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First Cuts: Chip C a r v i n g

Fig 3.9 A hole madÄ™ by rotating tbe No. 8 gotige while pushing it well into the wood

FlG 3.10 Triangular pockets. Afier tbe V is stabbed, the cbisel is sloped down into the centrÄ™ of the cut, starting with its corner entering the wood at one of the shaUow corners and following that side of the V linÄ™ until the edge meets the other linÄ™. The back linÄ™ should occur naturally.

to rest the chisel back on to a linÄ™ drawn parallel. The chisel now cntcrs ac a Iow angle on the linÄ™ on which ir has just rested. One corner follows one of the stabbed cuts towards the Iow point, while the edge is aimed at the further cut. As the tool travels it should run along the back linÄ™ to form a triangle (Fig 3.10). The bchaviour of the grain may affect the direction of this cut. lf the wood tcars, the cut should be madÄ™ from the opposite corner.

If the angle between the stab cuts is less than 90^c a normal straight-edge cannot rcach into the corner. A skew or a straight fishtail chisel is needed here.

If, instead of holding the chisel morÄ™ or less upright when making the first pair of cuts, you cut straight in at a Iow angle to make this triangular pockct the wood will split and the corner look rough (Fig 3.11). To make all three sides slope you must first make three stab cuts to form a star with the lowest part of each cut in the centrÄ™. Fach side is cut away as in the first triangle (Fig 3.12). As far as possiblc cut with the grain. It is difficult to take all three cuts to the same depth.

A similar form to the first triangle is madÄ™ now with a No. 5 gouge. The finaÅ‚ cut is madÄ™ with the inverted tool to givc a concave shapc to the hypotenuse, too. To prevent the unengaged corner of the gouge from digging in (Fig 3.13) it is best to make a sharper angle with the first two cuts. It helps if the No. 5 is a fishtail. The serifs in lettering are cut using a similar technique.

A MorÄ™ Complex Flower

An effectire pattern can now be madÄ™ conibining all these exercises. A flower is drawn up with compasses. The centrÄ™ is cut as before. The petals are stabbed in with the No. 5 (Fig 3.14), but deeper gouges can be used with different effeets.

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