Capital City Carvers

We got into a discussion about how the English language can be difficult to deal with and Lance submitted an article by Paul M. Vos from Scientech Newsletter, Vol 77, No 13. It is lots of fun anc something to think about.

Why is the English language hard to learn? Good Examples:

We polish the Polish furniture.
He could lead if he would get the lead out.
A good farm can produce produce.
The dump was so full that is had to refuse refuse.
The soldier decided to desert in the desert.
The present is a good time to present the present.v The dove dove into the bushes.
The insurance for the invalid was invalid.
The bandage was wound around the wound.
There was a row among the oarsmen about how to row.
The buck does funny things when does are around.
They were too close to the door to close it.
To help with the planting, the farmer taught his sow how to sow.
The wind was too strong to wind the sail.
I shed a tear when I saw the tear in my clothes.
I had to subject the subject to a series of tests.
How can I intimate this to my intimate friend?
I spent last evening evening out a pile of dirt.
It is time to resume work on your resume.
The bass player was a bass fisherman.

10 Common Mistakes Carvers Make

From a short commentary presented by PJ at Treeline carving supplies
1. You don't strop enough. Strop every 20-30 minutes
2. The bevel of the knife is rolled. Keep your finger on the blade to help prevent rolling the blade.
3. Using wood that is too hard for your project.
4. Don't buy cheap tools. Buy the best tools that you can afford.
5. Lack of safety equipment. Gloves, masks, and eye protection are inexpensive alternatives to a trip to the ER.
6. Don't try too complicated projects too soon. Build on your expertise to keep interest in the project.
7. Get enough repetition. Repeat a project to gain confidence.
8. Are you self-taught? Don't be afraid to take a class.
9. Learn to work with the wood grain. Carve "'downhill".
10. Don't be impatient. Don't give up too soon.

Along these same lines some helpful points were made by Mark Baker in Woodcarving #170, a British carving magazine.

11. Know exactly what you need to do or make. This means you need to do some research and not just have a cursory glance at the reference material. Really understand it. If required, make sketches.
12. If you still are unsure about any aspect, ask someone who you trust who does know what is required and can offer good-quality guidance.
13. Never be afraid to ask for help. Nothing is simple if you have no idea what is wrong, what problems you are likely to encounter or how to go about something you have not tackled before.