In the workshop today – chamfering

A chamfer is a symmetrical sloping surface at an edge or corner.  Here it is the edge between two faces on a square column.  A form of bevel is created at a 45 degree angle on adjoining right angled surfaces.  There are four to do, one for each corner.

In fact, this is a stopped chamfer (it doesn’t run the whole length of the edge, but stops short).  It is an elegant and easy to carve detail.  Its main purpose is to soften the edge, both visually and perhaps as importantly, to strengthen the corner against knocks and dints.  My reason for using it is really just about looks, a styling detail which is going on the column of a Birdbath.

First I draw out the detail, then rough the shape with my claw chisel, leaving lovely marks on the stone surface.  Then I go over this with the flat chisel to remove the ridges, and once I have this tidy, finally sand the surface smooth to match the rest of the stone.