I had forgot to ask about Taylor brand. Yeah, the key to good carving, is definitely to get your tools very sharp, and keep them sharp, by stopping now and then to strop them. Yeah, My Girlfriend was wanting this, and that, and I told her to learn to use the tools, she had, and then, get the ones she actually needed, but like you said, one at a time, and watch others at the club to see what they use, and how they use them, but those tools may not be comfortable to you, so try some one Else's, and see it it works you, so she has, and the people at the club told her that also, not to go hog wild, and start buying all the sets, and latest and greatest. Oh, the latest, expense, I have had, was a "tornado" mini dust collector, and a Harbor Freight, work bench. She is actually doing quite well, and has learned to see things in the wood, to carve. I started by carving wax, when I was a dental lab tech. Then I started power carving bones, and black coral, wood, and just about any material, I could carve. I don't have much, of the stuff I carved, as I gave it all away. I just enjoyed doing it. I was a master model maker, for a couple of jewelers, for awhile, and made custom wax models, to be cast. But it got old after awhile, it wasn't fun any more, as I had a time table, and there was always, something to be changed. So I got out of that. I haven't carved anything, since about the 70's. I think I am going to get back into it again, once, I finally get my shop set up, and the house set up, and I am settled in. I just moved out here in Montana permanently this year. It is nice to see good wood carving, symmetry, and smoothness, and items that are thought out, and finished with care. My Girlfriend says that I am too nit picky, but I think she is now beginning to be a little like that, as she will carve a relief and not be happy with it, and go back and change it around a bit. She carved a nice relief scene, with an old barn, and trees, and mountains, and sky. She got a second at the club show, but she recently went back, and carved out the mountains, and put in trees, instead. Ahhhh, welcome to the sickness. Yes indeed, it does draw you in deeper, and as you said, you start doing the simple stuff well, and then you seek, a challenge, and then you are done for, you are addicted. She has a couple of older ladies at the club, who have taken her in under their guidance, and have got her doing the simple stuff first, and learning the cuts, and tricks, and such, and as I told her, and she is now doing, you start looking at wood, and seeing all kinds of possibilities in it's shape, it's grain pattern, etc., and what it could become. You certainly have the knack, and it is very enjoyable to see your work. Keep the pictures coming. We like pictures here, as most don't have much of an ability to visualize anything here, so descriptions, don't cut it, we need pictures.
Wayne
