HELVIE KNIVES announces the introduction of the SIDE WINDER and SIDE WINDER II of the WOOD BEE CARVER ~ Signature Series Knives.

The SIDE WINDER and SIDE WINDER II blades have three cutting edges: “A” represents a longer cutting edge with a reverse skew angle used for general slicing cuts. “B” represents a curved cutting edge that can be used as a mini bull nose gouge as well as for making controlled stop cuts. “C” represents a curved skew cutting edge to be used for getting into tight areas and mini slicing actions.

The dog leg shape of the blade allows for reaching into areas where other blade shapes will not reach. The knife is intended to be a supplemental knife to compliment other primary knife blade shapes even though it will do almost anything any other blade shape will do. It may take some getting used to in learning all the many cuts it will do to discover its versatility. The photo essay below will show some of the ways the blade can be used in making various slicing cuts.

SIDE WINDER II is using the curved skew part of the blade “C” for a slicing cut into a tight area in left photo.  SIDE WINDER II using the longer cutting edge “A” with its reverse skewed angle to do a slicing cut in right photo.

SIDE WINDER II making a slicing cut using the “A” longer cutting edge. This photo shows the beginning of the slicing cut while the next photo will show the completion of this slicing cut in left photo.  SIDE WINDER II at the end of a slicing cut using the “A” longer cutting edge ~ this follows the previous photo that showed the beginning of the slicing cut in right photo.

SIDE WINDER with its larger blade in this photo shows the beginning of using the curved skew “C” part of the blade as well as the curved “B” part of the blade entering into a tight area that will make a combination stop cut and skewed slicing cut in left photo.  SIDE WINDER with larger blade using the curved bull nose “B” part of the blade for making a shallow gouged trough while slicing forward in right photo.

SIDE WINDER with curved skew “C” part of the blade entering into tight area. The left photo shows the blade entering at one angle, while the right photo  shows the same kind of cut with blade entering at another angle to illustrate the versatility of the use of this blade shape.

SIDE WINDER showing a slicing cut using the longer cutting edge “A” with its reversed skewed angle slicing out a shallow gouged out trough in left photo.  SIDE WINDER slicing cut using the longer cutting edge “A” in the opposite directed from the previous photo.   The carving in the right photo was used for the demonstration cuts of both SIDE WINDER knives. Keep in mind that other knives were used for the basic shaping of this carving while the SIDE WINDER knives were used for making supplemental cuts in areas that the other knives would not reach as easily.

The next series of photographs will show various positions of the SIDE WINDER II  (proto type) blade being used to carve a Hobbit holding a lantern.

The next series of photographs show the Side Winder II (proto type)  being used to carve a novelty badge for a good friend Don Johns.  The second knife in the last two photos has a small curved cutting edge blade at the end of an extended tang which was used for the narrow channel where the wider Side Winder II would not fit.  This is to illustrate that one uses many knives to accomplish the necessary cuts.  The dimpled background was accomplished with an awl like an ice pick pushed in a random pattern.