Having put the finishing touches on my latest project (that would be my second project ever) I decided to try and free a woodspirit from a piece of 2×4. The wood had edges of bark still on it, as well as lots of splinters-in-waiting.
How to clean this up, I ask myself. I could ask Rick, but he was buy installing a wood vice and I hated to interupt him for the umpteenth time, so I decided to take matters into my own hands. What could I lose? A piece of old 2×4? So, “take a chance”, I told myself, “and just try something. It will either work or it won’t. When you are done you will know a little more than when you started.”
I picked up my Dremel, pretty much closed my eyes and selected a bit, hoping that it was indeed for sanding, and started attacking the rough spots of the wood. It was working, I guess. At least I was “creating”.
A few moments later, Rick was by my side, silently watching. “Is this working”, I asked. His response was, “what are you trying to do?” Ah, well that is a good response for a guide – don’t assume you know what the goal is!! I replied, “sand off these chunks of wood. Will this work?” Supportive as ever, he said, “seems to be working.” Knowing that there was more to that answer than meets the eye/ear, I followed the response with, “what would YOU do?” And so the entry into the chisel world began.
With my piece of wood clamped in the new wood vice, I began to scrape away at the unwanted fibres of wood. And now I know why so many woodworkers leave their power tools behind and make the commitment to hand tools!
What a beautiful feeling.
-- "Functional WoodArt" by Debbie, Canada (http://www.execulink.com/~yohan)
7 comments so far
Don
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2586 posts in 619 days
posted 592 days ago
Debbie, hand tools are definitely the place to start. When you have a basic understanding of how to craft wood with them, you will better understand how power tools work.
I like the way you spoke of deciding ”...to try and free a woodspirit from a piece of 2×4”. I guess that’s what id did with this project.
-- CanuckDon "I just love small wooden boxes!" http://www.canterburybaptist.org/
scottb
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2855 posts in 769 days
posted 592 days ago
ah, returning life to wood, one that was lost when it was first deemed a 2×4… and later an offcut piece or waste. Not waste if you use it! Let us know what comes of it – form, function or lessons learned!
-- I am always doing what I cannot do yet, in order to learn how to do it. - Vincent Van Gogh
Obi
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2147 posts in 679 days
posted 592 days ago
so is Umpteen just before umpty? Like 18, 19, Umpteen, umpty, umpty one, umpty-two etc … ? LOL
-- http://ye-olde-cabinet-shoppe.com/
MsDebbieP
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11555 posts in 603 days
posted 592 days ago
yes indeed, said Umpty Dumpty
-- "Functional WoodArt" by Debbie, Canada (http://www.execulink.com/~yohan)
jockmike2
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4011 posts in 689 days
posted 502 days ago
Go girl, if you can do good work with chisels maybe you can start carving, look at Dick Cain, thats how he does a lot of his carving I’m sure, is with chisels. Make an umpty dumpty, I’ve never seen one. Ask Obi to show you one, I’ll bet he’s made one or two in his lifetime. jokemike
-- Mike. Profisher50@yahoo.com
Karson
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12617 posts in 843 days
posted 502 days ago
Go Girl.
-- Karson Southern Delaware karson_morrison@bigfoot.com
MsDebbieP
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11555 posts in 603 days
posted 502 days ago
thanks guys :)
I feel like a toddler—everything is new, exciting, and challenging
-- "Functional WoodArt" by Debbie, Canada (http://www.execulink.com/~yohan)