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CONTENTS:
  1. Introduction
    Carving and turning. Learning to carve. Carving and shaping. The layout of this book.
  2. Turning
    How carving and turning can work together. Good turning. Modifications to the lathe.
  3. Carving
    Types, functions, choosing, handling and sharpening carving tools. Accessory tools. What makes good carving?
  4. Decorative Marks I:  Sun Bowl
    Options: using carving tools, high-speed flexible drives, punches and frosters to decorate the surface of a bowl or plate.
  5. Decorative Marks II: Wheat-Ear Breadboard
    How a design of simple but effective tool cuts can enhance an otherwise plain item of turning.
  6. Lettering: Lettered Bowl
    Integrating letter forms and basic lettering skills within the object design.
  7. Low Relief I: Milking Stool
    Essential techniques of simple low relief carving on a flat horizontal surface.
  8. Low Relief II: 4-Poster Bed Vase
    Low relief acanthus carving combined intimately with turning in this 1790's bedpost.
  9. High Relief: Patera
    Circular ornaments, such as those often found in fireplace corners. This one, in the style of Louis XVI, has deep acanthus leaves spiralling from a central boss.
  10. Furniture I: Gadroons, Pineapples & Berries
    A 'sampler' of some of the many simple but effective traditional, decorative elements carved in furniture.
  11. Furniture II: Barley Twists
    Marking out and carving variations on the barley (rope) twist.
  12. Working in the Round: Frog Box
    Three-dimensional form that breaks the constraints of the lathe.
  13. Pierced Relief I: Dolphin Mirror
    The background is removed altogether and the positive contribution of space to form.
  14. Pierced Relief II: Ivy-Leaf Plate
    A thin project bringing different problems of design and technique.
  15. Shaping: Pestle & Mortar
    Simple smoothness of pure form deliberately accentuates the beauty of the wood itself.
 		Book Cover
 

Extracts from Book Reviews:

  "This is a well-produced book, superbly written in such a friendly fashion. Chris is there just at your elbow, helping you along the road to extending your skills.
  Chris Pye has certainly broken new ground...an excellent background and introduction to two truly disparate crafts."
     Woodturning Magazine

  "This is an excellent book by this talented woodworker and teacher...There are more than a dozen projects to initiate the reader into a good range of different techniques...
  This book is handsomely presented and its contents are highly recommended to increase your woodworking pleasure and scope."
     Woodworker's Association of N.S.W. Australia, newsletter

 If you know this book and would like to write your own review or comment, please contact me. Your review may be added to a page of Readers' Reviews.

This book originally arose for a series of articles in Woodturning magazine and as such was aimed more at turners. However, 2 points:
  1. There is no such thing as "carving for turners". There is just the carving, and you can apply it to a curved surface as readily as a flat one.
  2. This book contains a good overview of many basic carving techniques and can be studied for these alone, independent of turning.
    Chris Pye
 book illustration
15.11: Close up of the lip showing the distinct changes of plane that are very much a feature of carved work, as opposed to modelled.
Try these...

  • What is a 'gadroon' anyway? Would you try to eat it? (More than once?)
  • Can you tell your 'bines' from your 'troughs', or your 'pitch' from your 'lead'?
  • How would you make a frosting punch?
  • Why were pateras thrown into the Roman baths at Bath, England?
The answer to these questions and many more, are in this book - pages 104, 114, 50, but not the last one... I've hidden it somewhere on this site!

 

Sorry - this book is now out of print and unavailable

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