Every single text I've located and wasted money on about stock checkering is speaking in a language I don't know.
They all assume I already know things that I don't know.
Somewhere along the decades and decades every boy stopped being exposed to the base skills these books assume everyone has.
I literally don't know what I am supposed to know because the books aren't wasting my time teaching me the non-checkering portion of wood working.
I'm realizing that I'm going to have to have someone teach me, and there's nobody out there.
So that's it. I'm done.
Anybody want a Master Carver brand set of checkering tools for 20 LPI?
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Have you checked out any of the YouTube videos about checkering? There seems to be a lot.
ReplyDeleteI'd advise not giving up just yet. I can't tell you how many hours I spent poring over the web looking for a way to make an edge cleaner or a stitch tighter or a border straighter on leatherwork. I'd bet green dollars that there is a small community of wood checkerers out there on the web that will give advice.
It's hard to learn a new skill without a tutor, but it can be done. Keep at it. You may not see it, but you actually have made some good progress for a guy who had never tried it a month ago.
You might also look into adult-education in your area. They might very well have some that cover basic woodworking, and if you explain to the teacher why you are there, he or she might well be able to help get you on the right track.
ReplyDeleteIf not adult education, you could also look into historic interpretation. Volunteers often have a wide knowledge base in their field, specifically with hand tools and antiquated techniques.
ReplyDeleteThere is a place in St. Largo, Heritage Village, who could likely introduce you to a woodworker that enjoys using hand tools. Volunteering is a great way to learn a new craft at the elbow of a skilled journeyman or master. If this is a pursuit that you are comfortable with learning over a few years rather than a few months, it's a lot of fun, and you will have one-on-one instruction.
The wall I'm hitting here: I make the initial passes with the spacer cutter. Half the time I can't get the spacer in previous groove. Then, once I do finally get a good set of initial grooves, I cant' get the wider cutter to stay in that groove.
DeleteToo shallow on the initial cut and it can't be followed at all.
Too deep, when it jumps it breaks off the diamonds and leaves a diagonal gouge.
I deeply suspect that when I finally get an explanation of what I'm doing wrong it's going to be a "DURRR that was simple" thing. But right now I can't see past the wall.
The three things you are needing at this point are: 1. Patience. 2. Practice. 3. A mentor. I'd recommend finding the mentor first, so you at least have a source of advice and encouragement. If it's someone who lives within driving distance, even better. Even a woodcarver or cabinet maker might be willing to help out if you can't find somone nearby who actually does gunstock work.
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