Woodcarving; Tools, Materials & Equipment, Volume 2

by Chris Pye

• ISBN13: 9781861082022
• ISBN10: 1861082029
• Format: Trade Paper
• Copyright: 2002-05-28
• Publisher: Guild of Master Craftsman

Summary

From preparatory drawings and modeling to the many finishes that make completed carvings glow, here's how you go about creating the actual project. Learn the differences between soft and hard woods, how to deal with defects such as splitting and knots, and discover how grain, hardness, texture and durability figure into your work. Photos guide you along the way.

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

Acknowledgements	ix
Health and safety	x
Foreword to the first edition	xii
Foreword to the new edition	xiii
PART I: THE WORKSHOP AND ITS EQUIPMENT
Aims Of Part I	2	(2)
Accessory Tools
Aims	4	(1)
Mallets	4	(10)
Shapes	5	(3)
Materials	8	(2)
Size and weight	10	(1)
Making a Mallet	10	(3)
Using the mallet	13	(1)
Care	14	(1)
Abrading tools	14	(5)
Raps	14	(1)
Files	15	(1)
Rifflers	16	(1)
Microplanes	16	(1)
Tungsten carbide	17	(1)
Using abrading tools	17	(1)
Care	18	(1)
Sanders and power files	19	(1)
Sandpaper	19	(1)
Carpentry tools	19	(4)
Handsaws	19	(2)
Planes	21	(1)
Spokeshaves	22	(1)
Hand routers	22	(1)
Other tools	23	(1)
Specializd edge tools	23	(3)
Knives	23	(1)
Adzes	24	(1)
Scorps	25	(1)
Punches and frosters	26	(2)
Scratch stocks and scrapers	28	(1)
Making-out equipment	29	(1)
Power Tools and Machinery
Aims	30	(1)
General workshop tools	30	(8)
Bandsaws	30	(3)
Scrollsaws	33	(1)
Disc and belt sanders	34	(2)
Routers	36	(2)
Portable power carving tools	38	(11)
Angle-grinder cutting discs	39	(4)
High-speed flexible-shaft machines	43	(2)
Hand-held high-speed motor units	45	(1)
Reciprocal carvers or power chisels	46	(3)
Modifying Tools
Aims	49	(1)
Why modify tools?	49	(4)
The possibilities	51	(2)
Basic procedures	53	(1)
Cold procedures	53	(1)
Hot procedures	53	(1)
Hardening, tempering and annealing	54	(3)
Quenching	57	(1)
Equipment	58	(2)
Heat source	58	(1)
Vice	59	(1)
Anvil	59	(1)
General tools	59	(1)
Bench grinder	60	(1)
Safety	60	(1)
Overview of the hot shaping process	60	(2)
Bending	61	(1)
Forging	61	(1)
Some examples of tool modifications	62	(6)
Cold shaping	62	(1)
Skew chisel	62	(1)
Skewed fishtail chisel	63	(1)
Hot shaping	64	(1)
Knuckle gouge	64	(2)
Backbent V-tool	66	(1)
Small V-tool	67	(1)
Summary	68	(2)
Holding Devices
Aims	69	(1)
The workbench	70	(11)
Height	71	(1)
Strength and weighting	72	(1)
Proportions	73	(1)
Fittings	73	(1)
Alternative	74	(6)
Construction notes	80	(1)
Bench discipline	80	(1)
Individual holding devices	81	(11)
Fundamentals	81	(1)
Holding panels	82	(4)
Holding work in the round	86	(6)
Holding turned work	92	(1)
Summary	92	(2)
The workplace
Aims	93	(1)
Features of a workplace	94	(3)
Position of the bench	94	(1)
Flooring	94	(1)
Lighting	94	(1)
Tool and equipment storage	95	(1)
Heating	96	(1)
Wood storage	97	(1)
Cleaning	97	(1)
Beginner's syndrome	97	(1)
Safety in the workplace	98	(4)
First-aid box	99	(3)
PART II: PREPARING TO CARVE
Aims of Part II	102	(6)
Understanding wood
Aims	104	(4)
How trees grow	108	(5)
Hardwoods and softwoods	112	(1)
Wood as a material	113	(12)
Conversion	113	(1)
Seasoning	114	(3)
Movement	117	(1)
Defects	118	(6)
Decay	124	(1)
Woodworm	124	(1)
Storage	125	(1)
Qualities of wood	125	(5)
Grain	126	(3)
Hardness	129	(1)
Figure	129	(1)
Texture	130	(1)
Durability	130	(1)
Suitability of design and material	130	(1)
Choice of wood	131	(1)
Source of wood	132	(1)
'Free' wood	132	(1)
Buying wood	133	(1)
Gluing up	133	(4)
Fundamentals	133	(3)
Types of joint	136	(1)
Basic procedures	137	(1)
Summary	137	(3)
Finishing
Aims	138	(2)
Reasons for finishing	140	(1)
Protecting	140	(1)
Sealing	141	(1)
Enhancing	141	(1)
Some simple finishes	141	(4)
Shellac	142	(1)
Oil	142	(1)
Waxes	143	(2)
Colour	145	(2)
Water-based stains	146	(1)
Oil-based stains	146	(1)
Spirit-based stains	146	(1)
Fuming	147	(1)
Safety	147	(1)
Research and Design
Aims	148	(1)
Research	148	(1)
Drawing	148	(5)
Why draw?	150	(1)
Materials	151	(1)
Getting started	152	(1)
Types of drawing	152	(1)
Photographs	153	(1)
The `morgue'	154	(1)
Plaster casts	154	(1)
Clay modelling	154	(7)
Why model?	155	(1)
Clay	156	(1)
Buying and storing clay	156	(1)
Alternatives to clay	157	(1)
Tools and equipment	157	(2)
Basic modelling	159	(2)
How to use the model	161	(1)
Transferring work to the solid	161	(1)
Some Parting Cuts	162	(2)
A Glossary of Woodcarving Terms	164	(6)
Photographic credits	170	(1)
Metric conversion tables	171	(1)
About the author	172	(1)
Index	173