[buzfuz]

Just to say Hi and all the best for the New Year from England to all on the forum.
I have no experience of wood carving but enjoy making walking sticks, which up to now have had horn or antler handles, I'd like to try to carve a stick handle and would like to start with something easy, any advise would be appreciated.

[AlArchie]

I'm working on one now (first carved handle) and am planning on making a snake head; fairly simple and it adapts well to the handle design. So far all I have is the block and a basic design, but it looks fairly straight forward. got a pattern from an Audubon Field Book on reptiles and amphibians. In the front of the book they have diagrams of the heads and other parts of the critters from the top and side.

You might try that. Or I've seen a few duck heads done very nicely. I believe Hi Ho Sliver, on this site has done a few of those.

Al

[squbrigg]

Welcome aboard Buzfuz, hope you enjoy your time with us. We all have to begin somewhere, so walking stick handles is as good a place as any. Do you have a design in mind? I would think that would be your first hurdle. An eagles head, a fish, dog, dragon or knot work. Lots of ideas. Draw a sketch on the wood and away you start. Remove any wood that doesn't look like it belongs! Oops,...... never said I was much of an instructor.

Welcome aboard, New Year and happy carving.

Bob

[Smokey]

Welcome and have the best in the new year.

When you make your sticks, are they in the order of a staff or cane?

If you attach a "handle" to your canes--You always want to make the top of the cane and the proximal end of the handle, a lot bigger in order to make a stronger and less obvious joint. You can always carve it back down to the thickness that you desire. On this type of cane-- a simple bird head( looking away from the shaft) would seem to be a good start. You can "Stylize" the bird and not have to worry much about proper color, feathers, or anatomical correctness.

If you intend to carve a hiking staff--then a simple ball on top seems to be as uncomplicated as one could carve.

Carving wood is certianly an evolutionary thing. Success comes from the start. Every carving gets better, easier, and more refined. No matter what you choose for a "first topic"--It will give you the pride and experience, so that every effort after is better and more satisfying.

Good Luck Pal and we will be waiting for photos of your success.

[Colin_Partridge]

Nice to have you with us I hear from a friend of mine in the UK that there are very few wood carvers there. Stick carving is really a fun way to start and you can do it either way. Carve a head to put on a cane or look for a cane with a natural handle and do the carving all in one. No matter what you wont know until you try one. All the best and make sure you post a picture for us to see.Colin

[Old_Gord]

Hi Buzfuz, Lancashire eh! Whereabouts in Lancashire are you located, my mother was from St.Helens.
As far as cane handles or toppers , maybe you could take a look at Lara Irish's Woodcarving pattern web pages at;
http://www.carvingpatterns.com/cane-toppers.htm
You most likely don't need the introduction to cane making, as you say you have worked with horn in the past, but this web site has numerous patterns for all types of woodcarving(mostly pay for but numerous free ones as well) , you might just find a pattern or a suggestion here to suit your needs.
All the best from Canada.

OG.

[buzfuz]

Many thanks for all your encouragement, as you say not many people here seem interested in wood carving here, clubs are very hard to find, as to Lancashire I now live in a village called Coppull, not far from St Helens.I would like to carve a dogs head (springer spaniel my dog), and then perhaps some birds.

[big_Wayne_P]

Here is a link to a pattern site
you can order the CD
or download off line

they havew some free patterns available to download also

http://www.carvingpatterns.com/


look at all the different categories including cane toppers

[jamesfa]

hi buzfuz- welcome to the group if you would like some ideas go to my picturetrail site and look under hicking sticks.if it is a realistic or stylized depictation of your dog you have a model close at hand. on some of mine i just had the dog lie down and i traced around his head(profile) then i just reduced it to the size i wanted,i used the computer to stretch and skew the design.
good luck and welcome

Frank

[carver6]

Frank,
Don't mean to be a smart a--, but how do you get a dog to be still long enough to trace around his head? My dogs have always been too stupid or rowdy to be still long enough for that. Of course they were never trained and I was always told you have to be smarter than the dog to train him or her. hmmmm, maybe that's the problem and I just never thought of it before!!!