 |  | Splitting and Carving - Course: Manual woodworking techniques. Trainees' handbook of lessons (Institut für Berufliche Entwicklung, 10 p.) | ||
 |  | 3. Preparation of Splitting and Carving | ||
|  | (introduction...) | ||
| | 4. Splitting and Carving Techniques | ||
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The preparations for splitting and carving include:
- selection of suitable material,
- selection of the necessary tools,
- preparation of the working place,
- taking the necessary measures for labour safety.
Special preparations for splitting of logs include:
- securing the logs from rolling off,- making available a sufficient number of steel and hardwood wedges as well as a sledge hammer,
- making available an axe and supporting block for splitting of round timber.
Special preparations for carving include:
- selection of wood with suitable properties (dry, preferably knotless, soft, sound),
- making available sketches and drawings,
- checking and, if necessary, sharpening the tools,
- selection of clamping devices.
Splitting involves the following sequence of operations:
- The log is to be secured from rolling off by placing wooden wedges under it at both sides.- The steel wedge is to be placed and made "grip" with a gentle hammer blow.
- Then the wedge is to be driven into the wood with powerful blows until the log splits.
- If necessary, another steel wedge is to be driven into the other end of the log.
- The splits are to be enlarged using thicker hardwood wedges until the log is split up into halves.
- If the log halves are to be quartered, the steel wedges are to be placed in the heart at the inside of the log halves.
Figure 9 Placing of the wedge
1 hammer blow (force F)
Wood cannot be split transversely to the grain direction!
Carving involves the following sequence of operations:
- The outer shape is to be transferred from the drawing onto the blank. In figure carving, the longer side should be in grain direction.- The shape is to be sawn out with the fret saw.
- Larger cavities are to be bored out with a boring bit.
- Rough-carving is to be done with a bigger chisel and mortise cudgel.
- If no mortise cudgel is used, one hand is to guide the chisel while the other hand is exerting pressure.
- If the workpiece cannot be clamped, the chisel is to be held in the hand as short as to make the ball of the thumb touch the workpiece so that the hand holding the workpiece cannot be injured.
- The cutting direction should be with the grain, if possible.
Figure 10 Correct cutting direction
1 cutting direction
- Finish-carving is to be done with smooth movements of the hand. Dirty surfaces of the wood are to be avoided. Otherwise the surface is to be sanded to remove the dirt. In that case it is important to sand the entire face or figure.
The carving technique requires much practising, a good eye and safe hand. The above points imply the basic rules of carving. If the trainee is familiar with such basic rules and with handling the tools, and is talented too, he will improve his skills by repeated practising.
Why must logs to be split be secured from rolling off?
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Why must the carving chisel be held by both hands when carving without mortise cudgel?
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What are the features of sharp and dull cutting edges of carving tools?
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