Elimination of Fuzzies on Wood Carvings

SeaChips · #11 04-30-2007, 01:17 PM

I was a little reluctant to post this, but thought someone else might benefit from this little piece of info I picked up from one of the carving magazines that I subscribe to. Someone suggested using a wooden popsicle stick to eliminate fuzzies especially in the crevices. At the time, I was carving a profile, so I tried it, and sure enough, it cleaned it up so nicely. One of the benefits of this is that you don't have to worry about getting the grit into your carving and ruining your blades - and, it finishes out so smooth! You never know till you try it. I wish I was one of those carvers who can make a cut and be done with it, but not me, I whittle for clean detail and do it a little at a time to make sure I don't over cut. I guess confidence will come with experience, but right now, I'm enjoying whittling and cleaning with my popsicle stick or wooden clothespin. By the way, I'm enjoying this website and the folks here as well. I am truly "learning" from your experience. Thanks.

mikeg · #12 04-30-2007, 02:07 PM

Seachips,

I could be mistaken but I believe that's called 'Burnishing'.

mikeg

bbeery · #13 04-30-2007, 08:54 PM

By Mark Yundt standards, I must be a very poor carver. "sandpapers or scrubbie pads are just compensation for poor carvings". I never claimed to be a good carver so guess the name fits. I sand and scrub all my carvings.

Wolf Kiessling · #14 04-30-2007, 11:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bbeery

By Mark Yundt standards, I must be a very poor carver. "sandpapers or scrubbie pads are just compensation for poor carvings". I never claimed to be a good carver so guess the name fits. I sand and scrub all my carvings.

I wouldn't feel bad about this if I were you. Most wood carvers sand their work. The things that come to mind that need little or no sanding are caricatures, folk art type stuff, flat plane carvings, things like that. Matter of fact, a lot of straight whittlers don't sand. Even with these things, a little sanding is sometimes required. It just depends on the type of work. Nobody really LIKES sanding so if you can get by without it, great......

Eddy Smiles · #15 05-01-2007, 04:03 PM

Seachips! I have what I call a "wakeup bar" (sugarfree popsicle) after my nap each day. Never could figure out what to do with all the sticks. Now I know. Great idea. Thanks!

Wolf Kiessling · #16 05-01-2007, 04:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eddy Smiles

Seachips! I have what I call a "wakeup bar" (sugarfree popsicle) after my nap each day. Never could figure out what to do with all the sticks. Now I know. Great idea. Thanks!

Tell ya another good use for them. In fact, I use so many I was finally forced to buy a pack instead of relying on just the ones I get from ice cream and popsicles on a stick. Also corndogs. Of course, everybody doesn't do this but I use an awful lot of epoxy to do my inlace inlay and these sticks work
better than anything else I have found to mix the stuff and apply it......

Also, before they invented these little spring loaded sanding sticks, I used to glue little dabs of sandpaper to the tips of the stick and use them as sanders. Not as convenient as these little sanding belts I now use on the spring loaded sticks but they did the job for several years..........

Eddy Smiles · #17 05-01-2007, 04:38 PM

Wolf...

Another couple great ideas to sock away for a rainy day! Thanks!

You know if someone had the time and energy and went back and re-read all the past threads and jotted down all the great ideas, it would make for one "AWESOME" book! Ha! Ha!

BasketballJones · #18 05-01-2007, 06:25 PM

SeaChips, That's some law of physics I forgot about (I forgot all laws of physics). It brings back memories. I remember doing some physics experiment using wood and stone while in college. Something about the energy caused by rubbing two alike objects in density to produce a specific energy reaction. There is some fancy equation that goes with it. Can't remember much other than it was a night class and I used to go the bars after it (or was that before it.) Never had much use for physics until now. Good

.

falconer · #19 05-01-2007, 06:31 PM

Just like anything else that pertains to carving, sanding is a skill that needs to be learned. There is something to be said about not having to sand because the carver knows how to use the chisel or knife. But, I believe you can get a better surface by sanding depending on the grit and the wood being used. I have at times sanded up to 1500 grit. Anyway thats my two cents.

www.sierracreekstudios.com

Eddy Smiles · #20 05-01-2007, 07:30 PM

I have a friend who power sands using one or more of his lathes, wheels or whatever he's using. He starts off with a real low grit and ends up with a real high grit. Then he puts the paper bag to it and in the end it shines like a diamond in a goat's butt....Ahhhhhh....can I say that?