essent�rving�15

^:    ! .20 A student standing at a carmng bench

-:: tbe elbow level with the top. The body is ć-L-::ng to exert weigbt on the chisel. The cawing is z on scrap wood by a papa- join and the błock is - : ed on the bench.

The Bench

Odess you arc forccd by ill-health or some other -.-—stance to sit down to carve, you should _ i s stand. This means that you arc morę ~ and can put your wcight morę fully ■ - ‘ i the chisel. The bench should therefore be ar - .cight thar allows you to stand wirhout * c.r.g your back. For relief carving a good rule

-    :: have che top of the bench at elbow Ievel Fs 1.20). For work in the round it is wise to

.ca height appropriate for most of your I: you have no bench it is possible to make

-    r stand which can be clamped to a table.

:    rkpiece can then be fastened to this by one

ir -; ievices mentioned below. The work surface sa _ i be stable and not move when the chisel is :■ but. apart from being big enough to stay - ioes not necd to be bigger than the largest -.g you will do, with a little space left over -*r r: :he few tools in immediate use may resi and be easily seen and pickcd up. Others ~~ c .aid out nearby.

Fig 1.21 Variou$ cłamps. Front left: Jet clamp with long-reach heads and 670mm (26in) bar; Solo clamp; two G crantps, tbe bortom one hauing a loose button.

Holding Deyices

It is tempting to rush straight into carving wirhout planning how che work is to be held. (Incidenrally, it is worth mentioning herc that you should always wear stout shoes when carving - sandals and thin shoes give no protection against faliing lumps of wood and chisels.) Many means of securing work to the bench are now available (Fig 1.21). lf you use a crainp (or clamp) there must be an overhang of at least 35mm (1in) to aliow for a grip to be obtained. Room must also be left below for the tightening mechanism to bc turned. At least one corner of the bench should be accessible so that work can be clamped morę firmly at opposite sides - work may swing if anchored by only one clamp.