yes im using a rotory tool. any suggestions on where i can find some patterns for c or s scrolls?
Ok ,,,
Now im not real sure how to go about this , with you . The reason for that is im not real clear on what type of carving your wanting to do .
So let me see if I can do this and give you and others some sound information .
Lets start with your tools , namely the rotary tool .
Many folks start out with these . Some folks even stay with them . There are many , many books out there on modern gunstock carving that show simply wonderful results with a rotary tool . Many of these though are more modern designs and not the Rococo or Baroque , found on many original examples.
Now , that’s not to say , nore am I in anyway implying that you could not do either of those forms with a rotary tool , you can , and with practice it will come out very nice .
But we need to understand a couple things first
1) not just any rotary tool will work correctly
2) you still must study this type of art and understand the different scrolls , types of leaves and how they work
So lets start with the rotary tool . You need one with a high RPM .much higher then a Dremel . See these only go to 30 thousand RPM. Evene the good electrics that I have seen m struggle to make 50 thousand . Though I have heard there are some that will reach 70 thousand .
You however can get pneumatics that will reach 120 thousand . If your going to do carving , these are the ones you want if your going to do carving with a rotary .
I have such a tool that I picked up , believe it or not , from harbor freight , many years ago . Its been surprisingly a very good tool and it cost less then 40 bucks , has a variable speed, seems to be well built and has served me well for what I use it for .
What this higher RPM does , is alow you to cleanly sand out/ remove wood . They will not leave the scratching that a lower RPM will do .
The real big plus though is that when you enter into and through the different hardnesses of wood that you run into , the tool will not skip or jump . they also take a very light hand as they remove wood quick and clean . as such they are not forgiving . you slip and you better be good at covering it up buy adding a new leaf or scroll <img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_wink.gif" alt="
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If your working with an electric you need a flex wand . Using just the motor , like with a dremel , will simply not do . You will not have the control you need .
You also will need the correct cutting tips to do carving with a rotary tool . These are not the tips found at most dremel supplies. You want the diamond tips they look like little grinding heads . Normally in a box you will get everything from different size balls , to foot ball shapes to triangle , fine point , rectangles of different sizes as well as needle points .
Be sure to read the RPM rating as there are different shank sizes . Normally smaller shanks are for lower RPM tools .
Each of these different shapes have different applications where they are used to make a shape .
Now that all being said , I myself do not use a rotary from the carvings on my gunstocks ..
I know this may not make you to happy but im also going to recommend you set it aside .
Through the years I have found that using knives and chisels produce a much cleaner carving , not to mention a lot less work .
Now if your on a budget , as most of us are these days . Start off with a good exacto set .
Now no this is not as good as a proper set to chisels . But it will get you started and you will learn to feel the wood .
As time and money allows , start replacing you exactos with good quality carving chisels .. You will find that in short order they will pay for themselves not only in the quality of your work , but also in the cost of buying blades for the exacto set .
You will find they give you a lot more control and will hold an edge a lot longer . You will also find you will have left all those broken blades behind .
When you do this now , don’t settle for Cheep . Cheep will cost you more in the long run . There ar a lot of cheep sets out there in the 10-50 dollar range . You will buy 2 or three of these sets just to do what one quality chisel will do . Myself I use Swiss chisels , sold by woodcrafters . Yes they cost 25-50 buck for one . Or 100 + for a set of 5 . But I can tell you with all honesty they are a bargain.
Myself I buy them one at a time . When my wife asks what I want for my birthday , Christmas , anniversary , she knows that a new swiss chisel will put a smile on my face every time .
so if you can aford it start with the chisels , they will save you money in the long run .
but if thats simply not an option then a person must do what one must do . there is no shame in that IMO ,,, none what so ever .
So go slow . If right now all you have is your rotary , then practice with it . What it will do for you is let you work on your layouts and understanding of flow , how the different leaves should look . How the scrolls should be shaped and such .
So don’t be discouraged when someone tell you to put the rotory away . It really is sound advise .
But if you must , then keep your head up and keep learning
Ok so now we move on to the study of the different designs , layouts and such .
There ar any number of books out there that you can by to learn design . don’t just look for those about wood . Look for anything and everything that will show you different patterns.
You will find those patterns in engraving , sculptures , furniture and cabinets, even castings of things like women’s hand mirrors , jewelry boxes ,. ..........
Another good place I have found through the years is Carpets , yep i said carpets . evrything from door mats to carpets in hotel lobbies . even carpeting samples . Most all the manufactures produce paterns in Rococo , with clarge C scrolls and leaves .
just look and you will see them .
Once you begin to look , you will find patterns everywhere . Our lives are simply full of them .
But the most valuable resource your going to find will be right out side in the woods or your back yard .
Study the plants , trees and such , learn how the stems grow , how the branches shoot away from the main stock and how the leaves and fruits shoot off from those branches . Notice how the weight of all the above plays a part in the overall picture ..
Then pick up a pencil and start drawing . Your going to find that no mater what tool your using , be it an engraver , chisel , knife , rotary tool , you most important tool is still always going to be a good pencil . So practice your drawing ,,, practice ,practice , practice .
A persons carving or engraving can be sub standard and un clean . But if they have studied proper layouts. It will still be very pleasing to the eye .
A good example of this IMO is again to look at ensamples of original rifles . Frankly IMO the quality of carving on 75% of those rifes is very poor in quality carving itself .
BUT!! What they do have is for the most part very nice layouts . Those layouts are what have stood the test of time . They are IMO what make us wooooo and ahhhhhhhh. Not the quality of the carving itself .
Ok so here is some links that will help you out .
First is a tutorial on carving using chisels . Now this may not intrest you because your using a rotary . BUT I would suggest looking past the tools and look at the order of cut , the layout , the form and how the relief is done . You will find David tutorial very informative and well done
Next I would take a trip to Steve Lindsey’s engraving site and forum .
Take a good look at the engravings there , especially the layouts and scroll work .
Read what the folks there have to say about scrolls and how to produce them .
Look at everything from the headers on his web site to th actual works being done and tutorials . There simply is a wealth of knowledge there for what your wanting to do , even though its about engraving not carving .
http://www.engravingforum.com/forumdisplay.php?f=2 Now another place that I was shown some time back is Classic carving .
On this web site you will find also a wealth of information and hundreds of different patterns ranging from modern wildlife’s to BOTANICALS AND FLORALS as well as MYTHOLOGICAL DESIGNS.
Lots of ideas there as well as different things that will help you stimulate you mind so as to either combined or produce your own distinct patterns
Lastly , I would do a google for rococo and baroque carving or rococo and baroque art .
don’t forget to also click on google images.
Take a close look at everything , from paintings to furniture to buildings . Because hidden within all those works are the patterns you wanting . Those paterns are used in everything from the vegetation in the paintings , to the carvings on the furniture , to the decoration finals and sculpting of the buildings .
You know the old saying of ; you couldn’t see the forest for the trees .
Well in this case what your looking for is how each individual tree , by itself , comes together to make that great and grand forest .
Anyway , hope that helps you some .
Keep at it , what your doing now isn’t bad at all . . it’s a good pattern.
Topic: how is this carving? (Read 726 times)