“If you have watched Dave’s videos on YouTube or Fine Woodworking, you have seen a only little bit of what’s in these three classes. Here we get much more complete explanations of every aspect. THANKS Dave!
Thanks too to Elia for mimicking the carving activities, and John, Ian and Seth for making the technology blend smoothly. Well done, all!”
Bob Easton
THREE PART SET
All three recordings–over 9 hours of instruction, $50 purchase price. Or purchase à la carte below.
BOWL CARVING with DAVE FISHER and ELIA BIZZARRI, Pt. 1: BLANK PREPARATION, LAYOUT, and HOLLOWING
In this first session, we begin with the orientation of the future bowl in the log. We go on to prepare the blank and use a compass in various ways to establish reference points for a symmetrical layout. We learn adze and gouge technique for creating the hollow. We leave time for questions and discuss managing green wood before and during the carving stages. 3.5 hour recording – $20 suggested purchase price.
orBOWL CARVING with DAVE FISHER and ELIA BIZZARRI, Pt. 2: SHAPING the EXTERIOR
In this session, we layout the foot on our still-green blank and learn a systematic approach to sculpting the complex exterior surfaces with an axe, a drawknife, and a gouge. Alternative tools and methods are also discussed. We take time to discuss drying procedures and other considerations to avoid cracking. Again, we leave time for discussing questions thoroughly. 3 hour recording – $20 suggested purchase price.
orBOWL CARVING with DAVE FISHER and ELIA BIZZARRI, Pt. 3: REFINING and CARVING the FINAL SURFACES
After two weeks of drying, the green-carved bowls are ready for the final transformation. We learn various holding strategies as we refine the hollow and flatten the bottom. We also explore various texturing options and fluting as we finish the side and end surfaces. We refine the upper rim and cut the important final chamfers. We also briefly explore various decorative options. Oil finishing will be discussed and live student questions are answered throughout. 3 hour recording – $20 suggested purchase price.
or
BOWL CARVING TOOLS
This is Dave’s ideal tool kit (you can get by with only a hatchet, gouge, and knife). The tools are, from left to right:
1: Bent gouges (#8, 30mm and #5 25mm) No need at all for the exact match, but something with a relatively steep sweep and a bent gouge is necessary. The shallower bent gouge can create a more subtle texture for the finishing step and can be used on the exterior sides.
2: Carving axe. Any finely sharpened hatchet will do.
3: Hollowing adze. Makes quick work, especially for larger bowls, but you can make a bowl without it. A bowl this size can be hollowed pretty efficiently with just a gouge and mallet.
4: Sloyd knife. For all sorts of trimming, chamfers, and such.
5: Layout tools: square, compass, straightedge (could just be the edge of a board), Oh–and a pencil for marking on green wood. There are all sorts of fancy versions out there, but I find that any soft lead pencil works pretty well. My favorite is “My First Ticonderoga”–made for kids, so thick with a soft lead.
6: Spokeshave and drawknife. These can help with shaping the exterior.
7: Plane. Useful for flattening the bottom especially.
8: Pegs and wedges for work holding. You can accomplish a lot with a few holes in a bench/plank and some pegs and acutely-tapered wedges.
9: And, ideally, a couple holdfasts. I forgot to include them in the photo. We’ll discuss and demo a variety of holding options, including the bowl horse. There’s always a way with what one has on hand.
Dave has tons of bowl carving info on his website and blog.
