Micro carving tools

[CarvedTones]

I am looking at this set:

http://www.woodcraft.com/Product/200...-Tool-Set.aspx

I am posting to see if others have recommendations. I will be using them on very hard woods like maple much of the time. My aim is to do this sort of carving:

[PeteM]

I'd say those were done with a chip carving knife. Do a search on "free form chip carving" and you'll get lots-o-info.
I think the pattern on the rightmost flute came from one of Wayne Barton's books.

pete

[Sealeveler]

I have a set of the Micro chisels and was surprised at how long they held an edge.Very useful tools.They are available in different sizes.
Tony

[CarvedTones]

I'd say those were done with a chip carving knife. Do a search on "free form chip carving" and you'll get lots-o-info.
I think the pattern on the rightmost flute came from one of Wayne Barton's books.

pete

You may be right, particularly about the flower/leaf/starburst shapes. I tried chip carving and didn't care for it (too structured; it brought too much order into my chaos ). But those were just some samples I came up with a quick search. I probably should have put a little more effort in to find something closer to what I have in mind like this:

[CarvedTones]

I have a set of the Micro chisels and was surprised at how long they held an edge.Very useful tools.They are available in different sizes.
Tony

Yeah, I saw they had 1.5mm, 2mm and 3mm. Which size do you have?

[PeteM]

That is some serious carving! My guess is that they were carved by one of those insane Thailand/Bali carvers that use old screwdrivers held between their toes to carve amazingly intricate designs. ;-)
The micro chisels are widely used and excellent tools but to get that kind of detail I'd try a high speed rotary carver with some diamond burrs. Something like this:
http://www.woodcarverssupply.com/NEW...ctinfo/797425/

pete

[CarvedTones]

The dark one was done by a Chinese flute maker who listed the tools used - a drill, a knife and a piece of sandpaper.

I have the ghetto version of what you are recommending - a Homier hanging motor with hand piece and various burrs, some of which are small and claim to be diamond. My better quality burrs are mostly carbide though. I may resort to that to crank a few out, but I do want to do some purely by hand (or mostly purely; drilling and rough rounding is done on the lathe).

[PeteM]

I may resort to that to crank a few out.

I don't think "crank out a few" is quite the term for something like that Xiao flute. That is a work of art! The second one would be much easier to duplicate. For "cranking out a few" I'd stick with something like your first examples.

Whatever you end up doing, I'll be looking forward to seeing what you come up with.

pete

[stave]

Hey Andy,

I have heard some good words and read some good reviews for the Dockyard tools.

Most of those designs can be done with parting tools or #11 gouges, got to have a steady hand though. You will find that working on small line work takes a lot of hand strength which gives you the control. Good luck with that stuff...my world cannot handle to much structure either nor can it handle tedious small details. Not to mention my eyes are getting old (not the rest of me mind you) and can't focus on that small work for long.

Stave

[CarvedTones]

I don't think "crank out a few" is quite the term for something like that Xiao flute. That is a work of art! The second one would be much easier to duplicate. For "cranking out a few" I'd stick with something like your first examples.

Probably not the best choice of words. I meant if I want to have any sort of stock (or at least a gallery) at all in maybe 5 years. I have been slowly learning whistle craft and carving with an eye toward semi retirement "one of these days". I turn 54 later this year, so I still have plenty of time (I hope).

Below is probably the closest to that sort of carving I have done. It is semi-original (drawn by me, but a L Irish book of Celtic patterns, which included some intertwined dragons, was on hand for "inspiration") and done in hard maple using a mix of power and hand tools.

[CarvedTones]

BTW, I listed a gouge set in classifieds that I never use so I can purchase the micro set without incurring "hobby expense"...