WI Santa Ornaments

[Sixty_Vette]

The one bad thing (well maybe a good thing), is that my WCI Magazine gets deliverd to the house and the wife sees it before I do. I come home and all my wood related magazines have little sticky tabs throughout the pages (gotta love her).

Well the recent Holiday Bonus Issue had Santa Ornaments inside - she tagged the page and said I needed to carve 7 of these little fellows for gifts for her (and mine) sisters and brothers!

Well - here are a few that I have done and one I started. I did turn the blank on my lathe on a taper with ball on top for starters. The second picture - the ornament on the left I added some texture to the hat for kicks - not sure which I like better - what do you think?

I do have one question though - I tend to have/leave alot of - hmmmmm - not even sure how to explain - fuzz?? My cuts are not necessarily smooth - mainly in corners. Is this more of a technique issue or maybe knife not sharp - or both? Should I need to sand carvings when finished?

for looking!

[fpace]

Hey Sixty...

They all look great! Fuzzies happen... lots of reasons... grain issues... tool sharpness... making multiple cuts in the same spot. You can clean them up pretty good by rinsing the piece under warm water while scrubbing it with a stiff brush. A denture brush works real good or a good stiff toothbrush for smaller pieces and areas. Making sure your knife is really sharp and making only one cut will eliminate a lot of them. Hope this helps.

Carve on...

[SlowMover]

They look good. I think if you are going to paint the spirals in the hat like a candy cane that the texture will look better smooth..just my opinion. Great job.

[kdispoto]

You did real good!
When I get the fuzzies (sounds like a sickness) I cheat and put the paint on thicker.

[Gulf Coast Handyman]

Looks great! I go over the whole carving with a 3M wheel before painting, they work great to remove fuzzies.
3/4" and 1" Bristle Discs by 3M

Dave

[bob easton]

..........

[Sixty_Vette]

Well, done carving and now onto painting. Got 4 painted thus far - thought I would share!

for looking!

[Old Codger]

Sixty_Vette looks like you've darned near perfected the art of carving these little guys! They are really well carved and painted... I'm sure your family will love and cherish each of them. Thanks for sharing them with us and continued safe carving to you!
Kenn

[bob easton]

..........