First Attempts at Relief Carving

[mjohnson]

TDM, you have a lot more carving experience than do I. I have some 1x4 figured maple and a quaker stock as well to practice on. My final design will go on the quaker as a trial run before putting it on the Woodsrunner stock. I plan to keep this first rifle fairly simple, kind of along the lines in Jim's carving booklet. Personally I think what you have done looks pretty good.

[TDM]

Unless you have super sharp tools I always had more luck on softer wood with a stab in approach to the job. But just about every one has their own preferences.

Agree, luckily my chisels and gouges are very sharp, I strop them regularly while I’m working. I have some larger chisels that are Czech made, but I need to put a working edge on them. What I use are my Flex Cut chisels. I’ve gone through a lot of bandaids so far because any skin contact with a working edge brings blood!

[bama]

Everybody has to start somewhere. Starting is the hardest part. Practice all you want before you start, you won't regret it. The old saying, practice makes perfect is sound advice. Good carving starts with a good pattern, next is good tools properly sharpened, then comes the skill to use the tools. I have seen bad patterns cut well but still not look good. I have seen good patterns cut poorly but still look presentable. Of course, a good pattern cut well makes everybody smile. The main thing is to start but plan well and make sure your tools are properly sharpened. Good luck

[TDM]

Everybody has to start somewhere. Starting is the hardest part. Practice all you want before you start, you won't regret it. The old saying, practice makes perfect is sound advice. Good carving starts with a good pattern, next is good tools properly sharpened, then comes the skill to use the tools. I have seen bad patterns cut well but still not look good. I have seen good patterns cut poorly but still look presentable. Of course, a good pattern cut well makes everybody smile. The main thing is to start but plan well and make sure your tools are properly sharpened. Good luck

Agree, thanks.

[elkhorne]

There is an excellent book by Susan Warren Bicio covering Lancaster carving examples called “The Book of Lancaster Carving Details for the Gunmaker.” It has some really good examples of full size drawings of many Lancaster gunmaker’s carvings. You can expand on this by printing from the KRA discs and making some of your own line drawing patterns. The. You can study the discs for the incised versus relief carved elements. Just some more ideas for patterns. Good luck!

[TDM]

There is an excellent book by Susan Warren Bicio covering Lancaster carving examples called “The Book of Lancaster Carving Details for the Gunmaker.” It has some really good examples of full size drawings of many Lancaster gunmaker’s carvings. You can expand on this by printing from the KRA discs and making some of your own line drawing patterns. The. You can study the discs for the incised versus relief carved elements. Just some more ideas for patterns. Good luck!

Good advice. I’ve ordered Mike Millers DVD and there’s a couple of KRA CDs I plan to order. While I am serious about learning and improving, it’s not my goal to excel on carving past a novice point. Just trying to learn some basic skills. Certainly makes you appreciate the skills of true Craftsmen a lot more.

[flatsguide]

Jim Kibler’s and others advice on copying carving at your present skill level is spot on. Even though you have a design drawn on the wood, if you don’t know how it was developed ( drawn) you will have a hard time following the lines and getting the design to flow properly. May I suggest taking the tack of getting a sketch pad and tracing paper and trace good examples of carving and drawing them in the sketch book. Draw and draw some more. Stoner creek on the previous page Posted some examples of good carving and good place to start. Use a number two pencil and a good eraser, you will know when you’re well enough along is when you have worn out a a few erasers. For me, if I can draw what I want to carve or engrave the process goes very well, the mind, eye and hand have been down that path before and even though it was on paper the carving in wood goes much smoother for some reason. Your present carving is OK, but your present carving skills coupled with a good design will be “Wow...nice work!”
Good luck,
Richard

[TDM]

Jim Kibler’s and others advice on copying carving at your present skill level is spot on. Even though you have a design drawn on the wood, if you don’t know how it was developed ( drawn) you will have a hard time following the lines and getting the design to flow properly. May I suggest taking the tack of getting a sketch pad and tracing paper and trace good examples of carving and drawing them in the sketch book. Draw and draw some more. Stoner creek on the previous page Posted some examples of good carving and good place to start. Use a number two pencil and a good eraser, you will know when you’re well enough along is when you have worn out a a few erasers. For me, if I can draw what I want to carve or engrave the process goes very well, the mind, eye and hand have been down that path before and even though it was on paper the carving in wood goes much smoother for some reason. Your present carving is OK, but your present carving skills coupled with a good design will be “Wow...nice work!”
Good luck,
Richard

Thanks Richard, I’ll work on that.

[TDM]

I don’t know. That whole exchange was off kilter. I thought that we were helping you along with carving.

Me too.

[oldtravler61]

  TDM everyone is giving you great advice. I struggle at carving also and that's putting it mildly... LOL  My only advice is keep it simple at first and do it well. The rest will come in time.
  Jim Kibler on his site posted a woods runner he just finished that recently carved. Might want to check it out....Oldtravler

[TDM]

  TDM everyone is giving you great advice. I struggle at carving also and that's putting it mildly... LOL  My only advice is keep it simple at first and do it well. The rest will come in time.
  Jim Kibler on his site posted a woods runner he just finished that recently carved. Might want to check it out....Oldtravler

Thanks Oldtravler, I have Jim’s book on carving and I’m going to make sketches of the more simple designs he shows. I’ve pretty much carved up my Quaker stock, but a buddy of mine is sending me a couple of old stocks that will be a fresh canvas. I’ll take a look at Jim’s new photos too.

[mjohnson]

Just pick up some figured 1x4 maple boards from a wood yard. Here in NW Washington we have an outfit called Edensaw. They sell a lot of exotic wood for furniture and carvers. I have three 30 inch boards for practice.Lots of room for mistakes!

[TDM]

Just pick up some figured 1x4 maple boards from a wood yard. Here in NW Washington we have an outfit called Edensaw. They sell a lot of exotic wood for furniture and carvers. I have three 30 inch boards for practice.Lots of room for mistakes!

Maple boards are scarce in my neck of the woods, but I plan to get one if I see it.

[Mike Brooks]

Just pick up some figured 1x4 maple boards from a wood yard. Here in NW Washington we have an outfit called Edensaw. They sell a lot of exotic wood for furniture and carvers. I have three 30 inch boards for practice.Lots of room for mistakes!

You can't learn how to carve a KY rifle on a flat board.

[Joe Stein]

Just pick up some figured 1x4 maple boards from a wood yard. Here in NW Washington we have an outfit called Edensaw. They sell a lot of exotic wood for furniture and carvers. I have three 30 inch boards for practice.Lots of room for mistakes!

You can't learn how to carve a KY rifle on a flat board.

You can plane or rasp it and have enough curvature to mimic a half of a buttstock.
(Would that be a half-stock?🤔)

[jgraham1]

For a first time, you did very well.  Wish I had that kind of talent.

Jerry

[TDM]

For a first time, you did very well.  Wish I had that kind of talent.

Jerry

Thank you Jerry, but I’ve got a long way to go. I’m concentrating on studying Rococo style carving and doing sketches.

[TDM]

Finally have my Mark Miller relief carving DVD and a couple of photo collection thumb drives from KRF. I’ll be studying these and making more sketches before I try my hand on a couple of old stocks I was able to get. The new carving video Jim Kibler came out with yesterday is a big help too. I have done some more practice carving, which I’ll show, but I’ve learned just enough to at least start seeing my own mistakes, which I’ll take as progress. Rest assured the real Woodsrunner stock will not be touched until I can copy and duplicate some simple, traditional designs properly. I’ve already ordered one of Jim’s CNC carved Woodsrunners in Cherry. I’ll probably finish this new one before finishing the one on the work bench now. I’m in no rush. And again, I know what I’ve done so far is incorrect, but I’ll continue to persevere.

[Kmcmichael]

It will be a treasured item for your offspring.
I read the comments and realize my ape like tendencies. It will not stop me from trying it.

[TDM]

Well, this isn’t much of a “carving” but installed the brass plate on the patch box cover and cut/carved a thumb pull. The rifle is complete except for carving and wood finish. I’m working on a factory carved Woodsrunner too, it’s almost finished. When it’s done I’ll take the plunge on my own carving.