#skewchisel

[325sqft]

Off to a good start. Day one of lidded boxes, inset lids. #woodturning #lathe #artschool #craftschool #teach #learn #cherry #spindleturning #spindlegouge #skewchisel #johnccampbellfolkschool #brasstownnc (at John C. Campbell Folk School) https://www.instagram.com/p/ChTL5SkLIzh/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[radeksworkshop]

I'm building a new workbench and handtools are being used a lot. I got myself 2 new sets of chisels for the job - mortise (https://lddy.no/gc68) and skew (https://lddy.no/gc6a) and am having lots of fun. I'm trying to buy from family businesses, especially these days, cus they are in trouble and Jeff is already the richest person on this planet. #chisels #chisel #mortisechisel #walnut #skewchisel #clamps #clamp #plane #maple #hammer #mallet #square #mortise #tenon #mortiseandtenon #legs #leg #base #workbench #byhand #ebanisteria #woodworking #imadeit #joinery #woodjoint #woodjoints #outfeedtable #outfeed #maker (at Alexandria, Virginia) https://www.instagram.com/p/B_crLkBDP30/?igshid=1pqce15q8gr7a

[lauragoffin-blog]

Turning Dreams

I think it’s the sound that I like.  The gentle hum, the whisper, that signals the transition from square to round, from unstable to balanced, concluding with a sudden lack of vibration.  You can see it happen but you can also feel it.  It’s the moment when the movement becomes smooth and fluid and if done well,  is also the moment when a uniform surface appears, ready and willing.  

The act of turning is very much like that of dreaming.  Dreams often come in the form of whispers, they are the sounds our hearts make when we long for something.   Sometimes, they are so quiet that if we do not really listen they go unheard.  They are the sounds that doubts shout over and sometimes silence.  The good news though, is that courage is always louder.  It speaks on behalf of these gentle murmurs and sometimes, if you’re really lucky, gives them the opportunity to cheer ecstatically.  

The moment that you acknowledge a dream is like that fresh blank on the lathe.  It is new, full of possibility and potential.  You have the power to do what you want with it and the chance to make something really great and exciting.  But sometimes, things don’t always go as planned.  You might find a flaw in the wood, you might not be as good as you thought you were, and in the worst case, the tool might catch and destroy the piece.  This is when those doubts might start creeping in.   They might make it difficult to hear the wishes and hopes in your heart.  You might become anxious or fearful at the thought of failure.  The truth is though, that these are the moments when you must be courageous.  Not foolish, but confident.  Things have a tendency to go wrong when we become unsure of ourselves or on the other end of the spectrum, too sure.  Life like woodworking needs a healthy balance between the two.   One must not be afraid of a machine but always respectful.  Knowing the difference gives you the ability to act purposefully and yet safely.  

The first cut is difficult because beginnings are hard, but the last is even more so because there is more at stake, more time invested.  That last cut might be made more difficult because the wood is fighting you. It is now thinner and prone to vibration, maybe the tools aren’t quite as sharp as when you began and maybe you are tired of fighting.  This is the time to prepare.  Take a moment to reflect, to ready both yourself and the tools you need to succeed.  Remember to breathe.  Then, when you are ready, stand firmly, breathe calmly, and move deliberately.  The chisel might catch and destroy all that you have done but you also might just win.  You can’t know the outcome without having tried and regardless of whether or not you succeed; you can’t get better without doing it again.

[barkframeworks]

Seeking perfection: Peter Suzuki using a skew chisel on a frame we made for the @whitneymuseum , for a painting by Charles Sheeler. Peter carefully peels off thin slices of wood to make the two sides of the frame congruent where they join (the blackish color is a stain we apply before sanding so we can judge how much surface to remove). When Peter was finished with this two-part process, we gilded the face of the frame in 12K white gold. #charlessheeler #NewWhitney #whitneymuseum #lIV #customframing #woodworking #sanding #skewchisel #americanart #framedbyBark (at Bark Frameworks)