[Woodcarver] New job - Carving for the Business Traveller

[Mike Bloomquist]

Chuck,

First, congratulations!  Second, there's no reason to give up the
woodcarving when you're on the road.  In fact, there was a stretch of time
when I first discovered woodcarving that had me commuting to DC and coming
home on the weekends.  Thankfully, it was a very short stretch, but it
actually jump started my woodcarving and woodcarving in turn saved my
sanity. well, helped me maintain my sanity level at that time <G>.

Minimalist kit:

-  A large detail knife (large for detail knife)

-  A strop

-  A carving glove (do as I say, not as I do, eh Skincarp?)

-  A couple band sawed carving blanks that can be hand held.
   (How many depends on the length of your trip and how fast you carve)

-  A first aid kit

-  A twin size bed sheet

-  Harley Refsal's book on Scandinavian Flat Plan Carving


Pretty simple kit:

-  One carving knife on the large size for big cuts

-  One detail knife

-  One v-tool

-  One shallow gouge (#3 sweep)

-  One deep gouge (#8 sweep)

-  A strop

-  dowel rods charged with the same sharpening 
   compound as the strop, so you can strop the
   inside curve of your gouges.

-  A carving glove 

-  A couple band sawed carving blanks that can be hand held.
   (How many depends on the length of your trip and how fast you carve)

-  A first aid kit

-  A twin size bed sheet

-  Several carving books


Deluxe kit:

-  Bench top band saw

-  Tormek sharpening system

-  Dime tip chainsaw

....... OK, I'll stop there.


The reason for the first aid kit and the carving glove should be obvious.
What's the bed sheet for?  You carve over it.  Then, at the end of the
woodcarving session, you gather the corners together and dump the woodchips
in the waste basket.  This makes your cleaning lady very happy and gives you
one less reason to use the first aid kit.  I heard of really clever folks
(probably here) that turn one end of the sheet into a shop apron that has
two straps from the top out to the far corners.  At the end of the session
or when nature calls they pull the corners to them and stand up with all the
chips bundled nicely ready to walk over to the waste basket.

Like Jan said already, carving tools will fly with you just fine; just don't
pack them as carry-on.  I bundle them in a tool roll and throw a couple
carving magazines on top, just to make it plain what they're for.  Hey, only
a few of us are fortunate enough to recognize these tools on sight.  Also,
when I hand my baggage to the inspectors, I give them a quick heads-up that
there are sharp, woodworking tools packed inside and then describe the tool
roll.  This is probably unnecessary since they're all sheathed to protect
the edges, but I've never gotten the impression that the inspectors were
annoyed with me for warning them, and the baggage has never been rejected,
not even by the REALLY tough airports like Reagan National.

So, I know first hand how painful travel away from the family is, but the
silver lining here is you have some prime carving time headed your way.
BTW, keep the boob-tube off... best case scenario, it slows you down...
worst case scenario, you'll need the first aid kit more often.  My old
carving kit had a semi decent radio with it... it's not hard to get one
better than what is in most hotel rooms.  Nowadays I have one of those
newfangled MP3 players that Yvonne handed down to me when she upgraded.

Keep on Carvin'
-Mike B.->




-----Original Message-----
From: woodcarver-bounces at six.pairlist.net
[mailto:woodcarver-bounces at six.pairlist.net] On Behalf Of Charles Trella
Sent: Monday, January 22, 2007 3:44 PM
To: woodcarver at six.pairlist.net
Subject: [Woodcarver] New job - Carving for the Business Traveller

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Hey there folks.  I had posted about my job search awhile back after being 
notified of a layoff at the end of this month.  Well - the good news is . . 
.. I have a new job!!!!

The bad news is that it will require travel 2 or 3 days a week to cities in 
the eastern 1/3 of the US.  This will put a crimp in my ability to 
participate in my community theater, but I've been thinking that rather than

sitting my hotel watching TV after work in the evening, I could be 
CARVING!!!

So, here are my questions. I am mostly interested in carving woodspirits and

greenmen, and fantasy figures (wizards, dragons, etc.), as well as Santas, 
gnomes, and gnome homes.  Since I won't be able to carve any large items 
while travelling due to flying and luggage restrictions (hiking sticks, 
large relief carvings etc.) I am thinking I could be carving small basswood 
and cottonwood bark pieces.  The question is this - any tips for the carving

business traveller?  How do airlines react nowadays to carving tools? Is it 
possible to carry any on or will I be arrested for carrying weopons? I 
assume i'll need to pack them as checked luggage.

So - any thoughts from experienced business travellers who fly and carry 
small carving kits/projects will be appreciated.

Cheers to one and all!

Chuck


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