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Photos below are one of my Banjo carvings. As far as guitars go...I think that you will be held to the peghead and heel sections because of wood thickness issues. However, I suppose that if sides and backs were kept slightly thicker, a nice design could be integrated.

Incise carving is a great option to relief carving. Incise carving is a single cut with a "V" carving tool. I recommend a palm chisel so you can create a smooth cut with more control. A VERY Sharp tool is required and practicing technique is very necessary so that your depth of cut (1/16th. is ample) and smoothness of turns are consistent. Single designs and repetitions of a design layout can be created on a piece of paper, placed in its proper position and taped to the area with carbon paper beneath. Simply draw over the lines on the pattern with a pencil or pen and the design is traced to your project.

This is a bit nerve racking because ONE SLIP and the project could be doomed. Try a simple peghead design on maybe a piece of headplate you may wish to attach later for your first try. No harm...No foul if things go bad.

Oh....by the way....you will quickly find out that a dull tool will be the one that bites and brings bandages to the table. They do make Kevlar carving gloves.

There are many books on carving techniques. Find out what works best for you. Most are a pushing technique. I personally don't like that technique for incise work. My incise technique is not in any book. I hold a palm chisel in my hand (palm up) with the cutting tip towards me. Keep my fleshy part of the side of my hand on the project and simply pivot my wrist to make straight or curves cuts. Never take your hand off the wood when doing this technique.
Practice practice practice before touching a project.....And practice on the wood species you plan to use.
I'm working on a camera and some carving ideas to post to the forum. I need to give back to everyone for what I receive.
Kent Bailey

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EXCELLENCE IN SCULPTURE, CARVING, LUTHIER, ARCHITECTURAL MILLWORK AND DESIGN

http://www.kabart.com

That looks great. If I tried doing something like that I'd end up with a big pile of sawdust, and probably a couple missing fingers.

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I didn't mean to say it, but I meant what I said.
http://www.brackettinstruments.com/

Wow...that had to take some serious time and patience! Beautiful!

-Matthew

I am very interested in this technique for harp peghead carving. Could you please post a couple of photos (or links) of the tools that you use?

Thanks

Mike

Sort of like wood engraving. I have a GraverMax and was wondering if it would work well for wood carving. They sale wood carving chisels for it but I don't know if it would worth it or not. Do you have any idea about it?

Mike,

cant speak for Kent but it looks like a V parting tool...Lee Valley sells a full set of palm chisels for about $40.

For insze work you only need the V parting tool. They do come in various angles to the Ve.

MUST get proper info on how to sharpen them, Is a real pain if not done tight/

I imagine other wood butcher shop supplis will sell them in singles.

Have fun.


blessings
the

Padma

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Audiences and dispensations on Thursdays ~ by appointment only.


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Kent,

That is some very nice work. Thanks for the tips too.

If you lived closer I'd trade you photography tips for carving help.

Since you have no photography lamps you might consider:
- take no indoor pictures with flash
- take outdoor pictures during the daylight (at dust is best since you don't want to get up a dawn)
- stand back from the work and zoom in (don't use wide angle it makes things look funny in shape)

Much more to learn, but that alone should improve your pictures by a bunch.

Now, how about some more carving tips?

Ed

I don't know about buying cheap chisels though. The one thing I can tell you is to look at the chisels and see if the metal is an even thickness and that the shafts are centered and not bent and mounted into the handle straight and how long the cutting part of the shaft is and whether or not it's good steel. I have a book by Chris Pye," Woodcarving, Tools, Materials and Equipment" which is a good read on the subject. Even the fit in the hand can be important if you are going to do a lot of carving. Just like any other tool, you get what you pay for.

Chris,

From what I can tell, I will need one, maybe two chisels to carve the grooves in the harp peghead. I am like you. I would prefer to buy good (excellent) chisels for the long haul. I have bought cheap and highend. There is no comparison. I think I will also need one of those "hooked" carving knives. Ever seen one of those? They look very handy.

Mike

Not too sure but I know there is a chip carving knife.

Yo, Chris

Ya me suppose that the GraverMax will move some wood for you...gee it moves stone and steel so it should move wood.

However wood is not stone or steel and something very personal and deeply intimate happens when talking to wood with a good sharp chisel in your hand. No power blade ever comes close to that communion, least not in my mind and heart.

For carving head and heals and even ribs...these are the chisels I use and highly recommend.


for detail
http://www.leevalley.com/wood/page.aspx ... 43333&ap=1

for very fine detail
http://www.leevalley.com/wood/page.aspx ... 43333&ap=1

and for larger work

http://www.leevalley.com/wood/page.aspx ... 43334&ap=1
this set of Henry Taylors is of exceptionaly fine quality and aint cheap.


Some prefer long handles others prefer palm handles and some can even do fine carving with the large or full size chisel... I have and use all of the above and again, highly recommend them for instument work.

One of my best sets of palm chisels (actualy I have 2 sets) were $12 specials for China...go figure.

You will know your hooked when you start using spring steel ( the stuff they use to bind boxes to skids for shipping) to make your own shallow gouges.

Thats my take and suggestions.

and while me gotts your eyeballs ...just gotta say thank you , I truly enjoy your videos, very clear, well done and informative, much appreciated.


Blessings
the
Padma


Ps: if you do go into wood carving ..get a book on how to sharpen carving chisels...Most don't and regret it untill they do or learn the heard way...especialy the V or parting chisel...its a challenge to get it right and it only works if its sharpend just right, then dude it is like carving butter.

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Audiences and dispensations on Thursdays ~ by appointment only.


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The Chris Pye book gets into sharpening and the tools very much. Even making your own handles, a good book for that kind of stuff. Thanks for the links.