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E S S F. N T I A I. W O O r> C A R V I N G T E C H X I Q V E S

Fic 10.12 The array of tools usedfor caruing the inside of the large sycamore bowl shown in FigurÄ™ 10.20.

and cutting disc are dangerous. They can also run away with you and take out morÄ™ than intended from the inside, especially near the rim. You nccd to chcck frequentiy that the thickness of the bowl is within sensible limits. Adzes, axcs, drills, and hand saws are all possible in the roughing out stages but straight gouges. long bent and spoon bit gouges are essential if you are to be fully in command of the shape. You may be able to get good results with a spoon bit or a long bend alone, but the former is morÄ™ difficult to control and the latter limits you to shallow bowls. Evcn rotary burrs and sanders can bc too greedy. Thcy will ccrtainly leave a different texturc.

Holding the Bowl while Carving

Bcfore tackling the problem of whether to carve the hollow or the outside of the bowl first ir is sensible to consider how the bowl is to be hcld at all stages of working. Burrs and other extraordinarv pieces of wood, being already rounded underneath, pose special problems. 1 have found webbing clamps useful with these (Fig 10.13), particularly if the wood is cushioncd

Fic 10.13 Bowl in Scots pine hcld by a webbing clamp (Dick Onians). The shape was dictated by the odd shape of the piece.

underneath. If the base is very broad and the sides are steep a clamp or holdfast may reach sufficienrly far across rhe bowl to hoÅ‚d it steady (Fig 10.14). Whcn the hollow is complete a bÅ‚ock of wood resting on a soft pad inside the bowl will givc purchase for a clamp or holdfast (Fig 10.15). Sometimes a morÄ™ spreading bowl may be clamped or held in a vice by a strong bar laid across the bowl pressing down on the rim. The lip has to be stout enough for this (Fig 10.16). If the base is to be thick enough a bÅ‚ock may be screwed on to the base, which should be flattened first (Fig 10.17). This may be held in a vice or clamped to the bench. In FigurÄ™ 10.18 the work piece is held in the vice by a bÅ‚ock screwed on to its top surfacc. The length of the screws and their position must be constantly remembered. The base of this example is a mirror image of the leaf forming the bowl and therefore thick (Fig 10.19). An excellent method is to leave a piece of wood at each end which is flar and can be held, preferably by two clamps (Fig 10.20). As the carving approaches complction these platforms are reduced to enable the shape to be complercd. Oncc the bowl is rounded and thin it is difficult and risky to squeeze it in the vice.

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