essentÊrving°72

Essen tial Woodcarving Techniques

although the temptarion ro use a router co set clown thc ground is strong, there is no objection to its use provided you leavc at least 3mm (‘/sin) to be carved by hand. Likewise sandpaper, scrapers and rifflers should be avoided in this sort of work. Any scratches they leave in the wood make the sur face duli, but even if thcsc are all removed by careful papering so is the variation in the surface. What is left is a lifeless surface, which does not invite one to read the subtler forms, and pastryfied edges - rounded and heavy. It also takes much longer.

PROTECTING THE SURFACE

The surfaccs of thc wood now need protection against dirt, deterioration and moisture. Various finishes may be tesced on the back or on an offcut which has bcen carved to show different aspects of the grain. Wax applied sparingly to all surfaces, including the back, will protect and enhance bur should not be so shiny that all one sces is the light bouncing off the carving. Oil (raw linseed, reak, tung or Danish) may show up blcmishes but will give a richer colour and a gcntlc shcen. Two or morÄ™ coats of Danish oil will make the surface too shiny and possibly rough to the couch. A sanding scalcr uscd as a first coat can make the wood look like plastic. It may also raise the grain and make it bristly. This carving was finished with raw linseed oil and has a plcasant colour and shecn (Fig 5.15).

Fig 5.15 The carving undercut and finished with linseed oil. The stab marks in the background would be removed by morÄ™ careful finishing. The other chisel marks enlwen the surfaces of leaf and

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