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5K views 29 replies 16 participants last post by  a1Jim 
#1 ·
First attempt at carving

Hi all;


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I always mention my buddy Bruce, and here's a post dedicated to him, (even though he's still alive) knock on wood.

He has no experience in wood carving, other to set a hinge or something.

When we were building the Philadelphia Pie Crust Table, he would work on parts like turning the post, laying out the pattern for the top, as well as cutting it out and hollowing the middle of it with a router. The 1 inch thick board becomes about 5/8 inch in the middle area. These are rough numbers, don't hold it against me if I recall the wrong numbers. The wood is Mahogany.

Well when it was time to carve the edges around the top, I was still working on the legs. Those legs gave me a lot of trouble. Something about the way the ball and claw foot is formed went against my instincts, I guess.

Anyway, I told Bruce to carve the top. He said you're the carver, I don't know how to carve. I told him to give it a shot.

The work he did was nothing short of spectacular! Had he been carving for thirty years, it wouldn't have been better. Faster maybe, better, no.

He has no idea what carving tools I have, there's only a couple to chose from, so he would ask what to use in what area, but that was pretty much it.

Now he still claims he can't carve, but I think he means won't.

Lee
 
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#3 ·
amazing!!
Well done, Bruce. This is spectacular. And this is a "first time out"??? I am in awe. As Lee had said, if you had been doing this for 30 years-I would still be in awe!
Beautiful
 
#4 ·
Hi Roger,

That's the only thing that gave him any real trouble. working from the edges to the center.

Other than that, he picked it up rather quickly!

Lee
 
#6 ·
Dang, Lee, I always thought those pie crust edge tables used applied trim. That is great work. Now I want to see the rest of the table and more construction photos. You should write this up for Fine Woodworking Mag. I'd also like to see the jig you used to remove the excess wood from the center. I assume you used a router? Give ol' Bruce a pat on the back, he did a great job. I can also under stand the " can but won't" I have a few things like that myself. While you're at it how did you calculate the edge so it came out perfect?
 
#14 ·
Extremely beautiful work! How I'd love my first time at anything to come out that well. He's been watching you, Lee. You sure he hasn't been sneaking in some practice carving while you weren't looking? LOL. You are a great friend to expose his talent to the world.
 
#15 ·
This is a great job. And a great tribute to a friend and employee to trust him to something like that. You knew within your heart and mind that he has the unrealized talent.

A fantastic job.
 
#18 ·
Hi Tom;

I wrote you a nice long reply to this yesterday, and then spilled a cup of coffee on my laptop computer. `It spent all of yesterday, and some of today not working. Now everything but the keyboard works. I went out and bought a cheapie keyboard, and hopefull it's temporary.

The jig can something as simple as two pieces of aluminum angles, which are longer than the top is wide. Then just slide the router back and forth on the angles.

The pattern used for the repeatiing edge shape came from a book from Ron Clarkson, Making A Pie Crust Table. The pattern can pretty easy to make on your own though.

The circle is divided into identical wedge shaped pieces, and the pattern is laid on the wedge , where it fits perfectly. Again, rather simple. This was all done on a piece of MDF, with only one of the edge patterns cut out. It has a center pivot point that when set on the table top center point, allows you to spin the MDF template, and mark all the segments.

The math to determine the angles was done by Bruce as well, as he's also a mathiamatical genius.

Lee
 
#19 ·
Hi Doug;

Can you imagine a highly trained professional having any use whatsoever with that glue. I mean really…

Yeah we buy it by the barrell and refill those little bottles! LOL (there easier to hide in case a client comes to visit!

Lee
 
#20 ·
Hi Tom;

When I said High End cabinet shop, I meant the high end of the yard!

If ezee-feed ever takes off as projected, he won't need a raise. We're both quitting, and building furniture for fun.

With an occasional fishing trip thrown in!

Until then, I'm on the wrong side of poor!

Lee
 
#22 ·
Hi Donna;

We started that table due to a slow spot in our schedule. Well everything but the legs got fininshed.

I will get back to them and finish them up. They are looking pretty good though.

Probably ten hours left in the project, but I just haven't seen the spirit that moves me.

Lee
 
#23 ·
Hi Panama,

Yup me too. with the rookies, however if it makes you feel any better, he used to carve leather, once upon a time.

Regarding his woodworking skills, he's truly a MASTER.

Taught me a heck of a lot. Due to his age he stopped learning though.LOL

Lee
 
#25 ·
Hi Karson;

Yeah, to me, if he approached from a technical angle, he could do it. If he approached it as art work, he wouldn't have pulled it off so successfully.

This man is VERY talented, in addition to being a real live genius.

Plus, I didn't want to do it!

Lee
 
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