Carved Morel Mushroom on Hiking Stick

[mountainmanjr]

I am fairly new to carving...just a few years. I have seen carved morel mushrooms on the internet and sure would like some good advice on how to carve them w/ a dremel. Anyone that has ever carved some; please get me started in the right direction...Bouncing S

Looking forward to hearing from you pros.................

CowboyThank You

[Tom-H]

OK Mtmanjr, I'll give it a try. I've done lots, but don't currently have any to show you. I do have a photo of a carved mushroom. This is exactly what I carve on the top of the hiking staff, or morrel probe, as some call them.

Since I make the staffs out of hickory or ash I use power. I shape the top of the mushroom, and the stem with an aggressive burr, and finish them off smooth with a 3/4" sanding sleeve. No little holes yet. I obtain the final stem shape by running the 3/4" sanding sleeve around and around until I get the correct stem shape. By this time the sanding sleeve is probably purty well shot. With this sanding sleeve I tip the mushroom so that the top edge of the sanding sleeve can be used to "burn" semi-circular veins under the mushroom cap. Next I use a long thin tapered burr and randomly carve out the holes in the cap. I plunge the point of this long tapered burr into the wood and then move it up or down to elongate the hole. After this is done I dip the whole mushroom into walnut stain and wipe it off with a rag. The more you wipe off, the lighter the shroom will be. Leave the dark stain in the holes. After it dries, use polyurathane. It takes me about 15 minutes to do the whole mushroom on the top of the staff.

Hope this helps.

Tom H

[Tom-H]

Aw yesh! forgot the photo...Sorry! To late on a Friday to do this..LOL
Here it is!
Tom H

[dnstehly]

I carved one of these for a fellow back in 1983. He wanted it done in apple wood since I understand morels are more prevelant under apple trees. The shaping was done with a knife and then sanded. The holes were made with a round carbide burr. Blades of grass were suggested at the base of the stem with a vee gouge and then charred for color contrast. All else was left natural and a tung oil finish was applied. I hope that this is helpful.

David