The people who carved the flower did very well so here's the next carving challenge - a simple shell.
Shell-1.jpg
This is a bit more difficult than the flower but I still consider it a "beginner's" project - even if you've never carved before you should be able to carve this shell. It's also an applied project so you'll learn the techniques needed for good applied carving. Honduras mahogany.
Shells come in all different shapes and complexities. The following shells are considered a bit more difficult to carve and can be used as follow-on projects to take what you learn on the simple shell and extend it. Some of these look rough but that's because I did them while doodling in the shop. I did them to explore the techniques required to carve them and never intended to use the final product.
Shell-2.jpg
This shell is similar to the simple shell but has curved lines (which have to be sketched in). The most difficult part is keeping the lines at the bottom evenly spaced. This shell could be done by a beginner but is probably best as a follow-on to the simple shell. Basswood.
Shell-3.jpg
This shell may not look more complex but it is - it's not a good beginner project. The techniques used to create this shell are the same as in the Townsend and Goddard shells - this one is just smaller. Honduras mahogany.
Shell-4.jpg
This one is a bit more complex than the previous shell but not by much. It requires hand sketching to get the curves and the carving techniques are more complex than the simple shell. This shell and the previous shell require more gouges to keep the shape through the flutes. Honduras mahogany.
As before, it three or more people commit to carve the simple shell and show their work, I'll do a tutorial on it. Let me hear from you.
Mike
[Oh, I forgot to guess the tools. My best guess at this time is:
#12/6 V-tool
#2/5 gouge
#2/14 gouge (this one is variable. You just need a fairly flat gouge and not too wide and not too narrow. Probably anything from 12mm to 20mm will work.
A gouge for cutting the curves on the outside of the shell. A veiner works well for this, maybe a #11/6. But wait till I check this out.
I'll post a better list after I do the carving for the actual tutorial. You can safely buy the first three tools, however.]
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Originally Posted by Phillip Bogle
