My 2nd Project - Cowboy boot

[Patrick]

Started my second project yesterday after watching Gene Messer’s video where he demonstrates carving a cowboy boot. Having Larry Green & Mike Altman’s ‘First Projects for Woodcarvers’ on hand with the pattern for a cowboy boot added to the enthusiasm to get moving.

I’m beginning to feel comfortable with the Cape Forge carving knife which I’m getting more attached to and I don’t mean stuck in my finger.

I marvel at Gene’s expertise with the knife and would like to think I may make it there one day. But until then I decided discretion is the better part of valor and chose to hollow out the boot with some gouges I now have in the inventory. All was well until today when it came time to attack the boot hollowing. Moving right along and not paying the attention I should have I cut the boot wall to thin and you can see the light filtering through.

So, the next step in this saga is to block out the pattern again and start over. I’ll use the holy boot for practicing wrinkle cuts, etc. Also I think I’m going to cut in to some of that fine Heinecke basswood and may even layout the boot with the grain running heal to toe to see how much difference I notice in changing the grain direction. This first boot was cut from a little block of basswood I purchased at Michaels before I knew of Heinecke.

Anyway, the sequence of attachments tell the story for now.

I'm lov’in learning woodcarving.

Pat

[Tom Ellis]

Nice start Pat. It seems like we all have those learning moments. My only concern is that your cat seems a little dissinterested.

Nice job, Tom

[Gulf Coast Handyman]

Nice job Pat!

Dave

[Grayhorn]

Pat the cowboy boot from Lynn's was my first project. I've made a few since and some of the wood will let light shine through. They all made super giveaways. Keep the carvings coming.

[Old Codger]

Hey Pat...looks like you had a fine start on your boot! It was/is alot of fun to do that project... I've completed several of them, and enjoyed them tooo.. always gets great 'reviews' from friends and family so don't give up now, keep on making the chips fly... Maybe you can salvage the boot with a hole in it and make it a shoe instead? Hate to see a nice carving and good wood like that go to waste! Keep us posted on your future carvings, you've got lots of potential and certainly addicted like the rest of us!
Kenn

[gtech]

Nice job on the boot.

It should help when you paint it for the thin wall.

Gilles

[A_Swope]

Good Boot
You could call it Old Boot, it was used so much a hole wore in it.
and don't cats make great carving buddies.

[SlowMover]

You are off to a good start, your experience is a good lesson in paying attention...one that I have to relearn occasionally. Keep up with your practice.

[Patrick]

Thanks gents for your kind encouragement. You all have me thinking that I should continue on with this one for at least the practice it will give and before starting another. So, back to Boot Hill to carry on. I guess if your bucket can have a hole in it so can your boot. I’ll just say ‘the old boy gaffed himself with a spur being a dude whose's trying to learn which end of the horse eats the grass’.

BTW, that’s my buddy LT asleep on the bench. He's one of three that live in the shop and is a great companion except when he wants to get right in the middle of what you're doing.


Pat

[Kadiddle]

Patrick,
Thats a good looking, well broken in, boot you have there. Thats a good project for grain changes. Nice job!
Carve On,
Kadiddle