Palm Tool Gallery

Hi Folks!

If you look at the top of this page, you will find a new tab labeled "Palm Tool Gallery."  Since I've been making more and more palm tools, I thought it appropriate to give these flashy little chip makers their own page to hang out on.  I'm still not quite ready to accept custom orders for these gouges, but I will be in the very near future.  I hope you will stop in and take a quick look.  There are some really nice ones there who are waiting for a new home.

Christmas is coming!  Now is the time to place your order for custom carving knives for yourself or those on your Christmas list.  Get your orders in early to avoid delays.  We want no empty stockings on Christmas morning!

I would also like to thank all of those who have left comments and sent emails about me providing future tutorials.  Due to the overwhelming response, I will continue to post new ones periodically.  Hopefully after the holiday season is wrapped up, I'll find the time to continue with the study stick tutorial and cover how to carve the eyes.

Thanks for stopping by and Happy Carving!

Crunchy on the Outside, Chewy in the Middle

I finally got around to finishing up this piece.  I must say that this is one of my best carvings to date.  It turned out better than I could have imagined.  The carving itself was incredibly challenging and I had to develop a few new techniques in order to get the dragon the way that I wanted it.  I think the painting worked out quite well too.  I debated for some time on what color he would be and finally settled on green.  I'm very glad that I did.  I think it's the base that really sets the whole piece off.  The charred remains with the chunks of armor were a simple joy to create and really round out the entire composition.

I hope you like him.  There is a link on the Carvings Gallery Page to many more photos if you like to stop by and have a closer look.  Thanks for stopping by.

A Round of #7's

I just finished up a batch of 1/4" and 3/8" #7 gouges.  I'm really starting to zero in on my methods of production.  I simply love working with the different woods and ferrule styles.  I think it gives each tool a uniqueness that is unparalleled, not to mention easy on the eyes.

All are available on the Knife Gallery Page for purchase.  The last two batches sold within 24 hours after making them available, so if one catches your eye, don't hesitate.  I hope you enjoy looking at them as much as I did making them.  Thanks for stopping by The Old Stump!

Any Interest in Tutorials?

In the past, I have had a fun and exciting time carving and producing a couple of tutorials including the Archer and the Study Stick.  I’m not sure if many people realize the time and effort it takes to publish something on this scale.  There are several carvers out there who record video of themselves carving and demonstrating how they do things.  I certainly do not discount the value of their contribution to the carving community.  I, myself, enjoy watching the techniques of other carvers as they perform their art.  But, in my opinion, a written explanation and still photos is still the best way for someone to follow when trying to duplicate a tutorial.  It allows the student time to pause and study the process and each individual step.

I have received a few positive responses about the tutorials I have published from some wonderful people.  It pleases me greatly to know that someone has benefited from these small publications.  I love helping people.  Serving others is a source of true and lasting joy for me.  I do, however, have to ask myself, are there enough interested carvers out there to make producing more tutorials worth my while?  I value my time greatly since I work a full time job as a mechanical engineer, make and sell carving tools out in my small workshop on weekends to help make ends meet, have a large, young family with all of my children still at home, and am active in my church and community.  As you might suppose, I get very little leisure time, and what small amount of time I’m allotted, I want to get the most of.

I do not charge for access to my tutorials; some things in life should still be free.  A monetary value cannot be placed on the joy I get from helping someone over the hump of a carving question.  That feeling is far more valuable that a few extra dollars in my wallet.  I am willing to continue making new tutorials and taking my followers along in the passenger seat on my personal carving adventures, but only if there is enough interest for me to do so.

I would certainly appreciate it if you would leave a comment on this post or send me an email at theoldstump@live.com and let me know your feelings on the matter, so that I may make an informed decision.  If I find that there is still enough interest, I will revisit the Study Stick Tutorial and complete the other two steps, as well as look at some new subjects for future ones.  I will continue to post the progress on my personal carving adventures and take you along for the ride.  If not, that’s alright too.  I’ll dedicate my time to something else that is competing for my attention.  I will still keep the old tutorials available and post photos of my finished carvings to show them off to the world.

Thank you all for your interest in The Old Stump Blog.

Brandant Robinson

Four New 3/8" #9 Gouges

I spent some time out in my shop this week and was able to complete a few new gouges.  I have received some very positive feedback from those who purchased the first four, and I appreciate what they have said through emails and threads on the Woodcarving Illustrated forum.  Here are some pics of the next four:

 

The wood species are as follows from the top down: Olive, Walnut, Macassar Ebony, and African Mahogany.  They are turned out great.  I hope you like them and I will make them all available for purchase on the Knife Gallery page.

 

 

I have made very little progress on my dragon.  I hope to get some time on this three-day weekend to finish carving the small pieces of the scene and maybe start painting him.  I'll keep you all up to date on my progress.  Thanks for checking in.

My Little Dragon

Well, those four palm tools are going fast.  The frist three are already sold.  One sold within 30 minutes of putting in the Knife Gallery.  The thing that has surprised me the most is that the tool with the Honduras Rosewood handle hasn't sold yet.  In my eyes, it was the most beautiful of the four.  Oh well, I guess we all have our own unique tastes.

I suppose it’s about time that I show you folks the carving that has been occupying my time for the past several weeks.  I thought that I would try something completely different thatn anything I had ever seen done.  Here's what I came up with.

I was inspired by a piece of clipart that had a caricature dragon in it.

Tip from the Stump:  It’s amazing where inspiration for a carving can come from.  I get ideas from movies, photos, children’s books, and clipart.  Keep your mind open and a pencil handy to jot down the ideas as they come.

I didn’t have a block of wood big enough to carve the size of piece I wanted, so I ended gluing up several pieces to get a blank large enough to suit my needs.  The arms and head are attached and the tail is actually two segments glued together so that I could get the tip of the tail to wrap around and lay nicely over the foot.

He’s definitely a one of a kind original.  I think that’s why I enjoy carving medieval and fantasy caricatures so much; not many others are carving them.  Now all I need to do is put together a little scene to set this fellow off nicely.  I hope you like him.

Four Palm Tools Available

Well, I decided that I would make a few of my new palm gouges that I have been making available available for purchase.  I have been having a great time making and using a set for myself, so I thought that I would spread the fun and sell a few.  Besides, I just purchased a new mini lathe in order to turn the handles and I need to pay for it somehow (wink, wink, nudge, nudge)!

I use O-1 high carbon tungsten-vanadium alloy tool steel that I harden and temper to approximately RC58 for the business end.  For the handle, I chose a variety of beautiful, exotic woods.  I had a great time exploring the artistic side of my brain by matching ferrules to the different woods.  The ferrules are made of copper that I use various techniques to give color and patina to the piece.  When all three pieces are assembles, it makes for a wonderful combination.  The best thing about them though, is how they glide through wood and make gorgeous little ribbons.  Now that's what I'm talking about!



The handles of the above pictured are as follows from top to bottom: Honduras Rosewood, Zebrawood, Wenge, and Padauk.  They turned out very striking indeed.  Go to my Knife Gallery page and scroll to the bottom to take a better look at each one with links to more photos, or to purchase your favorite one.  Happy Carving!!!