Category Archives: layout

Sighting the Lines

Posted on October 8, 2016 by Dave Fisher

We’re all familiar with the idea of sighting down the length of a board to check for straightness of line.  It is amazing how well our eyes can pick up even slight deviations in the flow of a line when … Continue reading →

Posted in bowls, layout, Uncategorized | Tagged , | 3 Comments

Different Animals

Posted on September 27, 2016 by Dave Fisher

I was working  a couple different cherry ale bowls over the weekend and was struck again by how different they are to carve compared to “regular” bowls.  First of all, especially in this roughing-out stage, I find myself staring a … Continue reading →

Posted in ale bowls, bowls, carving, cherry, holding, layout, tools, Uncategorized | Tagged | 9 Comments

Bowl for Beginners and Beyond

Posted on July 1, 2016 by Dave Fisher

I had been thinking about an ideal bowl design for the Plymouth CRAFT class, now only a month away.  This sample bowl is the result of those thoughts.  In addition to providing challenges for development of various skills, I wanted … Continue reading →

Posted in bowls, classes, drying, finding wood, layout, patterns, proportions, teaching, trees, Uncategorized | Tagged , , | 7 Comments

Necklace for a Bowl

Posted on June 26, 2016 by Dave Fisher

At least that’s the way I see a design like this — draping like a necklace around the rim.  l like how the facets of the recesses catch the light and shadows in different ways.  I’ve done several versions; one … Continue reading →

Posted in carving, layout, patterns, tools, Uncategorized, walnut | 5 Comments

By Hand and Eye: The New Website

Posted on April 30, 2016 by Dave Fisher

Here are two of the most important tools in my shop, other than my hands and eyes.  The uses of a compass extend far beyond striking circles.  I use one, or more, on just about every project to aid in … Continue reading →

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Almost Ready for Ale

Posted on April 4, 2016 by Dave Fisher

I finished carving a couple personal-size ale bowls over the weekend.  These are the two I mentioned having roughed out in my recent post about ale bowls.  I haven’t oiled them yet, but I thought I’d share some photos of … Continue reading →

Posted in bird bowls, bowls, carving, cherry, historical reference, holding, layout, tools, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | 14 Comments

Carving Round Bowls can be Super

Posted on February 7, 2016 by Dave Fisher

If you’re going to make round bowls, why not use a lathe?  Well, because I’m chicken.  There’s something about a twenty pound chunk of wood spinning around at five hundred rpm that makes me not want to poke it with … Continue reading →

Posted in bowls, carving, layout, sketch, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | 24 Comments

Dancing with Nature

Posted on January 28, 2016 by Dave Fisher

What a privilege it is to collaborate with Nature.  Green wood is a medium that has a lot to say; there is no blank canvas.  Nature is a dance partner, and she usually takes the lead. Especially in pieces like … Continue reading →

Posted in bird bowls, bowls, cherry, finding wood, green woodworking, layout, nature, tools, Uncategorized, video | Tagged , , , | 3 Comments

On Flutes and Aging

Posted on January 22, 2016 by Dave Fisher

I don’t know much about cheese or scotch, but I’ve heard they can improve if you just let them sit around awhile.  The same might be said for wood sometimes.  This maple bowl underway is from a log that hung around in … Continue reading →

Posted in green woodworking, holding, layout, patterns, Uncategorized | Tagged , , | 12 Comments

“Turning” Without a Lathe

Posted on October 3, 2015 by Dave Fisher

Months ago, I had a certain passage of poetry tumbling around in my head, and I envisioned it on a bowl.  But the bowl had to be round, and here I sat without a lathe — sort of. Actually, I do have a … Continue reading →

Posted in adze, axe, bowls, holding, layout, Lettering, tools, Uncategorized, walnut | Tagged , , | 7 Comments