• Lucky for me I don't depend too much on reference books, but rather use my memory to portray the subject I wish to carve. One of the most important things to remember is never to give up, and that everyone's interpretation is different.
  
  
• To quickly find the centre of a slice of burl wood, I use one of several different-sized plywood circles I keep on hand. Each circle has a hole in it. Place the circle over the burl slice, adjust it to your liking, and mark the centre through the hole. Quick and easy. Of course you could use cardboard for your circles, as well.
  
  
• To remove the shine from epoxy-finished furniture, just lightly sand and spray with matt finish lacquer.
  
  

John Durning - www.roundhousegallery.net
Updated March 2004