Category Archives: tools

Four Shrinkpots and Some Tool Thoughts

Posted on September 13, 2025 by Dave Fisher

I’ve just finished four shrink pots that are available for purchase. They are made from various wood species, which I’ll detail below. All are finished with a mixture of linseed oil and beeswax. The lidded ones all have tight-fitting lids … Continue reading →

Posted in carving, paint, shrink box, tools, trees, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Before I Forget… A Few Things

Posted on July 17, 2025 by Dave Fisher

This post was going to be about using my favorite T-handle auger, the one I use to bore the hole to begin making a shrink pot. With a couple green lengths of tree available, I took a few photos as … Continue reading →

Posted in books, events, tools, Uncategorized | Tagged , | 12 Comments

Birds, Birds, Birds

Posted on May 23, 2025 by Dave Fisher

What’s the matter with me? I… I got to get birds off my mind. Maybe I’ll take up a hobby. — Sylvester The Cat (Mel Blanc) in Looney, Looney, Looney Bugs Bunny Movie (1981) My workbench has looked like a … Continue reading →

Posted in bird bowls, design, quotes and excerpts, sketch, tools, Uncategorized, workshop | Tagged | 14 Comments

Adze Geometry Addition

Posted on February 24, 2025 by Dave Fisher

In my “Bowl Adze Primer” article (Part of the Adze Owner’s Manual materials), I discuss adze bevel geometry. After receiving a good question via email yesterday, I’ve just added this illustration to clarify the geometry that has worked well for … Continue reading →

Posted in adze, sketch, tools, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

Mallets

Posted on February 18, 2025 by Dave Fisher

Mallets are indispensable, and are made principally from the wood of the apple tree, plum tree, beech, and elm. Paul N. Hasluck, Manual of Traditional Woodcarving (1911) If you’re going to carve, you should have a mullet mallet. Sometimes they’re … Continue reading →

Posted in photography, quotes and excerpts, tools, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , | 29 Comments

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

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

Round Walnut Bowl Layout: Plan for Shrinkage

Posted on October 30, 2024 by Dave Fisher

A wide walnut logs came my way a couple weeks ago, and I’ve been busy roughing out a few things from it. One of them will be a big open round bowl, 18 or 19 inches (46-48cm) in diameter. In … Continue reading →

Posted in bowls, green woodworking, layout, tools, Uncategorized, walnut | Tagged , , | 12 Comments

A Silver Maple Bowl and My New Old Drawknife

Posted on September 21, 2024 by Dave Fisher

I like this silver maple bowl that I just finished, and I liked making it even more. Part of the reason is that it gave me an opportunity to use a curved (cooper’s hollowing) drawknife that I had picked it … Continue reading →

Posted in carving, figure, holding, tools, trees, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | 4 Comments

Gouge Thoughts: Sharpening, Sweep, Size

Posted on July 27, 2024 by Dave Fisher

In thirty years of teaching, I’ve learned (and sometimes failed to remember) the value of preparation beforehand and flexibility once things get started. I’ve been doing a lot of preparation for my upcoming class. Materials, logistics, and many other things. … Continue reading →

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