Ball and Claw tools...

4/27/04, 5:03 PM #1

Tony - Memphis
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Ball and Claw tools...

Tony - Memphis

>I decided to post this as a new thread...

Found my tool list from Phil Lowe's class on carving a ball and claw...

Straight Chisel 8mm

Straight Gouge #5 12mm

Straight Gouge #5 20mm

Straight Gouge #7 10mm

Straight Gouge #8 10mm

Back Bent Gouge #25 10mm

Spoon Gouge #9 10mm

He grinds the 5/20 with round corners so it fits into the "web" areas.

My three blanks are sitting on the bench with the one I finished in class. I've been procrastinating starting cause I'm not a confident carver! Gotta get started and go ahead and make the mistakes to learn by though I guess.

Tony

Re: Ball and Claw tools...

4/27/04, 5:30 PM #2

Justin W in Ann Arbor, MI
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Re: Ball and Claw tools...

Justin W in Ann Arbor, MI

>Tony -

I know how you feel about not wanting to mess up those nice mahogany blanks. I found that I have been able to get over the jitters by practicing on basswood - it's cheap, really easy on your tools, and pretty easy to find. Plus I felt a lot less guilt screwing up a hunk of basswood than the mahogany.

Just a thought,

Justin

Re: Ball and Claw tools...

4/27/04, 5:51 PM #3

Tony - Memphis
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Re: Ball and Claw tools...

Tony - Memphis

>Yeah, that's a good idea. I do have a nice slab of basswood I bought a long time ago. Maybe I'll bandsaw out a blank and do a practice run. Thanks. I really hadn't though of that. The "wood store" had basswood on sale one time, so I bought a big old slab of it to use for future decoys.

Tony

Re: Ball and Claw tools...

4/28/04, 7:14 PM #4

Adam Cherubini, NJ
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Re: Ball and Claw tools...

Adam Cherubini, NJ

>Thanks Tony. I appreciate you digging that up. It appears there is some concensus regarding tools req'd for the B & C. That will surely bring me some clarity*, if not comfort, when I get around to giving this a try.

Adam

*I'm always asking myself, is it me or is it the tool. Sometimes, on very rare occasions, its actually the tool.

Re: Ball and Claw tools...

4/28/04, 7:59 PM #5

Dan Donaldson
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Re: Ball and Claw tools...

Dan Donaldson

>Of all the tools, the backbend is probably the most difficult to find, and also the most useful. All of the others can have substitutes in sweep or length and still get the job done, but the backbend, while perhaps not absolutely essential, is very hard to sub for.

- - -

I have been woodworking for about 25 years now, and would consider myself an enthusiastic amateur. My claim to fame (or infamy) has always been fixing stuff. I spent time in the Air Force in the 60's then went to work as an electronic technician for civil service. I finally got my EE, and being fed up with the civil service nonsense, took a job with Ford Motor Company until I went with the split to Visteon last year. I got interested in music and started playing in a bluegrass band. I wanted a new guitar, and that kind of led me into woodworking. I bought some books, a few tools, and built a guitar. Luckily, I didn't know any better than to try that as a first ever project. I still play it when I get a chance, so it must not be too bad if it can live for over 20 years. After a stint in Mexico for my job, I moved into a new house and built a small shop. Since then I have been collecting tools and skills, probably more of the former than the latter ;-). Finding this site has done more for my skills and enjoyment than anything else. I have learned a lot and really enjoy the friendships that I have made here. I have been married to LOML (Lori) for 32 years now and have 6 kids. When they are all gone, I want to get a 1 bedroom house (so there is not room for them to move back in) and at least a 6 car heated/air conditioned garage for a shop. (Dream on...)

Re: Ball and Claw tools...

4/28/04, 9:00 PM #6

Tony - Memphis
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Re: Ball and Claw tools...

Tony - Memphis

>Yeah, I buy the Pfeil tools and those are sometimes backordered for months. I ordered a #8 10mm spoon gouge last spring I think and I just got it a month ago (much too late for my class in Oct!). I made do with a larger one that I had FedEx'd to my class in desperation.

Tony

Ball and Claw tools...

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