[Woodcarver] Removing chips while carving

[Ivan Whillock]

Joking aside, the removal of wood chips while carving, particularly in relief, is an issue for beginners.  Their first impulse is to either flip the chips away with the tool or to brush them away with their hands.  The flip method results in some bad habits with the tool such as prying on the last cutting stroke, which dulls the tool and fuzzes the cut.  It also stalls the carving process because to cut, flip away the chip, cut, flip away the chip is an inefficient way to carve.

Brushing the chip away with the hand is another method I've seen among beginners.  They will make a cut, and, almost without thinking, brush the chip away.  With nearly every cut there is a following brushing away move.  That, too, is an inefficient way to carve.  The repeated brushing over the wood with the hand has other disadvantages as well.  Each pass adds more body stain to the wood, so many carvings get quite soiled. Even "clean" hands add oil to the wood.  I've also seen carvers, unconsciously in the habit of brushing their hand over the wood while carving, ram it into the tool on the other hand, or even pick up a sliver from the wood.

The tried and true method of removing the chip in the tool path is to blow it away with a short puff of breath.  The chip moves out of the way without the carver needing to stop the cutting strokes.  Then, when  large clusters of chips gather on the carving or on the bench, it is best to remove them with a brush.  These methods keep the carving unstained, the bench clean, and the carver working efficiently.
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: WdcvrRip at aol.com 
  To: woodcarver at six.pairlist.net 
  Sent: Thursday, September 08, 2005 8:10 PM
  Subject: Re: [Woodcarver] Re: oxidizing of cherry wood


  DONATIONS to the Woodcarver Mailing List can be made using PayPal OR regular mail. Click this link: http://wwwoodcarver.com/WWWList/WWWList.html



------------------------------------------------------------------------------



  In a message dated 9/8/05 12:40:32 PM, carve at whillock.com writes:



    (As an aside, a good hint for all carvers is to remove chips by blowing them away or using a brush,



  I don't recommend blowing away the chips...always use a brush.  The constant blowing drives the guy next to you up a wall! (LOL)   Rip 


------------------------------------------------------------------------------


  _______________________________________________
  Woodcarver mailing list
  Woodcarver at six.pairlist.net
  http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/woodcarver
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: http://six.pairlist.net/pipermail/woodcarver/attachments/20050909/d251f564/attachment.html