Family Tree carving

[Timberwolf]

Hi all,

I may have bit off more than I can chew, but I decided to carve, out of basswood, a family tree for Mom for Christmas.

Now I am one of 9 children, so obviously I'll have 9 main branches coming off the trunk.

The way I started was to have the first 2 inches of each main branch carved out of the same block as the trunk, with the plans of glueing the rest of the branches to the main block.

Has anyone done anything like this? I imagine I'll want to dowel and glue them together? I think my biggest challenge will be to get the main block branches to seat cleanly with the attached branches (no gaps in between).

If anyone has any advice on the best way to glue these bad boys together, I'd be more than appreciative.

I'll post pics of the trunk and starter branches tonight.

Thanks much.

[mark yundt]

I've been involved with a number of odd glue-ups in my time. Maybe I can at some point offer advice.

Until then ( once you get some photos posted) I don't know if I understand exactly what the tree will look like or the direction you plan to go. I'm not sure if it's a free standing, wall mounted, pierced, etc. configuration you plan. I'll keep an eye out for your photos or sketch of an idea to give me a better idea on what to suggest.

[Timberwolf]

Thanks Mark,

It will be free standing mounted on a base of some sort.

The trunk is actually turning out better than I thought.

You'll get a better idea after the pics are posted.

[Timberwolf]

Hi all,

The pics below may shed a little more light on what I'm trying to do.

The first two pictures were at the beginning of the carve.

The last picture shows nearly where I'm at now after the material was removed between the "branches".

The only thing I've done since then was to put an angle on some of the branches so the branches I glue to them do not go straight up.

[SeaLeveler]

Gonna be an interesting carving project.Just fit the limbs as close as you can and I would use Titebond 2 or 3.Tony

[Spooker]

Hello Timber. I'm probably a bit late chiming in but I read your question about the 'seamless' connections and altho I'm a green-horned carver I'm a good carpenter and if I had to do that in another situation I may try:

slightly rounding the ends coming off the trunk, and slightly counterbore the new addition branches. If you get right up on it you may notice a seam but it will be alot less and probably wont even notice if from a few steps away. That little pocket will also give you a little bit larger of a glue surface.

Hope I explained that clear. Another option is add an accent to the tree that can cover the seams such as hanging ivy, take the notice off the joints.

Good luck and the trunk looks good
Spooker