Creative Woodworks & crafts 1998-07, страница 37

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parting tool to make a stop cut at the upper ridge of each wing as shown in Fig. 3. Lower the rest of the wing so that the ridge stands out. Step 4. Sketch in the feather pattern of the wings. If you are uncomfortable drawing them freehand, trim the pattern to fit the space, tape it in place on one side, slip graphite paper underneath, then trace the feathers. Carve the upper row of feathers first, layering them as you go (see Fig. 4). Tuck the second row under the first, and so on, Step 5. The stop cuts for the feathers and the leaves in this project (see Fig. 5) were made with plunge cuts; that is, tapping the appropriately shaped gouge into the wood with a mallet. For example, three tools will give you the arcs for the feathers: the No. 5-12mm, the No. 5-30mm, and the No. 3-6mm. However, if your tools don't fit the arcs drawn in the pattern, either adjust the pattern to fit your tools, or use the corner of a gouge or skew chisel like a knife. With practice, you will find that this method will give you good control of the depth and direction of the cut. (Ironically, a knife is usually the last choice for this procedure because the thinness of the blade causes it to ride the grain more than will the corner of a gouge or skew chisel.)

Step 6. The No. 5-12mm gouge fits the arc of the leaves in the branch, too. Start close to the feet and work your way to the end of the branch, angling the surface of each leaf into the previous stop cut. They overlap like shingles on a roof, as shown in Fig. 6. Carve the arrows by first carving the tips, and then by rounding the shafts into the tips.

Step 7. Use a No. 9-4mm gouge to make the circle for the eye. Angle the tool away from the eye to keep it from breaking off and popping out. Use the same tool turned upside-down to round the eye. Be sure to carve with the grain on the rounding cut. Use the same tool to make a groove behind and in front of the eye. Note that the cut curves upward in front of the eye. Make a stop cut to separate the beak from the rest of the head. Lower the beak slightly. Make stop cuts at the ridge of the neck feathers. The arcs fit the No. 3-6mm and the No. 5-12mm gouges. Use the skew chisel to clean out the corners in these cuts (see Fig. 7).

Step 8. Remove the corners around the head and shoulders. Carve an angle in the stop cut between the head and beak. Remove the sharp corners of the beak (see Fig. 8). Step 9. Draw the crisscross pattern of the leg feathers. Make stop cuts along the lines and layer the feathers (again, like shingles on a roof). Use the No. 5-30mm gouge to make the stop cuts for the tail feathers. Use the No. 3 gouges to angle the feather to give them the overlapping effect shown in the finished carving. Separate the three visible toes on each foot and shape them. Curve

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Fig. 1. Trace the pattern onto the stock, saw It to shape, and attach it to a surface which can be clamped to your workbench.

2. Remove stock to differentiate the three levels of the carving.

Fig. 3. Make a stop cut on the upper ridge of each wing.