Category Archives: Uncategorized

Beyond Words

Posted on March 12, 2015 by Dave Fisher

When I was beginning to make things out of green wood, I purchased a couple VHS tapes from Country Workshops.  One, filmed in the Swiss mountains, follows Ruedi Kohler as his skillful hands make a coopered bucket.  The other takes the viewer … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | 4 Comments

A Windfall Goose

Posted on March 7, 2015 by Dave Fisher

I found this stylized goose bowl in the curve of a wind-fallen cherry tree.  Usually, we think of “finding” spoons in the crooks of tree branches, but I occasionally find bowls as well. Grain flowing through the form allows for lightness, … Continue reading →

Posted in bird bowls, books, finding wood, layout, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , | 7 Comments

Books

Posted on March 4, 2015 by Dave Fisher

I have received some emails lately asking for book recommendations, both for bowl/spoon carving and for the decorative carving that I do on some bowls.  Bear with me, and I’ll get around to some recommendations regarding bowl carving as well … Continue reading →

Posted in books, carving, Uncategorized | Tagged , | 4 Comments

The Axe: Your Personal Instrument

Posted on February 28, 2015 by Dave Fisher

In the days when the forests were falling the axe was a personal instrument, a man took pride in its temper and keenness.  Men would say, “That fellow Anderson,–he’s got a wonderful axe.” And somebody else would agree, “Yeah, I … Continue reading →

Posted in axe, quotes and excerpts, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

Basking in the Sunshine

Posted on February 27, 2015 by Dave Fisher

The plus side of the cold temperatures lately has been beautiful clear sunny skies.  I propped up this cherry bowl in the window to bask in the sunshine and help along the curing of the flax oil.  I do this … Continue reading →

Posted in carving, cherry, holding, layout, patterns, tools, Uncategorized, video | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Hollowing with an Adze

Posted on February 22, 2015 by Dave Fisher

Following up on my last post about adze design, I wanted to share a series of photos that show the procedure for my adze work.  At the stage of the first photo (above), I’ve hewn and hand planed the upper and … Continue reading →

Posted in adze, bowls, holding, layout, Uncategorized, walnut | Tagged , , , , , | 13 Comments

Paring….continued

Posted on February 14, 2015 by Dave Fisher

I was reminded of this sketch I had done awhile back in response to an emailed question. I thought I’d post it up here as a follow up to last weekend’s post “Prepare to Pare.”  It should be easy to … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | 9 Comments

What’s a saz?

Posted on February 13, 2015 by Dave Fisher

That was my first thought when I was asked recently to make one; well, the bowl part of one.  Turns out that a saz is a long necked Turkish lute (I found the photo of the one above — I had … Continue reading →

Posted in adze, carving, tools, Uncategorized, video, walnut | Tagged , , , , , | 6 Comments

Prepare to Pare

Posted on February 8, 2015 by Dave Fisher

I was paring the interior of a cherry bowl recently.  Whenever I perform this operation, I hold the gouge in an unorthodox carving grip, reminiscent of a scene from Psycho or Julius Caesar. This allows me to register my thumb against … Continue reading →

Posted in carving, cherry, holding, tools, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , | 8 Comments

The Compass Goose

Posted on February 3, 2015 by Dave Fisher

  I recently completed this commission for a goose-inspired bowl in walnut.  In some ways it may seem to be quite a departure from a “regular” bowl form, but the process is essentially the same.  As is typical, I work … Continue reading →

Posted in bird bowls, bowls, layout, Uncategorized, walnut | Tagged , , , | 4 Comments