Hand worked Oaken Dish

[xy mosian]

I would like to be a better carver. There are a few of problems with this. The garage is too cold at the moment, what to carve ( we don't really do ornaments ), and having a bit of wood big enough for a life sized Squirrel, or anything else for that matter. Looking around I spotted one of those bits of wood which seem to be far too good to throw away. A piece of European Oak about 200mm ( 8") x 80mm ( 3") x 30mm ( 1 1/8"). Trying to work the other way around I racked my brain to find something that I could carve it into. If the item were useful that would be a bonus. Eventually I managed to bolt a vice, via a small bench, to the house wall in the warm loft. Sorted.

The plan was sorted out by dooling in Sketchup and a print-out transfered by automatic center pop through a print.
The underside was left with a tooled finish, whereas the top was scraped and sanded. The finish is Hard wax oil.

The only power tool used was a jigsaw to cut the initial profile, eveything else was done using hand tools.

Here are a few pictures.

I hope you like it, xy.

 

[MARK.B.]

Like the look of that,would be ideal for loose change etc .

 

[xy mosian]

Thanks Mark. You're right, loose change, car keys, ear studs, etc... It is nice to produce something that will be used.
xy

 

[AndyT]

Inspirational! I'm sure we've all got bits of wood that could be used for something like that - now we have an example to follow.

 

[xy mosian]

Thanks Andy. I have a different problem now. I'm trying to see something useful inside the smallest, silliest, pieces of wood.
xy

 

[Racers]

Hi, xy

Very nice, reminds me of a small dough bowl.

Pete

 

[xy mosian]

Hi Pete, Thanks.
I had to look up Dough Bowl, it does look similar in shape. I wasn't thinking of Dough Bowls during the design phase, well doodling anyway, but I suppose I may have seen an image at sometime in the past. I was thinking more Punt like.

xy

 

[Newbie_Neil]

Hi xy,

Your bowl looks really good.

Thanks,
Neil

 

[UTMonkey]

Really, really good, I bet you got some enjoyment out of that.

 

[xy mosian]

Hi guys, Neil, Monkey, sorry I'm not deliberately ignoring you.
Thanks for the comments, they make the work, fun really, seem worthwhile. Some of the enjoyment came from, " You'd have trouble doing that with a machine" and ranged to "Take that you !**" when and appropriate face appeared on the Oak.
Somehow I have to pick it up to handle, no not fondle, whenever I am close enough. Wood is a very tactile material and the shape of this seems to run well in the hand for some reason.
xy

 

[Togalosh]

That looks cool..quite retro. It's well finished.

You say you are short of things to make ..could you get interested in carving chair feet ? I am hoping that one day I'll make upholstered chairs with very cool feet (a classic style/idea)..but I haven't a clue on how to make the feet (except the turned ones or course)..but think they must be carved. I am about to start another thread to ask about them so will not expalin more here.

If this is something you'd like to give a go then please keep in touch.

Togs

 

[xy mosian]

Hi Togs,

Retro? Yes it does a bit, there is something about the shape that reminds me of a 70's Habitat butter dish.
Chair feet? There are any number of videos of folk telling everyone how to carve ball and claw feet on You Tube. I see from your other thread that you have been recommended at least one.
I have not thought about trying a b&c foot, not had the need, so far. There are a few carvers in these parts with a great deal more experience than I, if you are looking for a carver one of them would likely be a better bet.

xy

 

[andersonec]

XY, never tried carving myself but watched the BBC programme about Grinling Gibbons with my jaw dropped, here is a link to a video on youtube which may be of interest to you.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wF38ZYmEHGo

Andy

 

[xy mosian]

Thanks Andy, I have the series lined up on the PVR. The Gibbons were certainly jaw dropping. Then Steve Bisco demonstrated the way the carvings were built up, a tiny bit of the mgic disappeared and clarity showed on the horizon. It would take me an age to complete anything of any size, but a small group of Crocus on some flat panel background is a possibility. Don't hold your breath.
xy

 

[andersonec]

XY,
I still think the magic is there because no-one had done it before and it had to be taken apart to find out how it was done, when you think of the conditions they were working in, no electricity (lighting) etc. You can see why parts which were not on view were left un-carved and when you think how long it takes to produce one item ( I am ignorant on this subject) the rate of work must have been mind blowing when you see the size of some of the installations, genius is the only word I can think of and what an inspiration.

Andy

 

[Sawyer]

Nice piece of work Xy and a great way to use up offcuts. I like the tool-marked finish underneath, adding a hand-made touch to a modern looking item.

 

[xy mosian]

I agree with all you say Andy. I wonder just how much of the roughing out was done by assistants, in the way that master painters had others do the background or less detailed areas. Nothing wrong with that of course but it does help to get throughput up.
xy

 

[xy mosian]

Thanks Sawyer, I started with the intention of a tooled finish to the top, but I could not quite get the look right. It looked too busy. I also played with the idea of some motif to the flatter upper ends, I dismissed that idea partly because I was scared I'd mess the whole lot up. Perhaps next time
xy