wooden bowl carving course

I have just finished a very enjoyable 3 day bowl carving course. These 8 bowls were carved by 4 course participants.

This was only the second bowl course I have run, the first was a great success with students making 2 bowls each and a fantastic standard of work. I was unsure though whether we were just lucky with a very talented group and whether future groups would do as well. One of the pleasures of running courses is the nice folk that come along and the camaraderie of all working and learning together. This time we had just 2 folk who had been on previous spooncarving courses and the others had done varying amounts of green woodwork from quite a bit to none at all. Everyone had lots of enthusiasm though.

We work by clamping a halved log in a holding device I call a bowlmate (plans to make one on the website) and the bowl is hollowed using an adze. I have tried all the available adzes and my favourite is made by Hans Karlsson in Sweden, they are not cheap but they work very well. It is possible to hollow the bowl with a gouge but much faster with an adze. After the adze we tend to smooth the surfaces with a gouge and curved knife.

After shaping the outside with an axe and pushknife final finishing with the curved knife again.

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A little bit of refining the outside lines with a straight knife. I particularly liked Stephen's bowl with a ridge like a ships keel.

Carving this way is tremendously absorbing and we find it is important to stop every hour or so and have a walk around otherwise folk tend to get tired and that is when accidents happen.

And here are some finished bowls. Bowlcarving is a not quite as accessible as spooncarving in that you need to make a holding device and need a few more tools but it is tremendously rewarding and the results are beautiful and useful. Who wouldn't appreciate one of these bowls as a gift?

Check out this great review of the Jet JWL 1220 wood lathe.

wabi sabi

Very busy and behind with work at the moment but lots of interesting things which would be nice to share when I get time.

Today I just wanted to share a few thoughts on wabi sabi.

Ever since Bernard Leach went to Japan and wrote about Japanese aesthetics there has been great interest in the Japanese ideas about beauty. I was first introduced to the ideas through Leach's adaptation of Soetsu Yanagi's "The Unknown Craftsman". When I first read the book it was a revelation, it felt like it gave words to the feelings I already had, it gave a vocabulary to describe how simple humble things could be more wonderful than the glamorous and bling end of material culture that is often highlighted in Western museums and galleries. It suggested that the Japanese had words that explained these concepts which did not translate directly and had lots of subtle nuances difficult for outsiders to grasp but gives a fair explanation of the concepts in English.

"A certain love of roughness is involved, behind which lurks a hidden beauty, to which we refer in our peculiar adjectives shibui, wabi, and sabi."

Yanagi discusses shibui at length but suggests that wabi is to ephemeral a concept for most westerners to grasp. How tantalising a concept, not surprising then that wabi and sabi have become much used terms in the Western craft world even if we don't understand what they mean. We have this feeling that there is maybe something there that we admire, that if we could understand, would help us more fully understand the simple and humble in our own material culture. I suspect to some it also sounds rather grand using words that we don't fully understand in another language. There are numerous books on wabi sabi a typical one from my bookshelf is 'Wabi-Sabi for Artists, Designers, Poets & Philosophers". These are mostly written by Westerners trying to interpret what they think they have understood in the Japanese concepts for us. The above book is subtitled "Wabi Sabi is the quintessential Japanese aesthetic. It is the beauty of things imperfect, and incomplete. It is the beauty of things modest and humble." This actually sounds closer to the meaning of shibui than wabi or sabi to me though I have an incomplete understanding of all these words and prefer to use English terms which I understand fully.

The impetus for this post was what I think is a great blog post by a potter in Japan. Euan is a Westerner but he has lived and worked in Mashiko for 20 years (the pottery Village where Hamada lived and worked) This is the first paragraph of his post which I hope will encourage you to visit and read the rest, it is the simplest, clearest explanation of wabi sabi I have read, clearer and more comprehensive than most books on the subject.

"Just as in English there is a whole vocabulary available for the discussion of Art and Beauty, so too does such a vocabulary exist in Japanese. There is a tendency among people with a passion for and some experience in Japanese art to use the word “Wabi sabi”, and yet so little understanding of what the term refers to. Leonardo da Vinci said that, “If you cannot explain something, you don’t understand it.” To be anecdotal for a moment, there was one young American anthropologist who had studied pottery briefly in Mashiko, who gave a slide lecture here to coincide with an exhibition of American ceramics. Anything in his slides which seemed even vaguely Japanese influenced he described as possessing “Wabi sabi”. One of the thirty or so professional Japanese potters in the audience enquired, “What do you mean by Wabi sabi?” He laughed as he responded, “Nobody knows what Wabi sabi means!” The entire audience laughed also, but the young gentleman never realized that it was not because they agreed with him, but because of his naivety. Wabi sabi is not some mystical secret, but a basic aesthetic principal. Merely because he didn’t understand it doesn’t mean that it cannot be understood."

From Euan Craig's blog  11 may 2010

I would argue that we do not need Japanese words to understand these concepts, English is a remarkable language. What has been lacking in Western aesthetic discourse is an understanding of the humble, the simple. Perhaps the Shakers in the US came closest to this in the West. I remember in 1998 visiting the ethnographic museum in St Petersburg   This is a truly marvelous place, a grand imposing building, not unlike the British Museum or the V&A in London.

Inside are not the finest pieces of art and craft which form the material culture of the 1% at the top of society but the ordinary objects which formed the material culture of the 99% of Russian society. Where could I see the equivalent in the UK? Why do we always highlight the bling over and above the humble and the simple?

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DVD Review: Carving Swedish Woodenware

I first heard about the Carving Swedish Woodenware dvd (1990) from a blog post by Peter Follansbee and immediately contacted Drew Langsner about purchasing a copy.

Jögge Sundqvist packs a huge amount of information into one hour and shows you with complete clarity how to make a dough bowl and spoon using only hand tools.

First, he splits a log in two and explains why he chooses one half over the other for the dough bowl. Then, he uses his axe to create a flat surface on the convex side that will become the bottom of the bowl. He rough-shapes the inside with an adze and explains the proper tool grip and stance for maximum leverage.

Next, he uses gouges to finish the inside, then works the outside with an axe. Jögge talks during the entire film, explaining safe procedures, bowl design, and tool use.

When the outside of the bowl is shaped, he refines it at the workbench with spokeshave, drawknife, and plane.

I was surprised to see that he did not use a shaving horse. Instead, he worked the dough bowl on a workbench and tree stump and carved the spoons in his lap.

The second half of the film shows how to carve spoons. He shows two ways to rough out the shape: with a turning saw and with an axe. He explains what to look for when choosing a branch and how to shape the spoon for ease of use.

Always safety conscious, Jögge spends a lot of time explaining proper knife grips and how, by using these techniques, you cannot cut yourself.

He shapes the spoons with straight and crooked knives and gouges, and then shows how to carve decorative elements.

Jögge uses linseed oil (not boiled) on spoons and bowls for a natural finish.

The photo above shows all the tools you need if you'd like to make your own woodenware. And the first "tool" on your list should be Jögge's video. I cannot say enough good things about it.

You can find lots of good information on wood lathe tools here.

An American Girl Picnic Table

Being a woodworker is a wonderful thing. It seems at times as if nothing is out of our reach. Give us a little time, some wood, and inspiration and there is no telling what will materialize from our shops. So when a little girl who was fast approaching her 6th birthday asked [...]

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Convince Your Family to Come to Cincinnati: Food

It took a fetus to convince me to come to Cincinnati in 1996. But I don't think you need to resort to such drastic measures (and perhaps painful surgery) to get your family in the car and on the road to Cincinnati next weekend for the Lie-Nielsen Hand Tool Event on June 4-5.

When most people think of Cincinnati, they think of the television show "WKRP," or perhaps they think of the Reds and maybe even the odd stuff we call chili here. (Side note: This is the only town in America where you can tell a waitress you want a "three-way" and not get slapped.)

But there's a lot more here. Enough, in fact, to make it a nice Spring getaway for the whole family. They can do fun stuff while you hang out with us at our offices at 4700 East Galbraith Road.

As long-time readers of my blog might know, I live for good food. So here (grudgingly) are the best places to eat in the city. If you have a spouse who is a foodie, here is how to make that person happy.

Boca: This is the the best restaurant in the city. Period. It is high-end American food, but it really defies categorization. Perfect service. Bold flavors. A beautiful restored space. It's a bit expensive, but I never regret spending it there. It's about 10 minutes from our offices.

Nada: This is the other restaurant owned by the chef who runs Boca. It's a downtown Mexican restaurant, but it's unlike any Mexican restaurant I've ever been to. Say it with me: Crispy pork belly tacos. Look over the menu and make a reservation immediately. It can be tough to get in.

Local 127: Another downtown restaurant, this one is focused on local ingredients. I think of it as down-home food with some upscale touches. Everything on the menu seems to have some pork in it (my highest compliment). Prices are reasonable for a downtown restaurant.

JoAn: This is a Japanese restaurant located in Toyota's North American headquarters near the airport. It is great sushi, with authentic seasonal specials. And lots and lots of Japanese. Because of Toyota, we have an embarrassment of good Japanese restaurants. A close second (in Newport, Ky., on the river) is Aoi.

Tucker's: I hate to tell you about this one. It's in a crummy neighborhood. It has been open since the 1940s and has never been remodeled. But it is a fantastic place for breakfast. The best goetta in town. Awesome pancakes. Home fries. And the people are just as good. It has been called the most integrated restaurant in our fair city. You'll eat with city councilmen and drug dealers, and they all get along at Tucker's.

Gordo's: Another place I give up grudgingly. This is the best place for craft beer and high-end burgers. Get there early to be sure you get a table. Don't be put off by the drab exterior, which screams "livers killed here." It's also about 10 minutes from our office.

Hugo: I am addicted to Lowcountry cusine – grits, shellfish, fried green tomatoes, fish. South Carolina stuff. This restaurant is the closest you'll get to Charleston, S.C., in the Midwest. It's a nice space. Good wine list. Close to our office.

Dewey's: I have a pizza problem. This is the best pizza in town (at this point -- more on that later). It's a small chain, and they have an outlet around the corner from our office. All the pizzas are great (each member of the staff has a favorite). Good beer. Good wine. Excellent house salad. I would eat there every week if I could.

Frieda's: This little bakery near our office is run by a German master baker. Everything I've tried there is incredible. The almond croissants. Macaroons. Butter cookies. This is the best bakery in a town filled with great bakeries.

I could go on for many more pages, but here is one last one.

Ambar: We have a lot of good Indian restaurants here in town, but this is the one that stands above the rest. A good choice for vegetarians (and meat lovers). This one is by the University of Cincinnati in a funky college neighborhood filled with art cinema, coffee houses and bookstores. It's a fun place to hang out.

I know I've skipped the usual suspects (Skyline Chili, Graeter's Ice Cream, LaRosa's), but you can find those anywhere.

— Christopher Schwarz

You can find lots of good information on wood lathe tools here.

Windsor Institute, Day 3

Do you like the look of the strapping doctor in the plaid shirt above? That's my dad. Today he learned about the power of a blog, and he just asked me if I could use it to find him an attractive female companion.

Me, I use the powers of the blog only for good (read: beer). I wouldn't use it to look for a meaningless (or meaningful) relationship. But hey, it is my dad. So bring it, ladies.

Today as we were drilling the holes in our seats to receive the spindles, a reader stopped by and dropped off a nice Belgian Trippel from Allagash (thanks Matthew!). My dad was a bit stunned.

"People just bring you beer?" he asked.

"Sometimes, yeah," I replied.

"Do you ask them to bring you beer?"

"No. But sometimes I mention that I like good beer. They do the rest."

I hope that the reason people bring me the occasional beer is that they are trying to do me a favor. And "favors" was definitely the theme of the third day of our class at The Windsor Institute.

We made a lot of progress on our chairs – we legged up, drilled holes for the spindles and stumps and we fit and shaped the arm. We also made a lot of mistakes – or we almost made mistakes. I was getting ready to drill a hole in my leg for a stretcher when Dan, a fellow student, stopped me short.

"Wrong way."

He was right. I was about to drill the hole in my leg at the exact opposite angle I needed. It would have been an embarrassing and time-consuming fix. But his two words saved me. And that was the scene the entire day – it was like an AA meeting on a tight wire over a pit of emaciated and perturbed piranhas. I caught at least two fatal errors before they happened. And everyone else had at least as many saves.

That's something that people don't really talk about much about woodworking classes. Working with other students keeps you on track, out of trouble and highly amused. It's a contrast to when I try to learn new things in the shop by myself. My progress is slower and riddled with false starts and dumb errors.

So tonight as I am sipping my Allagash Belgian ale and typing this, I am thankful for my fellow woodworkers. They keep me out of trouble in the shop during the day and in deep, barley-fueled trouble in the evenings.

— Christopher Schwarz

Other Woodworking Schools I Like

• Kelley Mehler School of Woodworking (kellymehler.com)

• Marc Adams School of Woodworking (marcadams.com)

• Northwest Woodworking Studio (northwestwoodworking.com)

Learn all about the Turncrafter Plus wood lathe.

Woodworking in America Registration is Officially Open

Yes, it was a few hours later than expected, and we're sorry. But registration is now officially open for Woodworking in America: The Ultimate Skill-Building Weekend, October 1-3 in Greater Cincinnati.

At the conference, you'll get expert instruction from such woodworking luminaries as Frank Klausz, Roy Underhill, Michael Fortune, Marc Adams, Jim Tolpin and more (including Christopher Schwarz).

You'll find classes in everything from cutting tenons by hand to tuning your bandsaw for precision work; from sharpening handsaws to router joinery. Plus, we've added design classes to this year's conference, and brought back the popular "SketchUp Hand-On Clinic" from last year's St. Charles event.

For a full list of classes and class descriptions, instructors, exhibitors, travel information and more – and to register – visit WoodworkingInAmerica.com. And if you register before August 2, you'll save $40 off the regular price.

— Megan Fitzpatrick

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Great Strides at White Water Shaker Village

The woodworkers who are restoring the White Water Shaker Village are making significant progress – just in time for the Woodworking in America tour of the village on Oct. 3.

Newly built and authentic windows are going in on the first floor of the Meeting House, which completely changes the appearance of the historic structure, both outside and in. The windows are walnut, just like the originals, and are being built using donations from the public (our magazine has sponsored construction of one of the windows).

Inside the meeting house, the restored wainscot is also changing the feeling of the entire first floor. All in all, the structure is beginning to feel a lot like the Shaker Meeting House at Pleasant Hill, which I visited last week. The open space. The nice woodwork. The windows that look out over a pastoral scene.

This fall, we'll be offering a guided tour of the White Water Shaker Village (which is not open to the public) for attendees of our Woodworking in America conference. We've chartered a bus to take about 50 attendees up to the village on the morning of Sunday, Oct. 3. The additional cost will be $15 – just enough to cover the bus rental.

While at the village, you'll get a guided tour of many of the structures curated by the Friends of White Water Shaker Village, a non-profit group that is devoted to restoring the village outside Cincinnati and opening it to the public. The volunteers are incredibly knowledgeable about Shaker life, construction and furniture – they've taught us a lot during the last year.

If you are attending Woodworking in America and are interested in the tour of White Water, be sure to sign up for it when you register for the conference. Registration for Woodworking in America opens in early May at woodworkinginamerica.com. Space will be limited on this tour. If demand is strong we might charter a second bus, but two buses will be the maximum number of people we can manage on the grounds.

— Christopher Schwarz

P.S. To read more about the White Water village, visit the organization's web site, or read this free online story I wrote or watch this video tour of the village shot by Drew DePenning.

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Lie-Nielsen Hand Tool Event in Our Office

Quick – it is time to make up a quick excuse to your boss to arrange a sham business trip to Cincinnati on June 4-5. On those two days we are going to open wide the doors of our office and shop and host a Lie-Nielsen Hand Tool Event.

(If you need ideas for how to trick your boss into traveling here, let me know. We have a wide variety of businesses here. Just say "Procter & Gamble," "Kroger" and "Macy's.")

 Like the event last year, this one will be large. In addition to the Lie-Nielsen folks (including Thomas Lie-Nielsen himself), we'll have John Economaki here from Bridge City Toolworks, Kevin Drake from Glen-Drake Toolworks and Andrew Lunn from Eccentric Toolworks. Oh, and how could I forget the most awesome part: members of the Society of American Period Furniture Makers (SAPFM) are giving demonstrations on a wide variety of skills the entire two days.

Last year the SAPFM members demonstrated inlay, carving, design, moulding planes and lots of other stuff.

This year we are doing a couple things a little different. The show will be on Friday (4 p.m. to 9 p.m.) and Saturday (10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; no Sunday hours). But the Friday show is going to go later into the evening. We'll have some dinner food for sale. And I'll be presenting a seminar at 7 p.m. on workbenches. I'll be showing my new Roubo workbench plus some very cool workholding devices you haven't seen yet.

Then, at 8 p.m. we'll be having a big roundtable question-and-answer session with all the toolmakers. Expect some sparks to fly. Perhaps some leg wrestling and other feats of strength. If you attended last year's program, you know that things get out of hand when you throw all these people in a room.

Oh, one more thing: All of this is free. Just show up at our offices at 4700 E. Galbraith Road, Cincinnati, OH 45236 on either (or both) days.

And by the way, lots of attendees brought their families along last year. Cincinnati is a fun town for a weekend getaway. Later in the week I'll post some of my favorite things to do here and places to eat (do you like goetta? You will).

For more information, visit the Lie-Nielsen web site.

— Christopher Schwarz

Other Good Hand Tool Resources

•  John Economaki's crazy blog at Bridge City (bridgecitytools.com/blog)

• "Handplane Essentials" by Christopher Schwarz

• Andrew Lunn's blog at Eccentric Toolworks (eccentrictoolworks.blogspot.com)

• "The Complete Illustrated Guide to Sharpening" (Taunton) by Thomas Lie-Nielsen

Read detailed wood lathe reviews at Wood Lathes Online

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