What’s on your carving/embellishing bench?

[Jeff Sneddon]

Love the “ What’s on your lathe ?” thread. Just seeing if anyone interested in a carving / embellishing thread. I’ll start.

I'm just starting to carve/embellish. I

Love the “ What’s on your lathe ?” thread. Just seeing if anyone interested in a carving / embellishing thread. I’ll start.

My first attempt, sitting on the bench now

 

[hughie]

Was it an NSK or an actual drill from a dentist?

Just a dentist set up

 

[Darryl Fective]

I really haven't done much carving or texturing, but I'm trying to push myself. I turned this piece of white oak from a friend at the local mill. I didn't notice until I well into turning it, that it wasn't a solid piece, but a glue-up of a couple boards. It seemed more noticeable on the rim, so I decided to add some paint and texture. I worked some liming wax into the open grain and put a black base coat on the textured area. I'm considering a layer of copper paint with the aging activator stuff on top, then maybe a light drybrush of plain copper or light wipe of copper gilding paste on the tops of the texture.

 

[Ted Pelfrey]

I'm just starting to carve/embellish. I

My first attempt, sitting on the bench now

Looking good. Be sure to show finished piece.

 

[Darryl Fective]

Here's what it looks like this morning. I painted on the copper, let it dry, then applied the activator. I had to hit some spots I missed, then wiped gently with a damp towel. All bright copper was too harsh, but all aged was really too much as well. It seemed to remove some of the excess oxidation and bring back a bit of the bright copper for nicer balance.

 

[Tom Rice]

I personally use a Ram BP-HST. It’s a pricing unit that I just upgraded to recently. I was using the Ram BP-50 which was a great unit. I wanted something that would turn the 1/4” bits for heavier carving. Not a fan of the foredom type units. They’re great for hogging heavy material but I experience hand fatigue fairly quickly. I can use the BP line of tools all day with almost no fatigue . As for used check with your and other local clubs. I sold my old unit to a club member. I but most of my bits from MDI and some from Bits For Carvingwhich is J Paul fennel. Hope this helps

What hand piece did you get? Looking at the page right now,

BP-HST Set with Truflex Handpiece and Pedal

Have a nice foredom but am looking to get a micro motor as well for delicate stuff

 

[Tom Rice]

This recently came off my carving bench. Winter Twilight, one of my New England Series pieces.

Way cool! Very nice, you arent kidding with your statement about the carving rabbit hole, dangerous for a tool addict like myself. Im wanting to try carving stuff like your piece and Teds, can bring interest to some more plain wood turnings, wondering about carving green?

 

[Tom Rice]

Estimated completion date summer of ‘26. Still long ways to go. Have not completely decided on the band embellishment and if I will add color to the flowers and bottom half.

View attachment 82737

So the black is all pyro?

 

[Donna Banfield]

Just a dentist set up

Hugh, if you were using a dentist drill set up, and the bits were flying out of the handpiece, the problem might have been the turbine. That is the nose cone on the NSK, and the collet on the angled handpiece. These tools are delicate and can be damaged when trying to force the bit through wood or simply being 'hamfisted'. For anyone using these tools, if your bit no longer stays in the nose cone or collet, the first thing to look at is replacing that part. On the NSK, it's a $200 part to replace.

 

[Tom Rice]

I have a couple more but they don't really show much.
I used rotary tools to cut the curve on the inside of the foot. Then rasps and sandpaper to get blended in. I know I'm getting there when it takes the edge of the tape away and as long as I'm going lightly the tape protects the rest of the bottom.
View attachment 80329
After removing the tape I finish sanding, then wipe it with mineral spirits to find sanding scratches I missed.
View attachment 80330
There is always a chance four legs don't sit flat and need adjusting. This one was fine.
View attachment 80331

Really nice piece, i like the idea of doing the legs, gives a different oomph to the design, just seems to match better

 

[Tom Rice]

All finished up.

Wow! Thats an awesome piece. Really interesting how you got the colors