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Detail Shaping
Detail shaping for morta is done much like it is with briar, though
there are some differences. The big one is that metal cutting bits work
much better with morta, and small reamers of various shapes are the
primary tools I use with the rotary carver. Below is a picture of our
detailing station where we keep all our hand files, rotary tools, and
sanding wheels:
The pipe goes from the lathe back to the bandsaw where the corners are
cut off and the shape is further roughed out to produce something like
the picture below:
From here, the stummel is shaped almost entirely by hand and eye using
the sanding wheels, drums, files, and the rotary carvers. One
interesting point about morta is that it must be sanded with care, as
it heats up strikingly (and painfully) with friction on a sanding disc.
Anyone accustomed to the sudden burn from working a piece of metal held
in the fingers will know what I speak of - the sanding goes normally
when suddenly your fingers are on fire! The morta will become extremely
hot but cool back down quickly, so the process of sanding and shaping
requires more care in avoiding too much sustained pressure against the
wheel. Morta is also much harder on sanding wheels and discs than briar
is, and it will very quickly turn a new disc into a piece of smooth
fabric.
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Talbert
Morta 
