Pointy Bowl and a great new carving aid

[nic.]

Finished this bowl Yesterday; actually started it at woodfest last weekend lots of people including Bardster had a hand in roughing it out.

But the real find was the chest protector that Bardster gave me at woodfest- Brilliant for pointy shapes like this- you can see how the leather has been indented by the wood yet the very soft points ( Spalted Birch) were unharmed. I have never knowingly come close to cutting myself when carviing towards my chest yet the first time I used the guard it took quite a beating. Maybe this is similar to the idea that you drive less safely when wearing a seatbelt? ( not knocking seatbelts though!)

 

[Barn Owl]

Beautiful bowl and great idea that protector.

 

[Harvestman]

Lovely work Nic.

I think I need full body armour for my carving skills

 

[Hoodoo]

Awesome bowl! Very nicely sculpted!

 

[Androo]

Very lovely indeed!

 

[bikebum1975]

Beautiful bowl like that chest protector to.

 

[Dannytsg]

Beautiful bowl. Lovely work.

 

[MartiniDave]

I just love that bowl, puts me in mind of giant walnut shell.

Dave

 

[Biker]

I just love that bowl, puts me in mind of giant walnut shell.

Dave

Yep, my thoughts exactly. I looked at it for a while wondering what it reminded me of.

Just amazing workmanship that, and some really crisp lines too. Well bloody done!

 

[Tiley]

That's a real beauty! Lovely to see the lines of carving in the bowl. I like the look of the chest protector, too. looks as though I might have to break out the leather...

 

[Baggy]

That bowl is not bad for a blacksmith .............................................................................. :You_Rock_

 

[nic.]

That bowl is not bad for a blacksmith .............................................................................. :You_Rock_

I had spent most of the week camping at the Hay festival, all the rain finally washed the soot out of my hands- was the first time I have carved wood that has stayed clean from start to finish

 

[Baggy]

was the first time I have carved wood that has stayed clean from start to finish

Brill, there is an upside to everything

Fathers day is nearer and I have some laburnum ready

 

[Hugo]

Nice bowl and nice carving, a pleasure to look at.

 

[Bardster]

Lovely bowl Nic, and glad the protector came in useful. I think you are right though, knowing the leather is there, i too make cuts closer to my chest such that the protector is marked by the knife. Cuts I wouldn't make if it wasn't there.

 

[mikew]

That's a real beauty nic.

 

[plastic-ninja]

Beautiful bowl Nic.
It's quite unfair of you to be so talented given your skill as a bladesmith too!
Bardster's leather protector reminds me of the gorget worn by some regiments as part of a dress uniform
although this is usually made of brass.
Cheers , Simon

 

[heath]

Lovely work as ever. I was thinking about how i would carve a bowl like that (badly). Do you carve out the bowl in a regular way first and then use the gouge to carve the detail, and then work on the outside of the bowl?

 

[nic.]

Thats the how this one was done- carved out to a regular bowl shape then the flutes added with a twca cam, normally I would carve out and start the flutes off with an adze of the same radius then clean them up with the twca cam. I then rough shaped the outside with an axe and finished with a couple of knives- I use a fine detail blade to blend in the concave curves on the outside; another thing I make but isn't on my site.

Give it a go!