by: Nora Hall
Topics include:
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Carving Incised Letterforms
with Nora Hall
Techniques for curved and straight-line forms
Nora Hall, a master carver with roots in Holland, makes letter carving seem approachable and fun. It's a very useful skill for traditional woodworkers who are intimidated by the idea of sculpting in wood, and a wonderful way into decorative woodwork for people intimidated by the idea of becoming traditional woodworkers.
In this video Nora Hall shows you how to carve curved and straight-line letterforms as well as how to transfer letterforms from type specimen books to wood for carving.
Reviews:
The Basics of Craftsmanship
Fine Woodworking magazine
Key advice on every aspect of woodworking
When asked by a friend about why they work wood, most woodworkers can summon only vague and evasive answers. "Because the family needs furniture." "Because Ive got to do something for a living." "Because its, well, fun?" Such answers rarely satisfy the questioner (especially if a child) and are generally followed with But why, really? Most people figure its much easier to buy tables and chairs than to make them, so they cant see the motivation to build, except to make a living. But so few woodworkers do it for money, there must be another reason whyeven if woodworkers themselves cant put a finger on it.
The attraction to woodworking is the tremendous satisfaction that comes from making beautiful, useful, and lasting things with your own two hands. A well-made table will be appreciated for many years, if not generations to come. To have the responsibility for that tables creation means that you can take the credit for the enjoyment and use it gives. And thats a thrill.
Moreover, the life of a finished piece of furniture is only a part of the gratification available to woodworkers. The construction and learning processes themselves are really the most enjoyable aspects. In the shop, woodworkers get to learn a new skill with almost every project, revel in the solutions they find to the endless little problems along the way, watch rough lumber become polished and beautiful, and even collect new tools that are interesting and beautiful in their own right. Only when sanding, perhaps, is woodworking a bore.If youre not already a woodworker, these are excellent reasons to become one. This book will introduce you to what woodworkers do in their shops and will help you learn the basics.
The chapters here, composed of articles from Fine Woodworking magazine, cover every major aspect of woodworking from buying tools and materials and setting up a shop to the basic techniques needed to make anything and everything. A few easy first projects and finishes will take you through the process step-by-step and wont leave you out on a limb. Still, remember that you dont need to know everything to be a woodworker. Its a title that doesnt depend on skill or the number of tools you have. It really only depends on one thing: getting into the shop and making something. Good luck and have fun.
