A Review 17th Century New England Carving With Peter Follansbee

I was just beginning to stick my toe into the ocean that can be the online woodworking community. I had found some forums, I had started to write this blog, and by consequence, I had started to get a look at other woodworking blogs out there. One of the first and best I have ever found was Joiners Notes by Peter Follansbee.
For me, a woodworker with a deep interest in history and by combining default historical woodworking, Peters blog is the perfect storm of interest and content for me, his writing is straightforward yet scholarly. He is so well versed and studied, truly an expert and master with a soft spoken delivery. If you dont know his blog or his work I suggest you go and check them out.
The most obvious thing that sets Peters work apart from other guys out there is the carving that covers every one of his pieces. I also harbor an interest in decorative carving, Ive added it to a lot of trunks and other things Ive built, usually Celtic Knot-work designs. I started carving using a rotary tool and burr, and I always wanted to work with the real deal carving tools but I had no idea how to work or how to start. Peters blog was a great first instruction on the basic tools and how to use them.

At first glance his reproduction carving work looks like some insanely complicated patterns, something I believed would be beyond me, but then I started to catch some videos out there on Peter and his technique. Like THIS one posted on You Tube by The Village Carpenter, but even better is his appearance on The Woodwrights Shop where he talks about making "bible boxes" That episode you can watch online HERE. He gave me enough to get started, I picked up a couple carving chisels to get started, a "V" tool and a shallow gouge, and using some of what I learned watching him I did the carving on the front of my Medieval Hutch Chest.

I wanted to get more in depth into learning how Peter carries out his work, then Lie-Nielsen came out with an announcement that they were producing a video featuring Peter and his carving techniques. I dont buy many woodworking videos, I just happen to prefer books, personal preference, but this was one I was gonna pick up.

After the video I felt like I could justify a few more chisels, at an area antique mall I had been watching this set in its case for a couple years, always surprised when I went in and found them there. Well they arent there anymore, theyre in my shop now.

I have to clean them up a little and they all need some sharpening or honing, but Im excited to break wood with these babies soon.
If you havent seen it there is a preview of video Lie-Nielsen posted on You Tube. You can watch that preview HERE
Cheers
Oldwolf

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