canoe carving (Pictures a plenty)

[mr dazzler]

My second attempt at carving a miniature "canoe bowl", about 16 inches long carved from willow.
1/ Half log with pithy area hewen off

2/ Starting to define the area to be hollowed

3/ Defining the sides

4/ Starting to define the bows and stern

5/ Starting to hollow

6/ Refining inside with slick gouge

7/ More trimming and rough shaping, now at the ready to dry stage. Walls are roughly 3/8ths of an inch thick

I spent a little less than an hour to do this, which included stopping to switch the camera on to take the pics...

This was one I "ruined" a few days ago, about 3 foot long, carved from a full log not split like the other one.

All was going well until I inadvertantly drilled through the wall with that super sharp super efficient slick.....

Its a totally new form (to me)and I havent really a clue what I was doing, but the north west coastal forms are so diverse and rich.....
Thanks for looking

 

[Muddypaws]

Ooooh! Nice work. BTW is that a Henry Taylor adze, and what is it like to use? The reason I ask is that I'm thinking of getting one.

 

[Peat]

Good stuff. And does that adze have a straight edge. I was given one that does and have yet to use it as i'm not sure of the practicality of it for hollowing. Any advice mr dazzler?

 

[mr dazzler]

It is a henry taylor adze, with a curved edge. Its ok at a push. You probably could use a straight adze to hollow items out, but it would be much harder than using a curved one as the 2 corners will drag and dig in. On my one it improved dramatically by putting a very small micro bevel (actually more like a very slight convex shape) to the outside of the blade (factory grind was in-cannel) Its the only curved adze I have ever used, have owned it appox 25 years, maybe there are better ones out there......

 

[Tubbyfraser]

That's no Kent pattern axe but a Scotch one. The bit seems a little Kentish but the eye surround is Scotch IIRC. Very nice and good luck with the bowl - not got there yet but hope to soon. It's ruddy upsetting when something you've been working on goes and splits but with a little learning and experience it gets easier. My first few kuksat went the way of the pear but now I understand how to use the wood a little better.

Thanks for showing,
Graeme

 

[mr dazzler]

Good stuff. And does that adze have a straight edge. I was given one that does and have yet to use it as i'm not sure of the practicality of it for hollowing. Any advice mr dazzler?

You could possibly use a straight adze to chop a groove in the same way a mortice chisle functions; it works for the north west coast carvers. They drive theiir adzes sometimes with a maul. I dont know if you are familiar with regular carpentry, but to chop a mortice you take vertical sliced chips within a pre measured and marked pair of parallel lines. With a mortice chisle and mallet you can chop a mortice pretty quick, its been around for hundreds and hundreds of years, time tested and efficient.....

 

[Tjurved]

I love that huge chopping block of yours!

 

[mr dazzler]

LOL Its solid as an anvil. I have had a few blocks over the years and this is the boss one. Doesnt budge even if you walk into it. The legs are 75mm thick, the top is a beech log.

 

[SOAR]

Nice work with the bowl, very interesting shape aswell.