Hand Mirror: Episode 1
Posted 8 April 2020
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In this opening episode to the series, Paul includes two carved and shaped hand mirrors to develop two distinctly different types of decoration. Paul walks you through the layout for a uniform shape and then a more organic look leading to gouge carving, chip carving and ultimately inlaying. For carving the leaf and stem patterns Paul has chosen two distinct types of carving for you to explore and adopt. Paul has also prepared one of the hand mirror blanks ready for inlaying too. The layout for shaping and cutting follows a very precise method using a pair of compasses, together with an as yet unseen method for creating part of the decoration.
Nice touch Paul looking forward to doing this
What species of wood is that?
Hi,
One is in ash and one in sycamore.
Kind Regards,
Izzy
Paul you look really good! Lol!
Great one Paul, I love it. Yes, is it sycamore you are using please? I’m really looking forward to making these. Where do you get your mirrors from please?
Hi Trevor,
hobbycraft sell them in UK.
In the U.S., Amazon carries a good variety.
Very cool techniques, Paul, thank you very much for sharing. I don’t know if I can find such things on youtube or not, but even if I can I’d rather see them from you any day of the week. Thanks a million.
Hi Paul. I love the mirrors. I have a question regarding the gouge. What size gouge would you recommend for this project?
Hi,
Paul says:
I would say anything about 1” wide with a no 6 or 7 sweep but other sizes will work.
Kind Regards,
Izzy
Paul,
Thank you for the inspiration. You make creativity accessible to all.
David
Glad I didn’t spring for the cash to get masterclasses premium – Videos are not closed captioned, so they are entirely useless for me, unfortunately.
I like to see how Paul is standing, how he places himself, how he turns the piece for his comfort, how he is holding his tool and so on.
I don’t think I would learn much seeing only the cutting edges of his tools. That is sufficiently shown where needed IMO.
Thanks for yet another inspirational project.
It is a privilege to be able to see such craftsmanship, so calmly presented.
A V tool would have been a better choice than the knife.
I am sure Paul has a V tool.
I don’t and, I guess, it is more difficult to sharpen one then the knife.
The all point is to demonstrate what is possible with a minimum set of tools and to develop skills.