling tail slap off the starboard bow.

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That’s not my son; that’s Sam in the bow intent on a beaver swimming out ahead.

IMG_5157I keep a few beaver-chewed sticks in the shop, and I marvel at the lovely pattern left on the surface, better than the tool marks left by any gouge.  I even made a bowl once on which I left the handles and rim straight from the beaver’s teeth.

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Seeing the beaver today also got me thinking about we humans that are nibbling on sticks with bits of steel.  These beaver-inspired thoughts may apply especially for those that are just beginning their carving journey, or just thinking about it.   (It’s been three years since I started this blog, so I’m bound to repeat myself.  I even included links as proof!)

Dig in.  The information available can be overwhelming, and you don’t need nearly all of it.  Read, take a class, watch videos, but mainly put steel to wood.  Savor the process and your personal progress, without asking too many devilish questions.  That beaver may be acting on pure instinct, but we humans also have our instincts.  A strong one is to create;  act on it and revel in it.  You’ll overcome problems as they arise, or at least learn where you could use a little more help.

Don’t be overwhelmed by the dizzying numbers and varieties of tools available as you get started.  Get a few good tools, then get to work.  The tools will add up over time.  At some point you’ll probably wonder where they all came from.  This can be a tough thing to balance.

I may not be qualified to judge a beaver’s intent, but I’ve seen fallen trees that sure looked to me like the toothed-one was shooting for a different outcome.  Make mistakes and take chances with design.  Have fun.  I have dumb ideas and make carving mistakes all the time, and I’ve got plenty of company.

SAM_3839When you screw up or things just aren’t going right, take a walk.  You might see a beaver while you’re out, or a sunset as you near home to help put it all in perspective.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Posted in carving, nature, tools, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | 18 Comments

Four Spoons

Posted on January 13, 2018 by Dave Fisher

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In between bowls, I came upon a few good branch crooks that I’ve carved into spoons — two in cherry and two in rhododendron.  They’re all straight from the knife and treated with flaxseed (pure linseed) oil.  The lettering and chip carving on all of them was done with my pen knife.  They’re all serving/cooking spoons, way too big for eating spoons.  I’ll mention each spoon’s unique characteristics with the photos below.  Rather than listing them separately on my website, I’ll offer them right here in the blog post.  If you’d like to purchase one, send me an email at dandkfish@gmail.com.  All prices include shipping in the U.S.  Orders outside of the U.S. will pay an additional shipping charge, but it’s not usually too high for small items like spoons.  I’ll get back to you to confirm, and you can pay by mailing a check or through paypal.

Spoon #1 (below):  I carved “Tiramisu” into the handle of this cherry spoon.  Most people know it as the name for a dessert, but I thought it also appropriate for the handle of a spoon.  Tiramisu is Italian for “pick me up” or “lift me up.”  9 1/4″ x 3″  $155 includes shipping. SOLD

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Spoon #2 (below):  “Fabas indulcet fames” is the Latin proverb meaning “Hunger sweetens the beans.”  Whether one is focused on the literal or figurative meaning, I like the reminder on a cooking and serving spoon.  After I cut the letters, I experimented with this rhododendron spoon by texturing the surface around the letters with the filed end of a small bolt.  I held the spoon in my lap and repeatedly moved around the “stamp”, hitting it with a small hammer.  13″ x 2 3/4″  $155 includes shipping. SOLD

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Spoon #3 (below):  This spoon comes right out with it in English: “Hold Me.”  Cherry 10″ x 2 1/2″  $155 includes shipping. SOLD

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Spoon #4 (below):  This rhododendron spoon is non-verbal.  Chip-carved handle.  9 1/2″ x 2 3/4″  $90 includes shipping.  SOLD

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Posted in Lettering, spoons, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , | 13 Comments

Lettering Large

Posted on January 9, 2018 by Dave Fisher

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I do have some bowls in process to share before long, but some photos from a couple recent lettering projects first.  I find myself adapting my tools and techniques according to the wood and the size and style of the lettering.  I learn something from every new opportunity.

The top photo shows part of a large butternut board that will be framed in walnut by a cabinet maker for a sizeable display case for an electric train collection.  Actually, there will be two display cases as you can see from the two full-view photos below.  I was provided with some general guidelines such as including the logos/symbols and what the text should say.  Beyond that, I was given the freedom to explore.

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The boards were 50″ x 7″.  To allow for the frame, the letters ended up at about 4 inches high.  So this was not a lap-and-penknife project.  The L logo represents Lionel.

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The Steelmark logo goes back long before the Pittsburgh Steelers adapted and adopted it.

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After much thought and sketching in various sizes, eventually it’s on to the board.  I can really burn through an eraser, but time spent in this stage is important for a project like this.  Got to calm that itchy carving finger.

 

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I should mention that before the drawing took place, I put a final surface on the face of the board with a finely-set hand plane.  I could have sanded the surface, but it’s nice to avoid the grit that remains embedded in the wood, waiting to dull the edges of carving tools.

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It’s convenient to have access to the board from either side.  My workbench is attached to the wall, so I gave myself full access by holding the board cantilevered beyond the workbench, held firmly with holdfasts.  You can also see in the photo the main tools used.  A couple v-tools on the right to excavate much of the bulk, and a couple knives.  The larger knife to the top left is reground from a Garrett Wade marking knife I’ve had around for years.  The three successive shots in the slideshow below show me using it to pare a side of the stem of the letter T.

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In some areas, gouges are a help.  A penknife blade is still handy, even in letters this large for tidying….

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and for tighter curves like these numbers.

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Similar techniques were used for this sign done a few weeks ago, except the overall style is a little more loose and the surface of the board was textured with a gouge before carving the lettering.  The photo is a little blurry on the left side, but you can see the texture more clearly on the right.  This is my second go with the same William Morris quote.  The first one is here.

Next post should be some spoons with much smaller lettering.

 

Posted in Lettering, tools, Uncategorized | Tagged , , | 18 Comments

I Have One Word for You

Posted on January 1, 2018 by Dave Fisher

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I want to end the year and begin the next with a simple note of gratitude.  Thank you all for taking the time to read the blog.  Your comments, questions, and interest in the things I make are always helpful and encouraging.  I appreciate it all very much.  Who knows what 2018 will bring, and here’s to the thrill of exploration and a very happy New Year to you!

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May nothing come between you and your wish for the new year!

Posted in Lettering, nature, Uncategorized | Tagged , | 27 Comments