carving a hound dog

[liverlipsyyz]

i saw this tutorial on youtube on how to carve a houndog YouTube - Woodcarving A Hound Dog Out Of Wood Part 1
i'd love to try this one but i don't have a bandsaw. any ideas on how i can cut this pattern before i start carving it? can i use some sort of hand tool to cut the pattern or should i just carve the whole thing from a block of wood?

[Claude]

You could use a coping saw or a fret saw to cut the roughout shape. You could also just draw the pattern on the block and start cutting away the excess wood with a knife. Small patterns I find to take less time using the knife...

Don't try to make cuts that take off big thick chips - make lots of little thin chips. It's easier to control the knife, so you're less likely to end up carving on your hand instead of the wood. You can make three quick thin chips in the same time as you make one big thick chip; your arms/wrists/hands don't get tired as quickly either...

Claude

[bill#1]

Or another option is look around for a carving club in your area and have someone cut the wood blanks you need..Carvers are always looking to help others improve the hobby..thats the best way to rub elbows with other carvers ..you will learn alot..I guarantee


Bill#1

[gene-messer]

The little dog is only 1 1/4 inches wide .. so a scroll saw would cut it out ..

also check with smoky mountain woodcarvers and they have blanks for dogs at a reasonable price ..

Gene

[Chainsaw Artist]

I can't see any reason why a jig saw would not work. Heck its small enough to put on a 2x4 and you could draw it out and cut it off the 2x4 leaving plenty of hand room to hold the 2x4 still. Trick with the jig saw, don't push hard or cut fast, let the saw do the work and just take it slow.

[twoclones]

The point is to remove wood so in a pinch any cutting tool will work. Even a saber saw or knife.

I made this hound dog carving following a whittling tutorial but rather than use a bandsaw and pocket knife, I used a chainsaw and disk sander....
Chainsaw Carved Dogs.

[Dogdude1]

Thanks. I will epoxy sections of 2x6, mark the pattern, then ask someone from the River City Carvers (Louisville, KY) to cut it for me on the band saw. The hounds are holding up a wooden pole with a racoon at the top. The title of the piece, from the racoon's perspective, is "Aw Poop".