Irion Company’s staff cabinetmaker Brad Ramsay, shows us the final finishing steps in carving decorative twist finials — those stately carved spiral flourishes often found on elaborate grandfather clocks, highboys, and other top-grade period furniture. This is the third segment in my three-part video series focusing on how to carve twists and spirals. In this segment, Brad, shows us the end-game where we see the big payoff — an impressive decorative element sure to inspire wonder. Join me as we learn the core skills for finishing any rough carving using a simple gouge (or sweep) including how to carve a cove or relief-cut to final depth, how to smooth the facets, how to read & work with the grain, and how to precisely carve to delicate layout lines.

And there is a bigger story here too. Brad, who is Irion’s carving specialist, told me during filming why he thinks carving has made him a better woodworker. It’s taught him to work “with the wood” not against it and to focus on the details in things. — Keith (10.5 Minute Woodworking Video) For more in this series watch: Secrets Revealed: How to Rough Carve Twists and Spirals (Part 2 of 3)

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The Irion Company specializes in the restoration, conservation, and hand-made reproduction of American antique furniture from the 18th and 19th century. Brad Ramsay is a cabinetmaker and he specializes in period correct carvings.

Craig Vandall Stevens’ uncompromising attention to the smallest detail makes him the quintessential artisan’s artisan. Each component of the furniture he makes, no matter how seemingly insignificant, is carefully executed at the highest level — the fit of a hand carved door pull, the curve of a leg, the selection of each piece of component wood — each of dozens of key elements are thoughtfully crafted into his work. The enthusiast could spend hours studying and appreciating the scope of his work. In my recent visit to his studio, I did exactly that.

In this concise video profile, I introduce you to Mr. Stevens and his work. Craig, who trained with the widely respected teacher and artisan James Krenov, is a master cabinetmaker specializing in the creation of highly individualized, “one off”, collectible grade furniture. Much of this work is purposely small in scale, designed to bring focus to the details. The entire process, from initial sketches to final finish, can take months to complete.

Craig is a specialist in the use of Japanese hand tools. His interest in these tools permeates his thinking about craftsmanship and, as we can see in this video profile, becomes part of his work. I hope you enjoy this profile of Craig and his work. Keith (4.5 Minute Video Profile)

Toolmaking skill allows woodturner Mark Damron to design projects that otherwise might be impossible to create. Mr. Damron is full of surprises. Meet him on the street and you might never guess what really drives him. A big man who speaks plainly, Mr. Damron is a toolmaker and machinist by trade, but working on the lathe is his passion. His toolmaking skills are broad & deep, and that makes Mark somewhat unusual because he relies on these skills for most turning projects he attempts. This allows him to solve problems by building custom tools that meet his needs. Yet there is more to Mark than technical prowess. Mark is also possessed with a driving creative insight, which he is often too modest to acknowledge.

If you spend any time at all with Mark, you quickly conclude that he has his own unique vision. His desire to break from tradition runs irrepressibly deep within him. Mark’s work is a reflection of all of this — and from my perspective, this sure makes him fun to watch. His large-scale, stack ring laminated vessels are but one example. In turning these pieces, Mark depends on several custom tools designed to hold the tight tolerances that are needed to extrude tall, grain-matched vessels from massive turning blanks of highly figured wood. Thin walls, large pieces, and fragile rings combine for some scary turning. But Mark is sure-footed. And in the end, the results are spectacular. (7 Minute Video)