[Woodartist]

Does anyone carve light houses and do you do most of the work on a lathe?

[Paul_Guraedy]

I don't know how to use a lathe; but, doubt that I would use one to do most of the work on a lighthouse anyway. A lighthouse without accompanying buildings, rock, sea, or some of these would be boring. Then if the carving is very large, it seems that the surface of the lighthouse would need to be textured (stone, wood). I would simply hog out the excess wood in whatever fashion I normally use. For me this would be a saw to get the blank, a foredom to get close, a micro for some details and handtools for others.

I did a relief some years back....

[mark yundt]

Paul does have some valid points,,but I don't see any reason not to use a lathe to make the main section of the lighthouse. This could be done separately ,attached to a base to make the cliffs or land area,,the additional houses could very easily be added on. The lathe would give you the basic shape and you could then add the texture of the bricks and such. All the horizontal lines could be scored in while on the lathe.The upper part could be left on as you turn the piece and then carved into the 6 or 8 sided ( don't know what they are) glass area and roof.Or you could just make it separate and glue it on.
Not sure how fancy or large you plan to go,,but you might even consider lighting it as a night light. You could power it using a conventional small lamp and cord,,or if your piece does have a building,,use it to hide the battery pack for a cordless lamp and snake the wires up through the lighthouse.These kits can be found in hobby shops that handle doll house accessories. Some of these lamps are really small,,the size of a pea or less!I used to use them often making toys and things for my kids.I also lit a tabernacle I had made for a church with them as well.Might be a novel addition.
This could be a really fun project,,make models of all the famous lighthouses!

[Hi_Ho_Sliver]

If you want to do one in the round, you could get a good start with a drawknife. Neighbor did one, 1/2 round, turned out great.

[Woodartist]

Great suggestions guys. Thanks. I have an electrical background and do like the idea of a light and putting the battery in a building or structure.

Not sure about texture. The one I had in mind ( GG grandfather was a keeper) seems rather smooth. Draw knife might be a way to cut it down quickly. It does sit upon riff raff and those rocks can be detailed. I'm new carver and thought this might make a nice beginner project......
Thanks !!

[mark yundt]

Excellent project,,beginner or experienced. I just assumed by your post you had access to a lathe. If you don't there are a number of ways to rough it out...carve it,,draw knives,,use whatever is at hand and gets the job done. Point is,,just do it!.You'll find answers,,and discover new ideas as you go along.Just start it and keep us posted! Lighted,,antiqued,,super detailed to scale and historically accurate,,or one out of your imagination,,there are so many ways this could go and just be a fun project however you decide to do it.Have a ball!

[Woodartist]

Thanks Mark and no.....no lathe yet. I was going to buy a small one but a $2400 truck repair put a delay to that However I will give it a try and as you said, I think it is a good beginner project.

[mark yundt]

Ouch!! I hate it when life gets in the way of my play time and toys.Like I said,,even without a lathe you can make it happen. It's basically a column,,and look at the columns the Greeks made using only chisels in stone!

[woodtrapper]

Have you thought of cottonwood?A lot of story book houses are carved with less wood removal?

[Woodartist]

You mean cottonwood bark?? I have never carved bark, but that is a good idea for down the road and a good way to get started in the bark carving. I'm doing a very basic relief carving to see if I remember what end of the chisels and gouges to use I'll do a few more of those and then move on to the light houses....
Thanks,