pitching

[gary grossman <grossman@zzzzzzzzz>]

Greetings again carvers, I have a question regarding making bases for
sculpture.  I like using both finished and unfinished bases and when I
make an unfinished base I frequently start with a semi-square piece of
stone that has several edges sawed.  If the piece is small it is no
problem to pitch off the sides and get a natural look.  However if the
piece is  >3-4 inches high, it is very hard to pitch the entire surface,
because after the first hit on both the top and the bottom there is
usually a flat surface left in the middle.  The pitching tool really
only works well on a flat edge, but because of the previous "pitches"
the flat surface now has an irregular edge. (Am I describing this well
enough?) Any advice on how to handle this with hand tools or simple
power tools?  I'm trying to avoid any chisel/point marks.  For you
newbies, the Trow and Holden site has short mpegs on how to use various
tools such as a pitching tool.  good carving, g2

--
Gary D. Grossman

G. Grossman Fine Art
http://www.negia.net/~grossman/

Distinguished Research Professor - Animal Ecology
http://www.arches.uga.edu/~grossman/

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