Category Archives: tools

Around the Shop

A look around the shop this morning, beginning with sections of a big walnut log I busted up which should become walnut bowls before too long.  And a requested set of cherry shrink boxes in the rough, drying: My dogwood froe club … Continue reading

Posted in ale bowls, bowls, tools, Uncategorized | Tagged | 10 Comments

This may not Work

The title of this post may have crossed the mind of John Damian in 1507 as he was about to jump from the walls of Scotland’s Sterling Castle fitted with wings made of chicken feathers.  I’m thinking the same thing … Continue reading

Posted in ale bowls, bowls, carving, tools, trees, Uncategorized | 6 Comments

What’s Wrong with this Edge?

Look at the lines of reflection on the beautiful polished surface.  The polish is good.  The fact that the lines of reflection take a bit of a nosedive as they reach the cutting edge is a problem, and a very … Continue reading

Posted in sharpening, tools, Uncategorized | Tagged | 12 Comments

Time for a Shave?

  A few days ago Chris Schwarz shared a post on the Lost Art Press blog about an old Estonian scorp used for general hollowing tasks.  Check out the post here.  Coincidentally, I had just stumbled upon the existence of … Continue reading

Posted in bowls, carving, tools, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , | 6 Comments

Necklace for a Bowl

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

Chips

  Wood chips have a lot to reveal if you look closely.  I think they have a beauty and fascination all their own, a feeling that is shared especially by children.  At demonstrations, kids always pick up chips.  It seems … Continue reading

Posted in adze, axe, green woodworking, tools, Uncategorized, walnut | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

Sharpening an Adze

I took some photos tonight while I sharpened my adze.  I wrote about my general sharpening procedure for an axe in this post a while back.  The general idea is the same, but sharpening an adze can be more intimidating … Continue reading

Posted in adze, sharpening, tools, Uncategorized | Tagged | 6 Comments

Almost Ready for Ale

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

A Moment with Charles Schulz

I am still searching for that wonderful pen line that comes down when you are drawing Linus standing there, and you start with the pen up near the back of his neck, and you bring it down and bring it … Continue reading

Posted in quotes and excerpts, tools, Uncategorized | Tagged | 4 Comments

Gouge Choice

Nearly all of my work is left from the sharp edge of a paring gouge.  I discussed the process and tools in some detail in this post last year — and this one. Lately, I’ve received a few questions asking … Continue reading

Posted in bowls, carving, sketch, tools, Uncategorized | Tagged , , | 36 Comments