Woodcarving; Tools, Material & Equipment, Volume 1

by Chris Pye

• ISBN13: 9781861082015
• ISBN10: 1861082010
• Edition: Revised
• Format: Trade Paper
• Copyright: 2002-05-28
• Publisher: Guild of Master Craftsman

Summary

Get the right results with classic chisels, gouges and power tools. Photo-enhanced coverage clarifies how tools function, how to make, fit, and remove handles, and how to correct carving-tool faults. Also learn the secrets of cutting success how to sharpen squarely and straight, and on corners.

Author Biography

Chris Pye has been a professional carver for more than 20 years and writes extensively on the subject. His previous books include Lettercarving in Wood, Relief Carving in Wood and Elements of Woodcarving.

Table of Contents

Health and Safety	x
Foreword to the first edition	xii
Foreword to the first edition	xiii
Acknowledgements	xiv
Introduction	1	(5)
PART I: UNDERSTANDING WOODCARVING TOOLS
Aims of Part I	6	(2)
Types of Woodcarving Tool
Aims	8	(1)
Finding your way around	8	(2)
The Sheffield List	10	(1)
Numerical description	11	(4)
How useful is the Sheffield List?	15	(1)
Using the numbering systems	16	(1)
The parts of a woodcarving tool	17	(2)
Blades
Aims	19	(1)
Quality of steel	19	(5)
The different shapes and their uses	24	(20)
Cross section	24	(9)
Longitudinal section	33	(8)
Width	41	(2)
Length	43	(1)
Summary	43	(1)
Shoulders	44	(3)
Function	44	(1)
Shoulderless tools	45	(1)
Correct shape	46	(1)
Tangs	47	(6)
Function	47	(2)
Types	49	(1)
Correct shape	50	(3)
Handles
Aims	53	(1)
Overview	53	(4)
Improving bought handles	57	(1)
Shapes and identification	58	(3)
Woods	61	(1)
Ferrules	61	(4)
Making handles	65	(4)
Fitting handles	69	(1)
Removing handles	70	(2)
Finish	72	(1)
Name punches	72	(2)
Carving-Tool Faults and Their Correction
Aims	73	(1)
Blades	74	(3)
Shoulders	77	(1)
Tangs	78	(1)
Handles	79	(1)
Selecting and Buying Woodcarving Tools
Aims	80	(1)
Shape and function	80	(10)
Straight chisels	81	(1)
Straight skew chisels	82	(1)
Shortbent chisels	83	(1)
Shortbent corner chisels	83	(1)
Splayed chisels	84	(1)
V-tools	84	(1)
Straight gouges	85	(3)
Splayed gouges	88	(1)
Longbent gouges	88	(1)
Shortbent gouges	89	(1)
Backbent gouges	89	(1)
Selecting and ordering	90	(7)
Making the choice	90	(1)
Selecting the tools	91	(1)
A suggested starting kit	92	(1)
Buying by mail order	93	(1)
Second-hand tools	93	(4)
Innovations in Carving Tools
Aims	97	(1)
Flexcut carving tools	97	(2)
The Ray Gonzalez hooked skew chisel	99	(2)
Cogelow tools	101	(1)
Chinese carving tools	102	(2)
Microtools	104	(3)
Care of Woodcarving Tools
Aims	106	(1)
Storage possibilities	107	(4)
General points	107	(1)
Tool rolls	107	(2)
Racks	109	(1)
Drawers	110	(1)
Long-term storage	110	(1)
Bench discipline	111	(2)
Summary	113	(9)
PART II: SHARPENING WOODCARVING TOOLS
Aims of Part II	116	(4)
Why Carving Tools Must Be Sharp
Aims	120	(2)
Effort	122	(2)
Control	124	(1)
Appearance	124	(1)
Safety	125	(1)
Enjoyment	126	(1)
Principles of Sharpening
Aims	127	(1)
Fundamentals	127	(1)
Bevels and cutting angles	128	(13)
Function	128	(1)
The set of the bevel	129	(1)
Sharpness versus strength	130	(1)
Bevel angle	131	(1)
Flatness	132	(4)
Inner and outer bevels	136	(4)
Differences in cutting profile	140	(1)
The cutting edge	141	(7)
Squareness	141	(2)
Straightness	143	(3)
Corners	146	(1)
Even thickness	147	(1)
The heel	148	(1)
In brief	149	(1)
The secret of success	149	(3)
Summary	152	(1)
Equipment: Grinders
Aims	153	(1)
Overview	153	(1)
Bench grinders	154	(7)
Types	154	(2)
Speed and friction	156	(2)
Belt grinders	158	(1)
Summary	158	(1)
Making a low-speed grinder	158	(1)
Safety and care of grinders	159	(2)
Equipment: Oilstones and Strops
Aims	161	(1)
Benchstones	161	(8)
Artificial stones	162	(1)
Care of oilstones	163	(4)
Natural oilstones	167	(2)
Slipstones	169	(2)
Types	169	(2)
Altering the shape	171	(1)
Care	171	(1)
Strops	171	(2)
Making a benchstrop	171	(2)
Care	173	(1)
Slipstrops	173	(2)
Summary	175	(1)
The Process of Sharpening
Aims	176	(1)
Shaping and sharpening	176	(1)
Cutting profiles	177	(1)
Basic procedures	177	(15)
Grinding	177	(4)
Stoning (honing)	181	(6)
Slipstoning	187	(2)
Stropping	189	(3)
Slipstropping	192	(1)
Individual tools in detail	192	(15)
Flat chisels	193	(1)
Skew chisels	193	(1)
V-tools	194	(6)
Bent chisels	200	(1)
Gouges	201	(3)
U-shaped gouges	204	(1)
Longbent and shortbent gouges	204	(1)
Backbent gouges	205	(2)
Tapered tools	207	(1)
Testing for sharpness	207	(1)
Maintaining sharpness	207	(3)
Stropping	208	(1)
Carving technique	209	(1)
Storage and care	209	(1)
Effect of the wood being carved	210	(1)
Pre-sharpened tools	210	(1)
The sharpening area	211	(1)
Summary	211	(1)
Alternative Sharpening Stones
Aims	212	(1)
Waterstones	212	(4)
Types of waterstone	213	(1)
Water slipstones	213	(1)
A starter kit	214	(1)
Care and maintenance	214	(1)
Setting up	215	(1)
Using waterstones	215	(1)
Pros and cons of waterstones	215	(1)
Diamond stones	216	(6)
Types of diamond stone	216	(3)
Diamond slipstones	219	(1)
Which stones to use	219	(1)
Care and maintenance	219	(1)
Setting up	220	(1)
Using diamond stones	220	(1)
Pros and cons of diamond stones	221	(1)
Ceramic stones	222	(4)
Types of ceramic stone	222	(1)
Ceramic slipstones	223	(1)
Which stones to use	223	(1)
Care and maintenance	223	(1)
Using ceramic stones	223	(1)
Pros and cons of ceramic stones	224	(1)
Electrical Sharpening Methods
Aims	225	(1)
Sharpening machines	226	(2)
Safety note	228	(1)
Principles of power honing	228	(3)
Speed and its hazards	228	(1)
Wheel shape and size	228	(1)
Direction of rotation	228	(1)
Hard and soft wheels	229	(1)
Types of honing wheel	229	(1)
Abrasive `soap' blocks	230	(1)
Other considerations	230	(1)
How to use a power sharpener	231	(2)
Achieving the correct shape	232	(1)
Summary	233	(1)
Metric conversion Table	234	(1)
Photographic credits	234	(1)
About the author	235	(1)
Index	236