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The Shipcarver's Handbook: How to Design and Execute Traditional Marine Carvings
Details the steps involved in executing fine wood carvings for boats or the home, from selection of tools and woods to designs and finishes
108 pages, Hardcover
First published May 1, 1988
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September 20, 2023
Another book on loan from my shipmodeling friend Bill. The subtitle is “How to Design and Execute Traditional Marine Carvings.” The author is a professional ship modeler and ship carver, so he seems quite qualified. The subject is full-sized contemporary marine carvings, from decorative stern carvings to figureheads/billetheads, trailboards (decorative carvings on the bow), carved “rope,” and name plates with all manner of abstract and more realistic representations of such as flowers, eagles and dolphins. He emphasizes that, in comparison to the very complex and at-times excessively gaudy carvings characteristic of the Age of Sail some 200-300 years ago or more, today’s carvings are much simpler, although no less pleasing to the eye.
Mr. Hanna’s approach to teaching is patient and peppered with humor (“[Carving] is a pleasurable occupation if you’ve been sitting in an office all day making those important decisions that keep a company, or the country, running. You may cut a finger or take a chip out where you want it in, but a little cussing, some glue, or a Band-Aid usually keeps things rolling.”)
Mr. Hanna starts with a description of basic tools and emphasizes the vital importance of sharpening, to ensure clean cuts into the wood, as well as, if the tool does slip and results in a cut, it’s cleaner and heals faster (I can testify to the truth of that one, multiple times over). He goes on to describe basic carving techniques, e.g., for different types of alphabet fonts used in name plates. He goes on to describe increasingly complex carving projects, again for contemporary watercraft. These include techniques for simulating the folds of ribbons, both simple and complicated floral and leaf designs, and nautical animals (dolphin, whale, and even an alligator!).
Mr. Hanna covers a lot of material in this short book, but it’s dense with information, pictures, diagrams/drawings and wisdom. For me, its use is somewhat limited as the carvings I do are MUCH smaller in scale, but the techniques, and especially the positive attitude, of the author make this very worthwhile to read. Five stars.
Mr. Hanna’s approach to teaching is patient and peppered with humor (“[Carving] is a pleasurable occupation if you’ve been sitting in an office all day making those important decisions that keep a company, or the country, running. You may cut a finger or take a chip out where you want it in, but a little cussing, some glue, or a Band-Aid usually keeps things rolling.”)
Mr. Hanna starts with a description of basic tools and emphasizes the vital importance of sharpening, to ensure clean cuts into the wood, as well as, if the tool does slip and results in a cut, it’s cleaner and heals faster (I can testify to the truth of that one, multiple times over). He goes on to describe basic carving techniques, e.g., for different types of alphabet fonts used in name plates. He goes on to describe increasingly complex carving projects, again for contemporary watercraft. These include techniques for simulating the folds of ribbons, both simple and complicated floral and leaf designs, and nautical animals (dolphin, whale, and even an alligator!).
Mr. Hanna covers a lot of material in this short book, but it’s dense with information, pictures, diagrams/drawings and wisdom. For me, its use is somewhat limited as the carvings I do are MUCH smaller in scale, but the techniques, and especially the positive attitude, of the author make this very worthwhile to read. Five stars.
Displaying 1 of 1 review