Hi JIm,
I thought I was punctilious, but now I don't think as much as I thought before
I get it though, and adding the lacrimal punctum and lacrimal canaliculus (yeah, I had to look it up
) would add a nice touch.Allan
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Tutorial An easy introduction to making wood ornaments by Stephan Kertész (Steef66)
I thought I was punctilious, but now I don't think as much as I thought before
I get it though, and adding the lacrimal punctum and lacrimal canaliculus (yeah, I had to look it up) would add a nice touch.Allan
Haha, Allan, punctilious or not, I think we’re all somewhere between oculus bovis and oculus Dei when it comes to detail.Hi Steef,
I thought I was punctilious, but now I don't think as much as I thought before
Allan
I had to look up punctum lacrimale and canaliculus lacrimalis, too, so you're in good company. But you’re right, sneaking in those little anatomical hints adds just the kind of subtle realism that makes folks lean in and wonder, “Wait… did he carve that?” It's like sculpting a whisper. In arte, veritas est, right? 
I know this is going way off topic, but don' forget the three witches in MacBeth and their, eye of newt
Jim, about what percentage would you break down using chisels versus rotary tool, sanding sticks, and/or other tools? Same question to Steef.
I agree with Steef, if they ever become available, chisels from Mihail Kirsanov are beyond compare. I have his email address from when I bought them six years ago if anyone wants to try to get in contact. Probably not possible with the ongoing war, but who knows?
Allan
About 90% of the carving was done using rotary tools with various bits. Most of mine are 3/32" shank and were originally purchased on AliExpress some time ago. More recently, I invested in a set of fine-grit Kutzall carving burs. They’re a bit on the pricey side, but truly worth every penny. For the remaining 10%, I use hobby knives, including scalpels. I finish with sandpaper where feasible, and in tighter areas, I rely on fine red-mark burs. No chisels used so far, not even Mihail's. I do own one of his sets.
As for Mihail Kirsanov, he’s most likely retired. A few years ago, he mentioned that he would no longer be accepting new orders due to his age and health. But as you said, you never know. If anyone wants to try reaching out, here’s his email: mihail.kirsanov@mail.ru
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Like Jim I do 90 to 95% with rotary tools. Part most in the early stage I use whitling knife, X-acto Aliexpress and homemade chissels. All low budget, if it works it works. Mihail's set is great, but to expensive for me. I try to make them self if I need something.
The burs from Aliexpress are cheap and very good. And using the rotary is not such an attack on my artritis hands.
I think Jim will say the same, if you learned to use it, it's a very good instrument to carve those tiny parts.
The burs from Aliexpress are cheap and very good. And using the rotary is not such an attack on my artritis hands.
I think Jim will say the same, if you learned to use it, it's a very good instrument to carve those tiny parts.
I thought I was overdoing the use of the rotary tools so now feel I am not alone. Thank you both for all the information.
Allan
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There are a lot of careers that only use rotary tools for the ornaments of ships with a scale of 50 or below. It is very difficult to achieve that with chisels on a small scale. Possible but difficult.
I'm in the exact same position, Allan. I did place an order successfully and was in the fabrication cue. I contacted him more than a year ago and he said nothing was possible (sounded like he was no longer making them).
I can absolutely agree, using rotary tools for smaller-scale carvings is exactly what we need. For the kinds of tiny parts we work on, high torque isn’t necessary. All of my practice carvings so far have been done with Annie's tool (which I recently reviewed) and the Dremel Stylo 2050. I use the Dremel mainly because it accepts 1/8" shank bits, while the Annies only take 3/32" (2.35mm). Both are excellent for fine detail work once you get comfortable using them.
Ah, overdoing it in terms of using rotary tools instead of chisels or knives? Honestly, I don’t think there’s anything wrong with that approach, especially for the kind of small-scale work we do. If a rotary tool gives you the control and results you need, why not use it without thinking if you overdoing it? To me, it’s just another tool in the toolbox. What really matters is the end result, not so much how we get there. Some projects might call for the finesse of a blade, others benefit from the speed and precision of a burr. It’s all about choosing what works best for you.