[Woodcarver] IVAN

[Ivan Whillock]

> Do you make or habve made your own tools Ivan? Like specialty tools ans 

> what do you use to start with ??


When I first started carving I made some of my own tools, quickly decided 
I'd rather carve than make tools, though I did design and make prototypes of 
palm tools for Stubai and a few specialty tools.

Back when I first studied, Eduardo, the master carver I worked with, 
insisted that I buy unsharpened, unhandled tools and learn to do that 
myself.  That, however, was the standard back then. You ordered the 
unsharpened blades and handles separately.  Often you made your own handles. 
If you wanted tools factory honed and with handles, which professionals 
almost never did, you added that to the cost and the factory did it for you. 
Eduardo insisted that it was wasted money, that when you got the tools you'd 
have to regrind them to your own specifications anyway.  The first skill I 
learned was getting my carving tools handled, properly sharpened and honed.

Ponder this:   a blade cost about $2.00,  the handle 50 cents.  If you 
wanted the factory to sharpen and hone it, that was another 50 cents, but 
then you had to also have them put the handle on for you, for another 
charge, I think around 25 cents, popping the cost of the tool up to over $3!

That #18 3/8 tool that cost $3.25 when I first started now sells for  over 
$20!  Of course, then you could live on $6 grand a year, too.


Ivan Whillock Studio
122 NE 1st Avenue
Faribault, MN  55021
Visit my website at
http://www.whillock.com
Visit my Picture Trail album at
http://www.picturetrail.com/gallery/view?username=ivancarve

--------------------------------------------------
From: "Jan Oegema" <jancarves3 at rogers.com>
Sent: Friday, March 13, 2009 9:22 AM
To: "[Woodcarver]" <woodcarver at carverscompanion.com>
Subject: [Woodcarver] IVAN


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> Hey, Matt,

>

> One does not use "burning" and "woodcarving" in the same sentence!!!:)

>

>

> Ivan Whillock Studio

> +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

> Good to see you are still among us Ivan

> Do you make or habve made your own tools Ivan? Like specialty tools ans 

> what do you use to start with ??

>

>

>                                   Woodbutcher Jan

>

>

> You are invited to check out my website..

>       http://www.janscarvingstudio.com

>

> Also take a look at my picture trail albums ...

>         http://www.picturetrail.com/woodbutcher

>

> http://www.woodcarvingillustrated.com/forum/

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> http://www.woodcarvingillustrated.com/pdfdownloads/2082ChristmasGnome.pdf

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