Still working on 1st Project!

Chahlie · #1 01-26-2004, 11:22 PM

Hi all,

Just a short to say I am still workin' on my first project. My lovely bride got me a Santa carving book and a few Butz knives for X-mas. The first few attempts to get started were frustrated by not being able find suitable wood to carve. After finding a block of laminated poplar I started. Let me tell you this is some tough wood to learn on I garantee!!! Any way I had an 'Eureka' moment...after slowly, painstakingly carving off and worrying off the wood that didn't look like the Santa pattern I thought...why not take my coping saw and cut off the bulk of that which doesn't belong...and leave the rest to be cleaned up with my newly sharpened and stroped knives, chisels and gouge. I had read in this vary forum about roughing out a pattern but just didn't apply it to my own work. See....This Old Dog can learn a new trick....IT WORKED! and I even changed the brake pads on my wife's car, and smoked a turkey breast in my smoker for dinner last night!

Ric · #2 01-26-2004, 11:40 PM

Hang in there it gets better. That is a very hard wood to carve, and you did the right thing to remove the waste. If you don't have access to basswood you might try going to the hardware store and getting a piece of white pine. I have carved tons of Santas on white pine and it is easy to work with, and its cheap. Just a thought.
Ric

Captain_Bandaid · #3 01-27-2004, 08:49 AM

You can order good northern basswood off of the internet if it not available locally. If you can find clear white pine, you can glue up several flat boards to make a block to carve. Woodworking glue carves easily but does not take stain well. I have a couple of Butz knives and really like the detail knife. Good luck on your project!

#4 01-27-2004, 09:55 AM

Way to hang in there even though the wood was slowing you down a little. Your lucky to have this kind of forum to get good advice from. I started carving 11 yrs. ago, and had nothing like this. My first carving was a Santa, and I still have it. I now laugh when I show it to people now, and tell them that I couldn't do anything that ugly now if I tried! I never learned about roughing out with gouges until I had carved for a few years. I used to do everything with knifes...what alot of work when I look back on it now. I saw Rick Butz in one of his books putting his carving in a vise, and using gouges to take off all of the excess...talk about a EUREKA moment! Now I carve Santas for a living, so hang in there...you just never know where it may lead. The main thing is....is that you enjoy what your doing. Carving can be one of the most rewarding hobbies to do. I still find it amazing to wake up in the morning...have a idea pop into my head....get up and draw it, cut it out, carve it and paint it. By the time I go to bed that night....I have a brand new carving that is a one of a kind, that was just a thought that popped into my head that morning. So...hang in there, and keep carving, there are lots of people here that are willing to help with advice. Dave

www.snowcottagecarvings.com

jamesfa · #5 01-27-2004, 10:10 AM

as someone who uses what ever kind of wood is at hand i know what your going thru.glad to see you kept at it.just think how much easier it well be when you get a nice piece of basswood.
when i started out not to long ago i read or was told 'use the tool that will take away the most wood the quickest and easiest to get to were you want to be

#6 01-27-2004, 10:44 AM

Chahlie,
My first piece was a sunflower head in relief which I banged out of a piece of 3/4 red oak that I took from the scrap bin at my local lumber yard. I did this with a 'set' of gouges I bought for $8 at a truck load tool sale and a 69 cent rubber mallet. I think I got $8 worth of entertainment out of that stuff. Since then the cost of the fun has increased but so have the results.
Ah Chip

Chahlie · #7 01-29-2004, 01:06 AM

Hi all,

Just got a chance to check my topic and want to thank all who replied so far and to future replies.

I have found a wonderful source for Bass wood here in Portland, Oregon. It is called Crosscut Hardwoods. I found a piece of Bass wood in their trash bin...it was a piece about 2.5 inches thick and maybe 7 inches wide and maybe 3 feet long and tapering to a point(obviously it split somehow). Took it to the counter and asked 'how much for this piece I found in the trash bin?' They said 'How about a Buck?'...Deal!!!!

Any way they sell Bass wood for $4.25 a board foot and will cut off a piece from their billets(planks) as long as they have a 6 foot piece left to sell...if you want the whole board they will slice it up on their equipment , to more manageable for little or no cost at the same price.

But I am gonna finish this first project in the poplar before I try something in the Bass wood. But I have tried a few test cuts on the pointed end of the scrap I bought and with a sharp tool it is soooooo nice! Well anyway wife just got home from work and I need to keep her smiling and maybe she will get me more carving tools for my birthday...LOL!

#8 02-12-2004, 03:21 PM

I noticed you are in the Portland area. You can find some nice carving tools at 'George and Sons' ...I think it is on Washington street. Guess they are still in business, been a few years and I'm a bit behind in who/what's still out there. Of course the woodcarving shows are always a good place to pick up knives and wood & inspiration.