Grizzly Bear Decrative Carving

[Terry]

Hi Carvers I am new to this web site and live in the country;so don't get a chance to talk to other carvers.I've done a number of raptors and birds and now trying to do animals.How do you do hair. Any advise.

[Donsexton]

Hello Terry, I use a 1/4" bent "V" tool in 60 and 45 degree. I will tell you this I mostly use my automach with a "V" tool on it much faster. I have used a thin saw blade on a die grinder as well.

[bigEd_H]

Harold Enlow has a tutorial for carving hair at WWWoodcarver E-zine - Bob Travis - Carving Hair with Harold Enlow that is very good.

Ed

[Paul_Guraedy]

Terry, the first thing I do is decide if am I wanting long flowing hair (mane/tail of a horse) or short fine hair (mountain lion). Am I looking for thick fur (wolf) or thin hair (body of a horse)?

The main thing I look for in carving hair/fur is the flow (much the same as you do with bird feathers). Get the flow wrong and it does not matter how good a job you did on carving the fur. I use pencil lines to show the flow, length of my strokes, and depth of the cut I want (darker, wider lines mean deeper more pronounced cuts). Then follow the lines.

If I want to carve a horse's mane I intermix using a veiner and a V tool. The size depends mainly on how big the carving is; but, also on whether the mane is flowing in the wind or hanging limp on the neck. This also determines the depth of my cuts. I then go back over the piece with a burner to put in some individual lines.

For the body of the horse, I use only the burner to make light, very short strokes.

If I want the fur of a mountain lion, I may use the tip of a V tool some; but rely mainly on the burner (avoid charring) and make longer strokes. If you look at a cat you get the feeling of flow not of individual hair or clumps of hair.

If you want thick fur, think of it kind of like the soft, rolling feathers on the belly of a fluffed up bird. Use the V tool some, but mainly the burner to give the rolling, fat look to a grizzly.

I think the attached are detailed (copy them and blow them up) enough to give you some idea of the way I do it.

[Gulf Coast Handyman]

Ed, thank you for posting that.

Dave

[Dicky]

I have had some success with a Speedball lino cutter with a veiner profile. They come in various sizes and are very cost effective (cheap). They also take and hold a good edge.