Carve the block

Time to carve the block. I use a set of Power Grip chisels plus a Pfeil D12/2 parting tool (i.e., a 2mm V-gouge).

I also have a piece of suede tacked to a small board to use as a strop. It is charged with brown honing compound, and I’ll use it to hone the edges of the chisels as I work. I usually hone as I switch between tools, or as I start a new section of the block.

If the design has texture, I will carve that first. Otherwise, there would be tear-out if the edges were already cut. In my recent blocks, I have been using the 3mm U-gouge to add a textured pattern to certain areas.

My primary tool to cut edges is the skew chisel. I basically make the first cut at an angle away from an area that is to be preserved, then make a second cut (which effectively makes it a “V”) to remove the waste. I use the Pfeil 2mm V-gouge to clean up and deepen the edge work.

The image below shows the block with the texture and edges cut.

I use a 3mm U-gouge to clean waste out of detailed areas, and the larger, shallower gouges to clean up the rest of the block.

In the image below, I’ve rough carved the waste areas with a 6mm U-gouge (it casts cool shadows at this stage). There will be one more pass to really reduce and flatten the waste areas with a shallower gouge.

I rub the block with a graphite stick (the block cleans up easily with a kneadable eraser) and/or take a rubbing of the block on paper to see if there are any parts that need clean up or further adjustment.