new video series: Dedham Carvings

Dedham panels

I’ve just finished a set of 3 videos on carving the patterns from the chests and boxes made in Dedham & Medfield Massachusetts in the mid-17th century. I’ve been working on this series for about a month and think I’ve got it sorted out now.

There’s 3 videos in the set - running a total of just over 2 1/2 hours. I take the viewer through the layout and carving of 5 related patterns. Several are based on chest and box carvings and two are derived from fragments surviving from the pulpit in the 2nd meetinghouse in Medfield, Massachusetts.

Some of the layout I do on paper - only so it will show up better on camera than scratching the outlines on oak panels. Here and there I’m pointing out details shown on photos of the original carvings. As each tool is introduced I indicate its shape and size by citing its “sweep” - the circle its cutting edge is a segment of - and its width (in inches).

Here’s a PDF showing many of the gouges in my set of tools. A few of the ones I use in these panels are new, so not on this chart. When the chart is updated, I’ll repost it here and on my website.

Gouge Size Chart

68.8KB ∙ PDF file

Download

Download

The videos are on vimeo-on-demand. The full price is $50.

https://vimeo.com/ondemand/dedhamcarvingsfollansbee

Paid subscribers here will have a code they can redeem for 20% off - below the paywall - after this trailer.

I carved these panels in riven red oak, like the originals. Mine is split out, planed, then air-dried and lightly planed one more time before carving. You can carve these designs in most any hardwood, maybe even some softer woods. Try what you’ve got. Hope you enjoy it, let me know if you have questions.