Category Archives: sharpening

Carving the Leaves

Posted on February 26, 2023 by Dave Fisher

Following a couple recent posts on carving a sign in white oak, here and here, there were some questions about how I carved the leaves. Below are two photos of the leaves before and after painting. I’ll expand on my … Continue reading →

Posted in carving, sharpening, tools, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , | 9 Comments

My New Old Arkansas Stone

Posted on November 30, 2022 by Dave Fisher

A whetstone is no carving instrument, And yet it maketh sharp the carving tool; And if you see my efforts wrongly spent, Eschew that course and learn out of my school; For thus the wise may profit by the fool, … Continue reading →

Posted in Lettering, quotes and excerpts, sharpening, tools, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | 9 Comments

Merging Cuts in the Hollow

Posted on August 31, 2022 by Dave Fisher

Earlier this month, I wrote a post about two walnut bowls, and there was a question in the comments about dealing with the tricky area where the grain direction merges across the middle of the hollow. I wanted to expand … Continue reading →

Posted in bowls, carving, sharpening, tools, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | 10 Comments

Drawknife Thoughts

Posted on June 8, 2022 by Dave Fisher

I’ve mentioned and shown drawknives in use in many posts. I use them for bowls, shrink pots, big spoons, chairs, and all sorts of other things. I thought it was about time I shared a few specific thoughts about this … Continue reading →

Posted in carving, sharpening, tools, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | 14 Comments

More Lettercarving Thoughts

Posted on March 19, 2022 by Dave Fisher

I’ve written a lot of posts that at least touch on lettering over the years, 53 according to the category menu on the right side of my blog page. Here’s the list. Of course, I’ve continued to learn with each … Continue reading →

Posted in books, Lettering, sharpening, spoons, tools, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , | 15 Comments

Mr. McInturf and the Card Scraper

Posted on November 14, 2021 by Dave Fisher

As I relentlessly bore down on the vibrating sander, I peered through the cloud of dust and saw Mr. McInturf motioning me toward him. As I turned off the machine and maneuvered between my high school Wood Shop classmates, I … Continue reading →

Posted in Persons, sharpening, teaching, tools, Uncategorized | Tagged , | 9 Comments

Since You Gotta Brush Your Teeth Anyway

Posted on August 17, 2021 by Dave Fisher

All of the used toothbrushes in the house make their way to the workshop where I use them for all sorts of odd jobs from cleaning, to gluing, to finishing. The one above, made by Mable, was handed down to … Continue reading →

Posted in sharpening, sketch, tools, Uncategorized | Tagged , , | 5 Comments

Bright Shrink Pot

Posted on July 8, 2019 by Dave Fisher

Around me the trees stir in their leaves and call out, “Stay awhile.” The light flows from their branches. —Mary Oliver, from the poem “When I am Among the Trees” That poetry excerpt may look familiar.  I shared it last … Continue reading →

Posted in paint, patterns, quotes and excerpts, sharpening, shrink box, Uncategorized | Tagged , , | 16 Comments

Adze Adjustments

Posted on March 10, 2018 by Dave Fisher

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 … Continue reading →

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

Sam Understands V-tools

Posted on September 22, 2017 by Dave Fisher

As I was watching my buddy, Sam, poke his head into the kitchen through the cat door as he often does, I got to thinking about v-tools.  Sam’s problem is also the problem of many v-tools: his bottom is too … Continue reading →

Posted in books, bowls, sharpening, tools, Uncategorized | Tagged , | 14 Comments