Quick tips 3

Hello again!

I'm struggling for time this month as I work on a couple of commissions so I'll give you a "light" month and share a few points regarding carving:

• when using a lap or flexible diamond belt to grind down a piece of work, I use the whole width of the abrasive over the course of my carving session because it extends its life ...
  
• and for the same reason, I don't press too hard!
  
• when grinding or polishing a piece, make sure to grind across the previous direction of tool marks as this is the quickest way to wear the face down evenly, and the only way I can tell if I have removed them completely
  
• if I am, say for instance, grinding out a semi-blind hole in a workpiece and not making progress, I try doing it a different way - so if I can't cut it out with a blade, and a large burr is too slow, I try the core barrel to remove the stone.  It sounds obvious but the situation sometimes creeps up on me without realising it!
  
• I get a finer finish at a particular grain-size from a lap, diamond belt or rotating pad than from a file or grinding stick of the same grain size
  
• when using a lap, I rotate my work on the face to minimise the inevitable concentric tool marks that develop in my workpiece
  

What I'm saying is we all need to keep our wits about us when carving and often there is a quicker, more effective way to accomplish something.  Innovate and improve your technique along the way!

Well, that's my pearls of wisdom for now.  I'll be back next month with more.

Happy carving!