Help With A Design Conumdrum

Gene Howe · Post by **Gene Howe** » Wed Mar 30, 2011 10:23 am

In a recent episode of Rough Cuts, Tommy explained the use of carving chisel sweeps to make a template for carving a panel. Then, his carving design template was used to create 1/2 of the design and flipped for the other half. That part is easily understood. Here is where I get corn fuzed. He then flipped the pattern end for end on each half to finish the design. To my uneducated mind, that was like magic!

I can't wrap my head around how such a template is created that can be used like that.
Anybody out there that can explain the process simply, has my undying gratitude and respect!
All your help in walking me through this problem is greatly appreciated. I'll bet that an epiphany awaits me.

Gene Howe · Post by **Gene Howe** » Wed Mar 30, 2011 12:34 pm

Everyone must be as confused as I am?:o

beeg · Post by **beeg** » Wed Mar 30, 2011 12:39 pm

Which episode was this?

Gene Howe · Post by **Gene Howe** » Wed Mar 30, 2011 1:51 pm

beeg wrote:Which episode was this?

It was episode #10.

wannabewoodworker · Post by **wannabewoodworker** » Wed Mar 30, 2011 3:42 pm

Thanks for letting me know of this program I did not know about it and just added it to my DVR recordings. They unfortunately don't have the episodes listed by number but by project i.e. blanket chest. So what was the project you were watching???

beeg · Post by **beeg** » Wed Mar 30, 2011 4:09 pm

10 is the one for the blanket chest.

heathicus · Post by **heathicus** » Wed Mar 30, 2011 4:19 pm

It's been a few weeks, but I remember watching that and it was pretty impressive.

As far as making a template like that... I'd have to dig around, but there might be a tool for webmasters or digital artists to help create a seamless image for tiling across a web page background. Something like that might work. Otherwise, I don't have any idea and would love to know how a template like that is made.

bffulgham · Post by **bffulgham** » Thu Mar 31, 2011 8:46 am

The Feb. 2011 Fine WoodWorking Magazine issue has a How-To article on this blanket chest. It includes the carving template.

Gene Howe · Post by **Gene Howe** » Thu Mar 31, 2011 10:01 am

bffulgham wrote:The Feb. 2011 Fine WoodWorking Magazine issue has a How-To article on this blanket chest. It includes the carving template.

Thanks, Bud!!!!!!
Now, to find that issue.
I just want to know how he figured out the design so that he could use that template in the way he did. I'd like to use that knowledge to create my own (simpler) design. By studying the design on paper (not fleeting glimpses on TV or the 'net) I might be able to discern his method.

JPG · Post by **JPG** » Thu Mar 31, 2011 10:33 am

Gene Howe wrote:Thanks, Bud!!!!!!
Now, to find that issue.
I just want to know how he figured out the design so that he could use that template in the way he did. I'd like to use that knowledge to create my own (simpler) design. By studying the design on paper (not fleeting glimpses on TV or the 'net) I might be able to discern his method.

Any 'design' that is symmetrical both about a center vertical axis and a center horizontal axis will allow defining a 1/4 of the design to be used in that flip/flop/flip manner.

EDIT: After actually seeing the 'chest', I must modify my statement above to "that is symmetrical about a center vertical axis and symmetrically a mirror image about a horizontal center axis". . .