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Carving the end volute.
This sort of acanthus leaf wouldn't exist in isolation like this. Rather, it would be part of a whole decorative feature and logically join in with other leaves. A 'volute', a spiral scroll-like ornament, is a common way of ending - or rather beginning - an acanthus leaf, so that's what we're adding here.
| 07 February 2023 17:38
Scott - Actually, there's something else going on! You can make any gouge cut a tighter circle than its sweep. Check out "Choosing Gouges for Curves" in the lettering section. Cutting volutes is very similar to cutting curved letters.
Yes, at some point you'll need to change the gouge and it'll probably be both a little narrower and a little quicker, depending on the volute.
You are right about the Sheffield list - it got something to do with the width against the depth of the curve. Pretty esoteric really!
| 06 February 2023 16:47
Chris, quick question on tool selection for volutes. As the curve spirals inward, and gets "quicker", do you a) choose narrower tools of the same sweep (i.e. graduating from a #7-20mm to a #7-14 to a #7-8), or b) switch to a quicker gouge (i.e. transition from a #7 to a #9) of the same width? It seems like option a would work better, because it would give a smoother transition. Do I have that right?
I have to keep reminding myself that a #7-20 actually has a different curve than a #7-8, the latter being quicker (smaller radius, sharper curve). I used to think that all #7 gouges were arcs of the same circle, but that isn't true is it?
| 23 January 2019 08:50
Excellent. Thank you.
