Baren Digest Wednesday, 5 September 2001 Volume 16 : Number 1545 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- From: GWohlken Date: Tue, 04 Sep 2001 09:15:49 -0400 Subject: [Baren 15594] Re: Baren Digest V16 #1544 I don't know where Julio is, but Bea looks great with you, Rudolf. You were in the company of a lively, interesting woman, but you know that. Anyway, here is a question. I already asked Barbara Mason, but I want to ask all you people who are good with tools. What tools and in what order are best for carving open areas? I have shallow u-gouges in a couple larger sizes, 9mm and 15 mm, but for some reason it is tedious using them. Barbara suggested a mallet (which I do have, but don't always use). Why do we need a mallet when we use the larger tools? My dockyard micro tools zip out the wood easily, so what's the difference here. If both micro and large tools are sharp, why don't they work the same? Also, would it help to get deeper u-shaped gouges, rather than use only the shallow ones? What is the order you use deep and shallow tools and why? Gayle Ohio, USA ------------------------------ From: FurryPressII@aol.com Date: Tue, 4 Sep 2001 09:48:04 EDT Subject: [Baren 15595] Re: Baren Digest V16 #1544 i use wood carving gouges and a mallet for the large areas. ------------------------------ From: "JEANNE N CHASE" Date: Tue, 4 Sep 2001 10:21:48 -0400 Subject: [Baren 15596] barens Am I having big troubles with my barens!!!! I cannot seem to get a good overall coverage on my block. It is either spotty or uneven , but never solid. I am using a disc baren ( I will admit it is wearing out), and then tried a Speedball (oops) baren. Neither one seems to work well. I need to get a good coverage on my block, any tips???? Ps. I am using Graphic Chemical woodblock ink. It is great for etchings (etching ink). So the product is good. But what am I doing wrong.???? Forgot to mention, oil based is what I am using. Jeanne N. ------------------------------ From: Bill Martin Date: Tue, 04 Sep 2001 15:50:05 -0400 Subject: [Baren 15597] Re: barens hi are you inking the block in your usual fashion check the surface of the block spotty results may be caused by some thing on the block or in the wood that repels the ink when you roll it out. perhaps a good cleansing of the surface will help I use a wooden spoon some times a narrow hardwood block with a curved edge on its end or a metal spoon to burnish... you can really bear down with a wooden spoon.. hope this helps is the paper the same as usual??? if not it may have some surface condition that creates the spottiness bye.. ------------------------------ From: Bill Martin Date: Tue, 04 Sep 2001 16:05:20 -0400 Subject: [Baren 15598] Re: Baren Digest V16 #1544 hi, one person's tedium is anothers medium every ending upon the size and shape of the open area occasionally the shear stupidity of clearing out an open area is cathartic like a mindless journey... one thing you can do is ink around the space or use a block out paper template cut to appropriate shape then after inking place the template in place. then print that should give you a crisp clean blank area - -- Bill Martin Tidalworks 62 Water Street Thomaston, ME 04861 (207) 354-2290 ------------------------------ From: "eli griggs" Date: Tue, 4 Sep 2001 16:01:20 -0400 Subject: [Baren 15599] Re: Baren Digest V16 #1544 Hi there: Gayle, when you carve, you are trying to get your tool to overcome the resistance of the material that you are forcing it through. A tiny tool will part small amounts of wood and the amount of force needed will be relative to the sharpness, thickness and profile of the tool, as-well-as wood density, grain direction, moisture content, friction, etc. A larger tool will be needed to remove greater amounts of wood, in a single pass, and a greater resistance needs to be overcome. All of the same factors mentioned above will still be there, but multiplied. Enter the mallet. You can push large gouges through a board, by hand, but doing so in any but the softest wood is difficult and, in almost all cases, a waste of time. Likewise, using shallow gouges to waste large areas that call for a deep profile, is time consuming and makes little sense if you can afford the proper tools. Shallow tools are best suited to cleaning up and leveling out remanets of excess wood left behind by deeper tools. It is also difficult to keep the tips of the 'wings' of a shallow gouge from becoming submerged into the board, a serious fault, that can cause tearout and possibly damage your tool. If you can, get hold of a 'C' shaped #9 or #8 gouge, (gouge profiles are standardised,) in a size about 15 to 18 mm. Depending on the size blocks that you are working on, you may want to buy, for example, a # 9 in 15 mm and again in 10 mm, even if you already have a #9 in 10 mm in a palm tool. The reason for the smaller mallet gouge is simple. Having a tool that can be driven downward, in a vertical fashion, with good effect, allows you to rapidly clear material, within the design field, that may be difficult or worrisome to attempt by pushing a gouge across. Do not buy a large #11 veinier, thinking that it is in the same class as the #9 or #8. The vertical sides of a 'U' shaped #11 do not allow for the tool to be rotated as it is pushed/driven through the wood, a useful technique the produces cleaner cuts, by slicing the wood fibers, rather than only wedging them apart. It also helps stretch out the life of an edge, between sharpening. Do buy a small #11 palm tool, 3-4 mm to outline the elements of your design, always before you reach for the mallet tools. Doing so will allow you to quickly and safely place your gouge at a safe, predetermined distance from your design, when wasting wood. Be sure to have a rock solid bench stop or hook to brace the block against when using a mallet and learn when to stop the action and set the edge of the gouge using both hands, when attempting a precise strike. One last recommendation. Buy full sized tools. I believe they offer greater value and better control. Order of cutting should be: Knife cuts/setting-in of the design outlining (at a distance) with a veinier sets up block for clearing deep gouges for wasting shallow gouges for leveling/clean-up small tools for finish detailing I hope this helps, Eli - ----- Original Message ----- From: "GWohlken" To: Sent: 04 September, 2001 9:15 AM Subject: [Baren 15594] Re: Baren Digest V16 #1544 . What tools and in what > order are best for carving open areas? I have shallow u-gouges in a > couple larger sizes, 9mm and 15 mm, but for some reason it is tedious > using them. Barbara suggested a mallet (which I do have, but don't > always use). Why do we need a mallet when we use the larger tools? My > dockyard micro tools zip out the wood easily, so what's the difference > here. If both micro and large tools are sharp, why don't they work the > same? Also, would it help to get deeper u-shaped gouges, rather than > use only the shallow ones? What is the order you use deep and shallow > tools and why? > > Gayle > Ohio, USA > ------------------------------ From: heather nichols Date: Tue, 4 Sep 2001 20:28:09 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [Baren 15600] colour I love color, being a quiltmaker besides a printmaker, I am constantly looking at how colors will be working with each other. I would encourage perusing of quilting books as there is always a section on color. Texture is a huge aspect as well. Maybe my school is unique, but we had a whole course dedicated to color. We spent hours working with the Color-aid cards trying to acheive different effects. I agree with fellow bareners in the approach to color has to do with the effect you want to acheive. Start with the basic knowledge and experiment away. Heather ------------------------------ From: "Bea Gold" Date: Tue, 4 Sep 2001 22:09:23 -0700 Subject: [Baren 15601] Re: barens Hi Jeanne, I love my beautiful black ball bearing baren bought from Baren mall! It is a Korokoro ball bearing baren. Take a look when the mall opens again next week. Bea ------------------------------ From: "Jean Eger" Date: Tue, 4 Sep 2001 21:54:32 -0700 Subject: [Baren 15602] Re: Baren Digest V16 #1544 It made me feel good just looking at the two of you and knowing I am part of this widespread group of woodblock print fanatics. Jean Eger Womack > > From: "Rudolf Stalder" > Date: Mon, 3 Sep 2001 20:47:21 -0700 > Subject: [Baren 15592] Visit > > Big surprise in North Carolina ! Guess who visited my studio ! > > http://www.rst-art.com/hom-guest-bg.htm > ------------------------------ End of Baren Digest V16 #1545 *****************************