Another African find.

Tim Simmons · 26th August 2006, 04:47 PM

Steady!!! French polishing is certainly better than the latin name.

Rick · 26th August 2006, 05:06 PM

Everybody out of the gutter !!

Seriously though; possibly you should consider trying to smooth carve it ; did most of your average African wood workers even have sandpaper ??
Possibly going over it with a well sharpened block plane set fine would give a nice rustic finish .
I have used this approach on a larger scale on sawn Yellow Pine beams to make them appear hand hewn .

Freddy · 27th August 2006, 12:48 PM

This is what I used to carve the handle : an Opinel knife n° 8

As to the sandpaper, it's true that most African carvers wouldn't be able to obtain this. But I know they used something similar : coarse leaves of certain plants.

As an example for the one I'm trying to make, I used some handles of Mangbetu knives in my collection.

The Double D · 27th August 2006, 01:31 PM

They probably scraped it smooth with the edge of a metal tool then smoothed it further by rubbing it with a paste of sand/dirt/water. Or they rubbed it with a rough stone, like a sand stone.

Another method was burnishing by rubbing it with smooth hard stone or a rounded piece of metal.

katana · 27th August 2006, 02:24 PM

I'm wondering whether the original handles were 'turned' on a primative lathe.... you would only need something like this ... a pole lathe....easily made from local timber and cordage.... these were in common use in medievel Europe and Asia. The cord is wrapped around the 'working' piece, as the pedal is pushed down, the cord 'spins' the wood one way, The branch attached to the other end of the cord is pulled down (putting it under tension) By releasing pressure on the pedal, the branch 'springs' back pulling the cord and 'spins' the 'worked piece' in the opposite direction......then the operation is continually repeated. As the wood is spun it can be worked with a knife of chisel.....as on a 'normal' lathe.

Battara · 28th August 2006, 08:31 PM

Good point (like the one on top of my head

) Katana. There is nothing like a good lathe.

Freddy · 6th October 2006, 07:46 PM

I finally found some time to finish this piece. Have a look :

27th August 2006, 02:24 PM	#5
katana Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Kent Posts: 2,658	I'm wondering whether the original handles were 'turned' on a primative lathe.... you would only need something like this ... a pole lathe....easily made from local timber and cordage.... these were in common use in medievel Europe and Asia. The cord is wrapped around the 'working' piece, as the pedal is pushed down, the cord 'spins' the wood one way, The branch attached to the other end of the cord is pulled down (putting it under tension) By releasing pressure on the pedal, the branch 'springs' back pulling the cord and 'spins' the 'worked piece' in the opposite direction......then the operation is continually repeated. As the wood is spun it can be worked with a knife of chisel.....as on a 'normal' lathe. Attached Images Last edited by katana; 27th August 2006 at 02:35 PM.

6th October 2006, 07:46 PM	#7
Freddy Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Sint-Amandsberg (near Ghent, Belgium) Posts: 830	final result I finally found some time to finish this piece. Have a look :

26th August 2006, 04:47 PM	#1
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,844	Steady!!! French polishing is certainly better than the latin name.

26th August 2006, 05:06 PM	#2
Rick Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 6,336	Everybody out of the gutter !! Seriously though; possibly you should consider trying to smooth carve it ; did most of your average African wood workers even have sandpaper ?? Possibly going over it with a well sharpened block plane set fine would give a nice rustic finish . I have used this approach on a larger scale on sawn Yellow Pine beams to make them appear hand hewn .

27th August 2006, 12:48 PM	#3
Freddy Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Sint-Amandsberg (near Ghent, Belgium) Posts: 830	This is what I used to carve the handle : an Opinel knife n° 8 As to the sandpaper, it's true that most African carvers wouldn't be able to obtain this. But I know they used something similar : coarse leaves of certain plants. As an example for the one I'm trying to make, I used some handles of Mangbetu knives in my collection.

27th August 2006, 01:31 PM	#4
The Double D Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: On the banks of Cut Bank Creek, Montana Posts: 189	They probably scraped it smooth with the edge of a metal tool then smoothed it further by rubbing it with a paste of sand/dirt/water. Or they rubbed it with a rough stone, like a sand stone. Another method was burnishing by rubbing it with smooth hard stone or a rounded piece of metal.

28th August 2006, 08:31 PM	#6
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,272	Good point (like the one on top of my head ) Katana. There is nothing like a good lathe.