Few weeks ago I stocked up my tool box with a few new tools. I had some jobs in mind (like scaling fish :) and this girl is always over the moon when when she has an excuse to buy delicious new tools! I ordered a selection of what I thought could work to simulate the scales. I tested them out and came up with these gouges above, just the right curve and only 2 and 3 mm wide.
The shape of the curve is expressed in sweep. Sweep 1 being a flat straight chisel, 2 being a very gentle scoop, and these two for instance are sweep 8 and 9. So if you look at a catalogue and it talks about a gouge 5/8 the first number tells you the sweep or "roundness". The second number, in this case 8, will tell you it is 8 mm wide at its widest point.
When the curve of the cutting edge becomes sharper then a circle they are referred to as veiners. The ones you see here are sweep 11, and from left to right 3, 1 and 0.5 mm.
All these are made by Pfeil in Switserland, and easily available online. Also known as linoleum cutters cos of their size, i prefer these small palm cutters with their round handle. I've got small hands and these fit so well they give me good grip and direction. Another great maker here in Europe is Kirschen from Germany, also know as Two Cherries in English speaking countries. Little bit more expensive but again a large choice in shapes and sizes. Also very neat bend carvers for deep and limited spaced work.
They are great tools for things like these tails. And with the added choice in shape and size i'm not so limited anymore into what i can cut. Here you see the top of the tails, something that's not possible anymore once they will be covered supporting the table top. (why do I bother then!?!? Cos I'm crazy I guess?)
'Cause you're AMAZING!
ReplyDeleteIt's those details that make your work so Stunning!
Thank you for the Lesson in carving tools!
Thanks! But i feel it's no way near a lesson, people fill books with info about these tools! Just thought i let you know what's around and what i've chosen to use for doing the scales on the fish :)
DeleteThere are many many more sort of shapes, like V-shapped cutters etc. Can you believe it; I recently stumbled onto this site;
http://proleathercarvers.com/tools.html?tooltype=31
All sorts of amazingly shaped gorgeous tools for carving leather. Although i get the impression it is not carving but impressing. Still.... if you see what's out there!?!?! All aids and opening new possibilities...
Just love your carving, makes me want to give it a go, and thanks for the info on gouges too.
ReplyDeleteaah, lovely to hear you're inspired, please do have a go! I once did a post on carving barley twists, and that is e really nice project if you want to start with it. You don't need to buy gouges for this, just a normal exacto-knife will do, and you probably have one laying around anyway :D The measuring out is probably the hardest part, but once you start cutting you will be amazed of what you are capable off. Very satisfying project! You can use your first bit of carving as a cane? Or make a lamp base? Or a candlestick?
DeleteThanks for all the tool info. Crazy, maybe ;-), a stickler for detail and realism, for sure, that's why we all love your work so much!
ReplyDeleteYou may call me a nut-case any tim, cos I suspect you are one too =D
DeleteLearning every day and today it's a brand new word; stickler. Love you for it Elga!!
HaHa, it takes one to know one, I love being a nut-case!
DeleteI admire your craftmanship and enjoy your work very much! The detail that can't be seen? It gives you satisfaction, knowing it's complete, and that's what counts and makes you the amzing artist that you are. And being a bit crazy comes with being a miniaturist to start with I think. Or actually hear from others who are not into miniature-making.. :D)
ReplyDeleteToo right Monique, we don't need to explain amongst each other XD
DeleteYou're not crazy, it's attention to detail which is what you are so good at (amongst other things). And you will be able to see the inside of the tail fins partially, as they curve away from the table. I like the frilly edge on the fins.
ReplyDeleteI just caught a glimpse of the scales on your Flickr, wow, wow!! They look fantastic! I am so glad you put them on. They've got such a nice rhythm to them, and I think they make the contrast between the smooth and the textured/ carved parts even bigger.
You are one talented woman!
Yes Josje, becáuse you are able to get a glimpse of their tops as they curve away I felt the need to do it (suffering from compulsive behavior? haha) Anyway, I'm over the moon with adding them too. Not done yet, but more the half and it already shows how graphic these scales work. I haven't under cut them because the darkening of the grain is sufficient enough. At the same time it still shows how smooth their bodies actually are and it doesn't compete with the more 3-d edging at the top and base
ReplyDeleteHi Debora,
ReplyDeletecan I ask...do you hand hold the object as you carve? I'm curious about how you manage to hold something that is an odd shape and still be able to get such great detail.
=0)
Of course, ask anything! And yours is a bright question too. Yes, I do hold the pieces in my hand as i carve. But that's cos they are so small. If they would be bigger you could clamp them down. I've seen really cool swiveling vises that you can tilt and turn to make the object rotate, depending on the cut you make and the direction of the grain. But again, i feel more suited for somewhat bigger objects. These fish are so 3-dimensional, that even if they would be bigger, they would be best of carving them holding them in your hands.
ReplyDeleteps. I used a small cushion filled with bird sand ( you know that stuff you put in the bottom of their cage?). It 's the red & white stripped pillow in the pics. A left over from making a grand-dad's chair in the past, it now turned out to be a handy have-around to support the fish as I did the scales. That was the only time I used an attribute. With my right i held the gouge, and my left hand still held the fish, so i could turn both the fish and gouge in a combined motion to make the curvy cuts.
ReplyDeleteThanks Debora, that's really helpful =0)
Deleteyou're welcome :) reading back it sounded a bit... odd? maybe unclear? So I'm glad its of aid.
DeleteHello:
ReplyDeleteI'm Inma Gomez and I think that your creations are fantastic.
Hasta hay mi inglés, sorry. De verdad me gusta mucho tu trabajo con la madera ya que a mí me encanta hacer muebles ( sólo para mi casita) y el tallado es un trabajo que me da mucho respeto y veo que tú lo haces genial.
Gracias por tu comenterio de mis zapatos.
Un abrazo.
Gracias! Sus zapatos son magníficos, hermosos. Veo un montón de trabajo en ellas!
DeleteGratuluję talentu, piekne to wszystko.Pozdrawiam
ReplyDelete