[Woodcarver] Crazzy amateur harpmaker

[Donna Menke]

Rochelle,
You may enjoy looking at my harp making blog: http://harpmaking.blogspot.com/
Carving is fun to do, but it takes a bit of time to learn how to do it well. You need to learn how to carve before you tackle a project like the harp.
I looked up the Brian Boru harp and found lots of information about it- and the web sites of a couple of folks who are making them. In no case was a willow log used. I guess they are not purists- or it is almost impossible to get a log, dry it correctly, and mill it to fit. Most people are making the soundbox in more usual ways. You could make a coopered back- if you are an accomplished woodworker with lots of good tools.
I will add carving to my harp later, but I'm too anxious to hear it play to wait until I get that done. I figure I can finish it and carve through the finish later on.
Maybe you should get a basic book on carving in relief. Hmmm, now who do we know who has one of those. . . oh yes- the list owner, Bill Judt. Check out his web site for more info.
Good luck with your project, and feel free to ask us questions-

Donna Menke
http://www.woodworks-by-donna.com 
Author: The Ultimate Band Saw Box Book

----- Original Message ----
From: Rochelle Summers <rochelle at rsummers.ca>
To: woodcarver at six.pairlist.net
Sent: Friday, August 31, 2007 5:09:34 PM
Subject: [Woodcarver] Crazzy amateur harpmaker

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On 31-Aug-07, Linehan718 at aol.com wrote:

So lets go newbies, what are you working on, what do you need to  learn.
 

Well, I guess this is as good a prompt as any to introduce myself.  Though I have never done any woodcarving past picking up a swiss army knockoff and a piece of driftwood, I have decided I am going to need to learn.  


You see, I want to make a harp; a reproduction of the Brian Boru harp at Trinity College in Ireland (you'd recognize it if you saw it, practically everything that shows an irish harp, including beer labels, is based upon this one)  I am ordering the plans for its construction, and they include carving patterns.  Now, since I want to make it as close to the original as possible, I will hopefully be hollowing out a willow trunk to make the soundboard, and will be carving the proper patterns into both the willow soundboard and the oak arms.


There are a few snags I have to get past:  


I need a chunk of willow trunk that would carve down to 27" high, 19" deep and 14" wide.  And I haven't the faintest clue where to look for that.  And if I want to finish the harp by next year, I have to get the willow soon because apparently those who have reconstructed this harp before had to let the willow 'season' for 6 months.  


I also couldn't tell a good woodcarving set from a bad one, and haven't a clue or even a guess on how half of them are supposed to be used.




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