Woodcarving

Series 1.
By
NUMBERS
Episode 12 - Patera
with Mike Davies

P
aterae (circular ornaments) are a popular
form of decoration with a multitude of
uses. They stem from classical architecture
and were later used to decorate furniture.
Paterae can be used as decorations set
into the tops of table or chair legs, or into the frieze
of a fireplace, for example. A patera can be used
to decorate the lid of a turned bowl or even carved
as a small gift.
I chose Walnut for the paterae I’ve made for the
lead pic (Photo.1), but any carving timber will do.
If you Google ‘Architectural Patera (or Paterae)’,
you will find a wide selection of shapes, sizes and
Photo 1: Six Walnut paterae in differing degrees of completion
designs. Once you have mastered the pattern in this
issue, you can have a go at others or design your
PREPARATION
own. This project will put your skill in the Significant
Six Techniques to the test. Each of the techniques
Cut out a carving blank that is 65mm
can be viewed online by searching ‘Record Power
in diameter and 15mm thick. I would
Significant Six Techniques with Mike Davies’, or by
suggest cutting four or five blanks
viewing the link below.
so that you have a few in reserve if
you make a mistake (Photo.3). You
will need to secure the timber blank
to a board which can be clamped
to the work surface while you carve.
Ensure that the bottom face of the
carving blank is clean and perfectly
flat. Key the surface by scoring it with
a marking knife to create a shallow
chequered pattern. Lightly rub a
To view the Significant Six Carving Techniques candle over the surface to apply a
video online visit thin layer of wax before gluing and
www.recordpower.co.uk/category/carving/v/26 cramping the blank to a board.

Photo 2: Fig. 1:
Cutting a circular blank on a scrollsaw Tool profiles used in this series

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 easily, leaving a clean surface to use as the setting in shallow cuts, linking the short
base of the carving. marks to the longer lines. In Photo.8 you
It is possible to use paper instead of the can see how tool #12 has been used
wax. However, this may result in a weaker joint to remove small sections of timber
and the back may require more cleaning up. from either side of the pencil lines
If you do choose to use paper, apply glue which mark out each petal. Note how
to both sides before placing it between the a high central ridge has been formed
carving blank and the board. For this project in between each petal, and how the
it will be important to ensure that the grain cuts are clean as they define each of
of the blank is horizontal when the board is the petal shapes. Extend the drill holes
fitted to the bench. into teardrop shapes with tool #1.

CARVING
Photo.3: Gluing the blank to a board after
scoring the back and applying some candle
Use chisel #12 to start to shape the blank,
wax.
leaving the edge square and approximately
4mm deep (Photo.4). Form the dome with
tool #6, holding it in the Fist position and using
the tapping technique (Photo.5).
This project is perfect for helping you to
understand the cutting directions required
when working with timber and to practise
holding the carving tool in the left hand to
carve to the left of the bench and vice-versa
for the right (Significant Six Techniques).
Remove any imperfections in the dome
shape with sandpaper. As an alternative to
carving the blank to this stage, you may wish
to use a lathe for the initial shaping, if you have
access to one. Use tool #4 to set in a circle
Photo.4: Thinning the edges with tool #12 in the centre of the dome. Use the profile of
the carving tool to shape the circle, which
should be approx. 13-15mm in diameter. With Photo.6: Carving the central dish shape
tool #12, carve away the surrounding timber and marking the eight divisions for the
petals.
from around the central circle to form a dish
shape approx. 25 millimetres in diameter.
Carve down to a depth of roughly 6mm.
Leave the inner circle untouched at this
stage. Ensure that the sides are vertical
and that the circle’s perimeter does not
become smaller as you carve deeper. To
form the petals, mark 8 divisions around the
circumference of the flower with dividers
and draw straight lines through the centre of
the disc to link each of the marks (Photo.6).
Photo.5: Refining the dome with tool #6
Divide each section equally. This will give you
16 evenly spaced divisions, 8 of which are
linked by lines (Photo.6).
The score marks allow the glue to form a Round over the centre button with tool
strong bond while the wax provides a barrier Photo.7: Rounding over the centre
#4. You may need to deepen the dish shape
between the two surfaces, enabling you to button and outling the petals.
a little deeper with tool #12. Try the tapping
release the carving easily on completion technique and remember to use the right-
(Photo.3). hand to carve to the right hand of the bench
You can use any sort of woodworking and vice versa for the left (Photo.7).
glue. PVA is ideal, but if you wish to start Drill a series of 2mm dia. holes to form
working on your carving immediately, the eyelets of the flower. Try running the drill
you could use a quick set glue. When the in reverse to prevent the drill bit tearing out
adhesive has cured, the blank should be any timber on the surface. Alternatively,
secured enough to allow you to carve. try filing the end of a nail to form a smooth
On completion of the carving, the blank dome. When used in the drill as a ‘drill bit’,
can be removed by working the blade of the resulting hole will be polished and have
a thin pallet knife underneath the carving, a smooth base.
concentrating on freeing the outer edges Each hole should be located on your long
before moving to the centre. After a little dividing lines exactly 15mm from the centre Photo.8: Forming the petals.
persuasion, the carving should lift quite (Photo.7). Form the petals using tool #12 by

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 Photo.9: Using a home made punch to Photo.11: Shaping the tips of the small petals. Photo.13: Removing the patera from the
refine the teardrop shape at the base of backing board.
each petal.

petals. Continue to deepen the central

line on each petal with controlled cuts.
Try to achieve a consistent depth for each
petal (Photo.12).
Use a palette knife to gently slide
underneath the completed flower, freeing
the edges first (Photo.13). After releasing the
flower, scrape the base with a flat chisel to
remove any remaining traces of glue or wax.
Remove any tiny splinters of timber from the
back of carving using tool #1. This process
is referred to as ‘backing off’. Certain relief Photo.14: Reducing the back of the tips to a
carvings and in particular three-dimensional fine point with chisel #1
carvings, often require all surplus timber to
Photo.10:
Forming the V-shape in each large petal.
be removed. This process is carried out by
placing the carving upside down on an
Point the teardrops down towards old cushion or similar material so as not to
the petals using a punch to define damage the surface details.
the shape further. To make a shaped Hold the carving securely with one hand
punch, simply gather a collection of and using carving tool #1, carefully remove
nails or metal bar and file the required any surplus timber that was not previously
shapes into the end. These are accessible. Remember to always cut away
especially helpful for occasions when from the hand holding the carving, and only
you are unable to remove fine splinters remove tiny slivers of timber at a time with
of wood from tiny crevices. The punch a minimum of force. If done incorrectly (ie.
is used to define the shape, compress working towards the hand or using force), this
the splinters and form a clean area with process can be hazardous, so make sure that
a flat base (Photo.9). you are in control of the carving tool at all Photo.15: The completed patera
Cut a shallow dividing line down the times.
middle of each petal using tool #1. The general idea is to remove excess
Make sure this line radiates accurately timber without making the carving too weak.
from the centre of the flower (Photo.9). In Photo.14 you can see how only the very For more information on the
Use tool #12 to cut from the tips of the carving have been reduced to a Record Power Carving Tool
perimeter of each petal down towards fine point. The bulk of the remaining timber Set, visit the Record Power
the centre line, forming a V-shape with is out of sight and does not require removal.
rounded sides. As you work, gradually Your first patera is now complete.
website, or view the video
deepen the centre cuts with tool #1 shown in the link below.
(Photo.10).
Use tool #4 to shape the tips of
the small petals, which are located
between the larger ones. Trim the
outside edge of each small petal, from
the central ridge down towards the
larger petals in an arc shape on both
sides, creating a pointed tip.
Complete this shaping process with a
number of small cuts to avoid splitting To View a trailer of the DVD
the larger petals (Photo.11).
online visit
With tool #5, round the shoulders www.recordpower.co.uk/category/
over the eyelets, down towards carving/v/24
the centre cut lines on the larger
Photo.12: Refining the surrounds of the eyelets.

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