Like everything else, I follow a very specific sequence of steps to get from point A to point B. As I get more experienced I find that my knowledge of the next step enables me to be more efficient with the current step - if I see something I don't like I know whether or not to fix it immediately, or to wait and fix it during the next step.
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| First, we layout and then carve the gutter |
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| Gutter carved. The chisel is an 11/7 "veiner" |
The gutter is a funny thing. It serves no real purpose, just being something that is usually done on Windsor chairs. Many modern all wood chairs do not have it. But it is a nice detail, and pleasantly separates the flat "spindle deck" from the curved seat of the chair.
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| Clamped to my shavehorse, at a nice height for chopping with the adze |
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| The first set of strikes with the adze |
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| The first layer of the bowl |
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| Keep working in towards the lowest point |
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| As low as I want to go with the adze, those two little dimples are depth marks at 7/8" |
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| Now we cut a gentle slope up to the front of the seat |
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| As far as I want to go with the adze - it's too easy for me to mess up, so I stop a bit early |
This looks a bit rough, and it is. But the adze lets you remove wood quite quickly and easily, and as long as you don't overdo it, it's a helpful tool.
