FTF #56 Carving A Totem Pole Pt 1, Make Your Own Carving Tools!

[@EEHubbell_Official]

YES!!! I really, really liked everything about your channel and work.. But now I freakn LUV it!! Thank you Samurai Carpenter for highlighting and showing some love and respect for the Indigenous Peoples of the America's! I'm a Dine' (Navajo) Native woodworker/painter/artist from the 4 Corner's NM, USA. Tom's work is well known and respected all across Native country. Thank you brotha! U FREAK'N ROCK!!!!!!!!!!!

[@thomasernst4894]

... Tom is obviously a master craftsman to be admired and respected...

[@HugoHugunin]

I used to watch the native carvers in Oregon, long...long ago. I remember that they used Horsetail Grass for sanding and polishing. It gives an almost mirror-like finish. When used on a lathe turning, Horsetail Grass gives an ≈ 2400 grit finish. The reeds work best when _almost_ fully dried.

[@10175978]

Does it matter if its green or dried stuff? There's a few patches growing around here, may be I'll have to harvest some.

[@HugoHugunin]

Yes, green can stain the wood and the water content seems to create a sort of "goo", rather than sawdust...too dry and you are left holding dust rather than reeds. Your mileage may vary. I have found it better to err on the drier side, than the wet.

[@mg3142]

Good to know. I can probably run horsetail through a hay baler in my area.

[@gromann]

God when he started carving I was blown away just how effortless it looked. I haven't carved anything in years and THAT STUFF AIN'T EASY

[@jmvasq65]

Looking forward to more of Tom's videos, even the tool making :)

[@sileigh1]

I am very excited for this series. As a BC resident I have grown up side by side with native friends and native art. Its an integral part of BC culture and the navite art form is such a beautiful thing. Im looking forward to following Tom's work over the next several videos.

[@snoopu2601]

Thank you Tom for showing us your tool's. Right now I'm restoring a Totem pole my brother carved when he was 10 year's old the log was an old telephone pole we pulled out of an alley. I help my brother drag it back to the house using a skate board. This was back in 1975 I believe. I put up a video of it primerd getting it ready to paint and I have a few repairs I have to make on it. When I get it all done I'll post a video of it. It's been through it some were telling me to just toss it, but I'm determine to refreshen it up so it can be around long after I'm gone.

[@drochon6672]

I wish Tom had his own channel. There is nothing more enjoyable than watching a real craftsman at work.

[@Figleaf1971]

I had the opportunity to observe Israel Shotridge and his nephew working on a pole, I believe it was about 40', at the totem heritage museum in Ketchikan, AK once it was amazing. Watched and conversed for hours, seriously cool person and extremely talented / inspiring. I'm looking forward to the rest of this series.

[@jandeeg152]

It's good to see that more and more people of native origin are picking up their heritage and starting to make a living from it. Well done Jesse! Gr.from the Netherlands.

[@PaskMakes]

That was a great watch - looking forward to the rest of the series!

[@davidfox7132]

I'll bet that man has the grip of a rock-climbing jazz pianist. Dude makes chips fly with those knives, a pleasure to watch.

[@ianthomas3653]

Ian from New Hampshire here, I am excited to see the evolution of the process and the work that goes into this type of work. It is always fun to see someone with such a particular skill do their craft.

[@team27vbc11]

It’s awesome watching the leverage he gets from just his hands and sliding the knife up and down. Simplistic joy to watch

[@foz8643]

It's great to see people still love this, industrialization is taking over woodworking and it's great to see that people still do this. I woodwork myself but this is great!

[@jeffersoneinstein9641]

This is very cool stuff! Looking forward to more of Tom's work, it's great so far. Cheers!

[@billbenson134]

Been watching​ this channel for a very long time. This is my first comment too. Tom, carving a cedar mask is exactly the next carving project I intend to make when I get my research, materials, and tools in order. Watching his work is inspiring to me simply because of the coincidence of it all. I wish the Samurai good luck with the channel and the series he's working on with Tom. Hope you guys rock it.

[@kirstenwhitworth8079]

I have no words; What a wonderful surprise. This series is going to be amazing. That Owl is so beautiful. I'm surprised how soft the cedar is, or maybe it just looks easy to shape in the hands of a master carver. I'm across the strait from you, in Sequim, but my cedar trees don't seem that easy to cut. Ingenuity, indeed. Thank you for setting this up, Samurai. Thank you, Mr. Lafortune, for letting Jesse film in your workshop and share with us.

[@Sopie58]

Looking forward to seeing more of Tom and his artistry, Jesse, well done on this sidetrack. Coming from down under down under (Tasmania, Australia), we don't get to see this type of mastery all that often, and to have his sense of humour and PC 'ness .

[@mikemarriam]

Thank you Tom. It is a privilege to see you work.

[@ahodamahingan1698]

Thank Tom for allowing us into his space. Can't wait to see how he makes his carving tools.

[@torbjornahman]

Interesting! Thanks for sharing! Love the simplicity of the carving tools!

[@georgegoertzen8176]

A big Thank you for introducing us to Tom and his Craftmanship

[@johncase9248]

Watching him carving with such confidence and ease makes it look so easy. its like his hands are programed to work the tools without and effort

[@cliveporter6076]

Hi Tom I am a Brit living in the Philippines was very pleased to see this presentation beautiful work love your tools and the way you handle them. Always be interested in Native American Culture you know the real one! Pleased to see you carry this tradition craft forward and into the future. Thank you sir.

[@lyndonreddick1888]

Been into totem carved poles the last few years- The Tribes of the NW.. Kudos to Tom. I have an old book by- believe it- an Italian from Anacortes Washington who carved them. And now it's hard to believe that it is twenty years almost since I was in WA and stopped in the Squaxin place and met a native guy who was making a huge canoe out of probably Cedar- whatever they'd use. Interesting stuff, the tools, etc.

[@stevecoster322]

I'm from Gt.Manchester, England. I loved watching Tom at work, his skill and sense of humour are manic... Thank you both...

[@Cellottia]

Hi Tom, I'm from the south east of England and I thank you for letting Samurai Carpenter film your work and your process. I'm looking forward to seeing more of what you do and how you do it. It's so important to keep crafts alive; I believe that to be human is also to be a maker (amongst other things!). I weave and spin (and knit and crochet) and thus I am connected to the thousands of generations of people all across the world who have carried out these crafts since they were started. Skills and crafts rooted in a people's culture always command my respect; thank you for sharing with us.

[@Solvefunction]

Looking forward to seeing the rest of this series, great to see local artisans

[@duanedickey3619]

I hope that Tom considers putting up his own website. Mad skills.

[@Azone14]

Man that was great. I never seen this done. I am so looking forward to seeing him some more. Thanks, great job as usual

[@matthegedus6513]

Would love to see Tom in every video. Even if he's just sittin in the back smoking cigarettes.

[@CWdobro]

People like tom are the best. Regular guy with super talent thanks for sharing!

[@omegawalk]

Thanks for this series samurai! I'm from the PNW and grew up in awe and admiration of the native way of life and the skills entailed in that. Thank you Tom for letting us view your amazing talents. I'm far from there now but love seeing a bit of home.

[@1stProtocool]

Thank you Samurai and pass appreciation onto Tom for showing us his art and culture,look forward to seeing the tool making sessions and intend making a set ,cheers !

[@robynb.802]

Carpenter from Germany here, loved the insights you got there. I will try to craft my own tools, so I can start carving again like I did when I was younger.

[@malcommountie4326]

a big hi to Tom from Ireland.Love West Coast Native art. Thanks for sharing your time and skills with us viewers through Jesse's channel.

[@vell0cet517]

Really impressive seeing tom carve. Thanks for this.

[@1000pasji]

Woow what a gr8 piece of work gonna happen . 46 years of experience Tom that's amazing , you have to love what you do . Great Craftsman shout out from Poland !!!

[@EmileTheart]

Super pumped about this series. Looking forward to seeing more of Toms work. Thanks for taking us along on this journey.

[@tedwiebe]

Thanks Jesse for making the video and introducing us to Tom. Thanks Tom for sharing. I love watching a master at work. So much too learn and so much inspiration. Great carving tools.

[@stanleyshostak2737]

I used to do some chainsaw carving. I enjoyed doing it. It is really interesting to see someone who really knows what they are doing. I just fumbled my way through things. Thanks for opening up your shop to show and share your skills!

[@rodkoop9442]

I've been working with, supporting and helping a number of carvers out on Prince of Wales Island in Southeast Alaska. To have Tom invite you and your camera into his shop is a testament to his trust and the relationship you've built with him. I look forward to seeing the rest of your videos of how Tom carves, what motivates him and especially to see the artistry of these amazing craftsmen. Thank you!

[@HiroProtagonistak]

I can wait for this. Learning how to sharpen those curved blades to cut that well is awesome. I spent several years in Eastern and Central Africa while serving in the Marine Corps. There were several carvers there creating really amazing things with hand made tools from whatever they could find. We bought several carving kits for the locals in the area to try and help out. When we went back they were still using their hand made tool and sold all the kits to buy material and food at least they went to a good cause.

[@wrobelmike]

Fantastic work, Tom. Thank you for letting us into your shop and sharing your craft.

[@boreduser1583]

I think one big key to learning his carving is watching his hands and his grip more than just the knife edge. Great work!

[@richardgrzela1381]

No one knows how hard that is. This man and any other using pure hand and arm power have so much strength to handle those tools in that way. Impressive. I still struggle to make hand carvings any where that recognizable and not nearly as good, even with power tools, it is not an easy task. My hat is off to that man. Impressive!

[@DrewToner]

Tom's carving series will be well worth watching. It looks like he has to be pretty ingenious to design all his own carving tools! We live in Alberta and have been to the island a few times. Very nice place to live!

[@tompritch56]

While in Vancouver about a year ago, I saw several Totem poles in one of the local parks. Wood carving is one of my favorite things to do. When I move into the Seattle area next year I will want to understand the totem pole carving technique. I will look forward watching further video's from Tom. Thanks for sharing his talent.

[@jamesvanminnen2676]

Thank you for sharing this and BIG UP to Tom!!! Having worked as a craftsman for the past 20 odd years myself, and now getting into carving, it is a treat to have a such a seasoned traditional craftsman so respectfully documented. Also inspired to make my own tools now as the price point on entry for starting out as a wood sculptor was always a bit of a hindrance... Thank you and much respect all the way from South Africa.

[@ecnalted1]

Great video, looking forward to more like this. I like Tom's hands. Years of hard word mathem thick and strong. He carves with both hands, energy and the other is a fulcrum for control. That's why he still has all his fingers. Beautiful work Tom.

[@andrew4163]

Wow really excited about this series. Tom is clearly a master of his craft. Looking forward to seeing what he does!

[@rodneywroten2994]

cant wait to see you work a pole Tom

[@GlenRickerd]

LOVED this video! More! More! I grew up in Michigan, and my grandfather was a whittler and gunsmith. I loved to watch him carve things.

[@razulujusclownenmc4048]

this was a great free tip Friday. Native American Carvings , any person who has wood coursing through his vanes I we do here in Sacramento california can really appreciate this skill . I have great respect for this time honored trade

[@linnyj24]

Great idea. Thanks to Tom for letting us in. Seeing the tools in use is awesome. Looking forward to seeing how the tools are made. Thanks from the East coat, new england USA!

[@woodninjaswoodturning3787]

It is simply a fantastic look at how things from the past are still done today. Excellent video

[@cliffsclips5522]

You can tell that Tom has been working hard for 46 years, his hands are like a bears. Great look on others peoples work look forward to more.

[@jimwildasin4464]

Tom is a true craftsman, looking forward to seeing his work

[@kaseywarner1419]

Love seeing this side of the wood world. Thank you so much Tom for opening up your space and knowledge to the world. I am pumped to see more!

[@whazee]

This was great, I'm really looking forward to seeing more videos on native carving. Big props to Tom for letting us all in; thank you! I lived in Vancouver for nearly a year back in 2004 and worked in a native arts shop in Gastown. I really loved it, the craft, the smell, the history and all the legends are amazing and give such a wonderful sense of our Earth and our communities; it's wonderful. There was also a carver upstairs who made all kinds of masks and I wish I had spent more time trying to learn from him. I'm pining (hah! a pun) to get back there again! :D

[@aaronmackay6123]

The art of carving and blacksmithing must continue.

[@fredfalgiano7481]

Really cool subject matter! Tom seems like a very talented dude and it's great that he's willing to share his knowledge. Thanks Samurai and Tom!

[@gbjones54]

That was great! I continue to be amazed at people who make art with their hands. Thanks for sharing.

[@jagex4me]

Look forward to you and Tom sharing more of Tom's work and way of working. Especially the bits where he shows and tells about techniques that need a master's hand and eye. Thank you for taking the time to collect and share these gems. Like you did with Crossed Hearth Forge.

[@wallyg9512]

Good to highlight that those knives can be made on the cheap. My first hook knife was made from an old saw file, heat treated in a soup can lined with mud, with a torch for heat, then quenched in motor oil. I love the owl mask, inspired to make one now. Scott Jensen does classes once a year in Lynden, WA just across the border if you are interested. He is an incredible craftsman.

[@simoncollier9687]

Great to see Tom's work. In Japan looking forward to future videos in this series.

[@davidbirdsall2507]

excellent idea for a series. Shout out to Tom, indigenous carving and woodworking is what inspired me into carpentry. Looking forward to the next video!

[@rmojo23]

Can't wait to see this series! Tom teaching us all is a gift!

[@aj7297]

Thank you Jesse and Tom for sharing your time and skills. Love learning more about this craft here in Chicago Illinois.

[@tanyachristopherson3975]

I appreciate your authenticity Tom. Thank you for sharing! Super inspiring! ❤🌲

[@saulmacpherson8994]

Tom I drive past your tent almost everyday. Always wanted to see what goes on in there and learn how to carve. Stoked that you guys are making this happen.

[@philsmith2746]

Love this series....really hard to find great resources for totem pole carving. Thanks to Tom for sharing his skills !!

[@st00pidfunny]

Thanks for sharing Toms work. It is awesome to see such love of his craft and the skill he has built. Really hope to see more of his work.

[@danielmazur517]

Akinukhuk Tom? My wife is an 8th generation nuu chah nulth carver and I'm making her and her family some knives. Thank you so much for showing your tools, its a big inspiration for design. Awesome work! Chu!

[@culturewarrefugee9625]

I've been subscribed to both you guys for a while now and this collaboration is simply genius! Now that it is happening my soul soars with the thoughts of future projects. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

[@rjrackley6132]

Hey Jesse and Tom, I would love to be able to see your art come to life on Jesse's channel. Please allow Jesse to follow your journey and film a project or 2 for us. Thanks Tom, and Jesse! And thanks to Jesse for taking us to Toms shop.

[@thedivinehammerswoodworks1895]

Allways was fascinated with Totem poles growing up in Alberta, can't wait for the rest of the videos!👍👍

[@711yada]

Love, love, love! The museum of natural history in Victoria is one of my favorite places--I love the mask display with the stories for each mask....I love the long house....I love all of it! So, YES! Please show me more about carving masks, totems, anything Tom creates! I would love to hear the stories behind every animal and the ordering and anything and EVERYTHING about this art! Kwakiutl art rules! 😎💪🏼 writing from sunny Boulder, Colorado.

[@aliciabramlett8713]

After a few visits to Victoria it's the totems and other native art that have stayed with me. Very excited to see the process and get to know the artist!

[@55dougie]

Excellent "field trip"... Love the tool making , can't wait to see the process of making the tools and poles, masks... Super good... My thanks to Tom for sharing his skills. This will be a great series.

[@gentilejoshsaved1646]

i went to a boy scout camp in the black hills during 7th grade. we could choose 3 "merit" badges to earn during the week, one i chose was carving. we were given about 2' of a log, i went everyday all day and carved whole log. i only got 1 merit badge that week but they stood that log up before we left. i had just studied native americans the semester before and fell in love with pacific northwest culture. what a time it must have been to live on this beutiful planet.

[@baza1972]

Hi Tom (and Jesse), Watching from Perth Western Australia - great to see you make a living by keeping your culture alive.

[@homesteadpilgrim]

thanks Tom for all you do. I want to carve a totem pole so I will follow this series for sure.

[@wrightdu83]

Great video and exposure for Tom to show people the native craft of totem carving. THANKS TOM! Really look forward to the process of start to finish with a mask or totem. Really cool to see all the hand made tools, and what a obviously genius way of doing it. Need a particular shape of knife, just make it! Great job Jesse, and thanks again Tom!

[@marcelmary2832]

Tom moves with the speed and precision born of decades of honing his craft. Can't wait to see more!

[@mcameron3ify]

What an honour to learn this. Thanks so much Tom looking forward to it

[@scynman]

Awesome video Samurai, thank you! Tom, thank you too for allowing us the privilege to experience your artistry, very glad the samurai is giving you this exposure. I subscribed to your channel just in case. Your fan in Vacaville California.

[@Thekidfromcalifornia2.0]

Dude love the showcase of North American native art. Real beautiful work.

[@bardigan1]

Man that was great, I'm hoping for a long series on this, both carving and making the tools

[@Wheel333]

I like the grips, two handed and the thumb push. Samurai Beaver Mask ftw.

[@ancientwestonian]

Jesse, great idea, great work, I hope you keep up this series documenting other crafts, artists, and their tools. I'm training to be an art teacher in the Seattle area, I think this series has so much potential for enlightening young makers, and anyone interested, on the day-to-day work put in by people in the field of producing unique high quality works of craft/design/construction/art.

[@stufoo1]

Hey Tom. Stu from the UK (London) here. Your work is inspirational

[@kenbeattie1958]

Jesse and Tom: It's guys like you that give us hobbiests out here the inspiration that we, too, might make a living doing what we love. For myself, down here in the Palm Springs, Cal area, gathering Mesquite and turning it into furniture and carved things keeps me out of trouble. Its a bit harder to work than cedar, though. I want to see more of what you do and how you go about it. Thanks for letting us see your shop, Tom, and to Jesse- Get back to work!

[@garylollman5339]

More of Tom and his carvings work. Great job!!

[@robertcasey7312]

Great! Love your videos. Unlike BS TV shows you're able to capture and share at the granular level of processes. TY.

[@chuckholton4666]

Shout out to Tom from Skagit County Washington. Beautiful work. I've always been intrigued by this type of artistry. Jessie, thanks for sharing Tom's work. I look forward to the entire series of videos.

[@tonicolvin9477]

I'm new to carving but have always admired native carving. Thank you both for respecting the art & documenting all the processes involved in creating it.

[@TheTubeTube2]

That was really interesting, what a great use of old saw blade steel, that makes so much sense. The way Tom holds and drives his knives is intriguing too. Thank you both for sharing that.

[@elrickinslayer5821]

Hi Jesse, I'm really excited about the upcoming series with Tom. I've been fascinated by totem poles ever since I was a little boy and over the years have made various attempts at carving one myself. I'm now in my sixties and I'm going to be following these new videos with rapt attention. Tell Tom, thanks very much from Hastings in the UK.

[@ADmyrr]

Hey this is great I started making some native style carving tools about 9 months ago and I love using them I was inspired by Kestrel tools. This series is perfect timing for me and I appreciate it much thanks.