Author Topic: First time carving (Read 8530 times)

Chris in Washington · « **on:** March 30, 2009, 05:32:24 AM »

Gentlemen
After reading most of the postings on carving I thought that I would give it a try on my latest rifle. I know that I've got a lot to learn, but it wasn't as bad as I thought it was going to be. Please take a look and tell me what you think...good, bad , or other wise.... I can take it

Thanks
Chris

Blacksmoke · « **Reply #1 on:** March 30, 2009, 07:47:19 AM »

Hi Chris, We all have to start to start some where and you have the courage to share your beginnings with us--thats cool! From what I can see you have some good beginnings. However you need to spend a little more time absorbing typical carving detail on the old originals even if its from pictures. Also most original longrifle carving is based on a type of foliage called the acanthus leaf. This decoration was brought from Europe by immigrant artisans working in a number of different realms. So it can be found on furniture of the period, graphic arts of the period etc. A study of decorative arts of the period in any realm would be beneficial and imperative for doing good carving. Take a look at American money-in particular the one dollar bill on the "green" side. Notice the foliage decoration on it ? That is acanthus foliage. Study it and understand how the leaf begins it scroll and how it opens out with a gentle twist and what the shape of the final leaf is. These are all important to understand when doing a carving layout. Just a few thoughts to help point you in the right direction.

Hugh Toenjes

George F. · « **Reply #2 on:** March 30, 2009, 12:29:48 PM »

Well you did good at geting your base line down. The one problem that I see is your spirals, volutes are choppy. That could be from using a dull v-groove tool. I don't do very much incise carving, but the little that I do, I found that if I trace out the design with a knife, and it doesn't have to be deep, that the point of the tool will want to follow the cut. Try to avoid the almost straight line on the cheeck carving before the wiggles, and the wiggles should reduce in size as they get closer to the end. ...Geo.

lew wetzel · « **Reply #3 on:** March 30, 2009, 06:17:39 PM »

your chisels look dull...all your relief carving doesnt have crisp lines and your incised arent crisp either......sharpen your chisels and go over your carvings again and should clean them up....i built my first two rifles with out of the box dull chisels...check out david prices website..he has some great tutorials on sharpening and carving....now i keep bandaids in the gun room....lol

Robert Wolfe · « **Reply #4 on:** March 30, 2009, 06:35:05 PM »

Spend some time smothing up your curves by scraping with a chisel or use fine sandpaper glued to popsicle sticks or ladies fingernail boards. Fingernail boards are nice because you can cut them to shape. Because my carving skills are limited I find that I have to spend a lot of time cleaning and smoothing things out.

hanshi · « **Reply #5 on:** March 30, 2009, 07:30:00 PM »

I'm just a duffer in that department but it looks good enough to make me want to give it a serious try.

rick landes · « **Reply #6 on:** March 30, 2009, 10:21:08 PM »

A couple of thoughts...
Already said...sharpen your tools
The curves are a series of flats joined together. Take and trace a nicely rounded volute onto the ones you have cut and carefully cleanup the ones you have done to a slightly larger size to round the curves. You may want to practice on a scrape piece with the two tech's most here use push or tapping the cutter around the design.
Go slow and read again go slow. There is no hurry only the end. The end is what you will live with.

I think if you redraw some of the lines and study the pattern your after a bit more before cutting any more you can greatly help your efforts.

I always have to take a deep breath before commiting to a carving (and I love to do it). You have already started, now slow down, sharpen your tools, redraw your lines and stop...look it over once more and slowly re-cut the design.

For example the lower volute on the cheekpiece side. Redraw the volute or get a template from someone like Ngraver if you cannot draw it. Slowly re-cut the uncurved flats into smooth flowing lines. Practice with a push cut or a tapping cut if you are unsure what will work best for you.

Take your time and you will have a piece you will be more happy with.
Good luck and thank you for sharing. Please let us see your progress...

Jerry V Lape · « **Reply #7 on:** March 30, 2009, 10:42:02 PM »

I am not an expert carver by any means, but I do find it helps me a lot to practice the patterns I want to put on a rifle several times on a scrap piece of the wood from the stock (if you have it) or on a piece of hard maple. My first rifle I practiced the carvings about 10 times before I had the confidence to try it on the stock. You will learn a lot about tools and wood in the practice pieces. I continue to do practice pieces figuring it is a good investment in future rifles. Shape the scrap similar to the part of the gun to which it will be applied and then use sharp tools. If your first efforts are not up to standards, plane/scrape the carving off the scrap and start again. You need to get it crisp to look right. And it is too expensive to carve on your stock until you are convinced you can do it right. Your carving looks timid, you selected a minimal pattern and didn't execute it boldly. This is a reflection of your confidence level which the practice carvings will improve greatly. Strangely enough, the simple incised patterns require a very high level of skill to get them crisp and clean so they look right - at least that is my experience.

David Price · « **Reply #8 on:** March 30, 2009, 10:57:08 PM »

cdstatz,

If you cannot find my tutorial on carving in the archives, go to my web site, www.davidpriceflintlocks.com, and you will find it there along with my sharpening tutorial.

I know that some of you have been waiting for the part three of the silver wire and leaf tutorial, and it is almost done, in fact some of it is on the web site now. My daughter in law does my web site for me and at the moment she is in the hospital. It will probably be finished in a couple of weeks.

Chris in Washington · « **Reply #9 on:** March 31, 2009, 07:14:00 AM »

Thank you all for the input. This is the main reason why I posted the pictures here... honest and truefull help. I'll go back and reread the tutorials on carving and sharpening.

I'll go back and try to smooth out some of the curves.....after I sharpen my tools correctly. I didn't think that they looked that bad, till I took a close up photo and posted it.

I'll take more photos after I get it smoothed out

Thanks again for the tips

Chris

Pete G. · « **Reply #10 on:** April 01, 2009, 03:54:45 AM »

I'm glad to see someone post some of their starting efforts. A lot of the stuff posted here is in the master category and it sort of scares off a lot of folks. You've got a good start going here. Keep at it. There is always an excuse to build the next rifle, and the next, and the next, and the next................

Paddlefoot · « **Reply #11 on:** April 05, 2009, 04:35:33 AM »

Check out the sharpening section of "ToolsFor Working Wood" online catalog. They have good tips on sharpening and all sorts of abrasive films and papers along with stones and such. Lee Valley Veritas is also excellent with lots of ways to get your tools razor sharp and that is what you need.

Dan Herda · « **Reply #12 on:** April 06, 2009, 12:07:57 AM »

Thanx for the links paddlefoot !!

Acer Saccharum · « **Reply #13 on:** April 06, 2009, 03:09:50 AM »

Chris, my mistakes don't show up until I post them on the forum. It's funny how that works. You don't really see your work objectively until you see it on the computer screen.

I mentioned this to an artist friend the other day, and she said: for a fresh view of your work, look at it in the mirror.

So this is not so unusual to suddenly have your mistakes show up.

Keep up the good work.

Tom

Chris in Washington · « **Reply #14 on:** April 19, 2009, 04:30:42 AM »

OK.... as I promised, here is the finial result
Not for sure if it's any better than before but I did try to clean it up somewhat. Thanks for all the help.
Chris

rich pierce · « **Reply #15 on:** April 19, 2009, 03:00:38 PM »

Nice job! That's a good looking rifle.

lew wetzel · « **Reply #16 on:** April 19, 2009, 03:27:02 PM »

the carving looks somewhat better since the stain has been applied....nice color!!!can we see some more pics of the entire rifle....nice job...

George F. · « **Reply #17 on:** April 19, 2009, 04:07:49 PM »

Well that does look better. As you look more of other peoples work, you'll understand better, the finer points of really fine carving.Three makers really impress me. well four with their skills. Jim Chambers, Bill Shipman, David Price, and Taylor Sapergia. Carving can be a bit intimidating,You did a fine job. .......Geo.

Tom Currie · « **Reply #18 on:** April 19, 2009, 06:04:13 PM »

A first rifle to be proud of !

Chris in Washington · « **Reply #19 on:** April 19, 2009, 07:36:10 PM »

Thank you all so much for the help and input. For those that want to see a few more pictures go to

http://s357.photobucket.com/albums/oo16/cdstatz/

I'll try to add more when I can.

Chris

California Kid · « **Reply #20 on:** April 19, 2009, 08:26:00 PM »

Stock has good architecture. Real nice job on the lock panels and beaver tails.

Madcaster · « **Reply #21 on:** April 20, 2009, 07:40:06 AM »

good first effort,just keep on going,and try to improve with each gun!

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Author Topic: First time carving (Read 8530 times)

George F.

lew wetzel

lew wetzel

George F.

California Kid

Madcaster