Sally's New Spoon...

I have just spent a little time making a serving spoon for my friend Sally....

I hope she likes it...

The other spoons in the basket are recent work and have not found homes yet...

I am sure it wont take long...

Over the weekend I will ask Sarah to help with some photography...I would like to show some of the carving techniques I employ...

Enjoy...J

The Topshan Art Show....

The Ideford Art Group has just completed a splendid weekend show at Topsham...

We were supported by many visitors who all showed a great interest in our work, and this has encouraged us to continue with our idea of showing our Art in as many easily accessible places as possible in the South West of England...
Here we have just finished setting up on the Friday night...

Here Jan Lunn explains some of her techniques to one of our guests...

Jan Lunn

And some great work by Oliver Lucas

Oliver Lucas

I spent a few days making some rustic spoons and whistles to add to my display...

I must admit I gave away most of the whistles to passing children...And a couple of adults...lol

Paul and Olly discussing the best way of enticing the passing potential viewers...

And some super glass work by

kate Packham

All in all we had a great time and we were greatly encouraged by the wonderful people who came to visit...

Thank you Topsham...

An article by First Steps...

ENJOY...

A Simple Wooden Whistle...

The first thing I need to find is a suitable piece of stick, preferably seasoned, but in this case I used a green stick. The problem with using green wood is the fluff that's left in the chamber when you drill it out. I'm sure that I can sort out the problem with a piece of hot wire later.

I carefully drilled out the chamber with an 8mm bit and followed it up with a 10mm. The diameter and length of the chamber dictates the pitch of the whistle...

Once I've finished drilling out the stick I need to measure with my finger where to place the Window and Lip...

About a thumbs width from the drilled end will suffice...

I start with a cut straight down...

And then a cut on the diagonal to meet it...

I keep going until I reach this point...

Now....Any amount of blowing at this point will only produce a red face. So I need to make the Fipple...

Don't laugh....That's what it's called.....

I quartered a short piece of stick and started whittling a dowel with a flat edge...

Here I am with work in progress...

I keep trying it for size as I go...

What I needed was an interference fit, somewhere between staying put and splitting the whistle was fine...

Push the Fipple in until it nearly reaches the window...

At this point I gave the whistle a few blasts just to check it was all hunky dory....

I used the flame of a lighter to singe away the furry bits....Next time I will use a seasoned stick...

When I was happy with the whole arrangement I cut of the tail end of the Fipple...

Now...The Fipple may stay put, but just to be on the safe side I would recommend making up some glue. Easily done with some Bear grease, pine resin and charcoal.

Now...In Devon we've got plenty of Manglewurzles but we're a bit short on Bears, so I would advise nipping off to the ironmongers and purchasing a wood glue of your choice, remembering that you will have to put the glued end in your mouth...

And there we are...One perfectly formed wooden whistle...

Well...Perfectly formed after a bit of carving anyway...

The International Mountain Distress Signal is 6 rapid signals (by whistle, torch, shout, etc.) repeated at one minute intervals until you are located.

Just in case my old mates come looking...

ENJOY...

Sharpening my Hook Knife...

 I received an E Mail from a chap yesterday who wanted to know how to sharpen a Hook Knife....

They are tricky little devils to sharpen, but sharp they must be....

The Hook Knife has a single bevel...

 

This bevel must be held flat on my Whet stone whilst I move the Knife down the stone...

The picture above is the start point.

I need to make two movements at the same time to complete this job. Using my middle finger to both push the Knife and keep the knife tilted at the correct angle, presenting the bevel flat on the stone at all times...

Reaching the middle of the stone.

With my right hand I am pulling the Knife handle towards me....

And finally I have reached the end of the continuous sweep down the stone, presenting the final part of the blade....

And showing the continuous sweep from a different angle...

The start point...

Half way...

And Finish...

So to recap, it's one fluid motion, sliding the Knife down the stone and rotating the blade to offer up all the cutting edge to the stone...If the Hook Knife is in a bad way, start with a course grit then finer grit as you go, as you would with a normal Knife...

To remove the bur after sharpening I wrap some very fine wet and dry round an old tent pole and gently slip the Knife along the pole removing the bur, then gently strop...

Time to E mail my friend and then get on with some carving....

Enjoy...J

Find out what else we get up to at...http://hennockhouse.blogspot.com/