I recently finished a build that involved carving the body by hand. Not having any experience in carving, here is how I did it.
The carve amounted to a "fillet" that varied in width around the body. I used a piece of 1/2" MDF to define the shape of the inner edge of that fillet, and used a top-bearing pattern routing bit to just barely define a tiny rabbet at the innermost edge of the "fillet"
I then used a conventional rabbeting bit to cut a 1/8" rabbet that defined the 1/4" depth I wanted for the "fillet".
These two operations gave me two reference lines to use for the carve.
Some low-angled lighting, a lot of touchy-feely, some very precise carving and some sanding, and it is done. As to that precise carving, inevitably I ended up with humps and valleys that were obvious either to touch or with a low-angle light. It was amazing how I could literally shave off a high spot that probably wasn't more than a few thousandths of an inch, or similarly shave a larger area to remove a dip. I kept a diamond hone on the bench next to me and would touch up the gouges every minute or two so they stayed razor sharp.
Body carve
- Steve Sawyer
- Posts: 965
- Joined: Wed Jan 02, 2013 2:20 pm
- Location: Detroit, Michigan
Body carve
==Steve==
- Karl Wicklund
- Posts: 244
- Joined: Sun Jan 08, 2012 12:42 am
- Location: NW Wisconsin
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Re: Body carve
That’s a nice slice there. Very satisfying.
Tangentially, your process reminded me of *something* I used to see on TV in the 70s. It’s just ringing a bell, especially the 4th photo. Maybe from PBS.
Huh... I’ll stay awake on that for a while tonight.
Tangentially, your process reminded me of *something* I used to see on TV in the 70s. It’s just ringing a bell, especially the 4th photo. Maybe from PBS.
Huh... I’ll stay awake on that for a while tonight.
Kaptain Karl
- Steve Sawyer
- Posts: 965
- Joined: Wed Jan 02, 2013 2:20 pm
- Location: Detroit, Michigan
Re: Body carve
Yeah - I'm looking for an opportunity to do more of this. It's really enjoyable.
Can't help you on the "memory" that I'm triggering though...
Can't help you on the "memory" that I'm triggering though...
==Steve==