questions about carving a burl

[sculptwood]

Hi! I'm new here, but I have been carving for a long time. However, I have never carved from a burl. I have the opportunity to buy a large cherry burl, 2.5 feet high, by 2' wide, for $45. I would like to carve the head of a Bighorn Sheep. I usually arrange any freestanding appendages (like horns, etc.) on the straight grain, for strength, but the horns of the Bighorn sheep curve around almost in a circle, and this will be impossible. I do not want to compress the horns against the head for stability, or leave them attached to the block at the bottom. My questions are: 1. Does the grain in a burl go in all directions? 2. Does it have tensile strength? The horns will be several inches thick, and not real pointy on the ends. Will a burl support this kind of project?

[AlArchie]

You should be able to carve your project in burl, but be prepared for a challenge. There is virtually NO grain in a burl, and it's virtually ALL grain! That is, no particular direction to the grain, and it runs in all directions at once. Forget everything you ever learned about dealing with grain and get ready to learn a whole new skill.

These burls can be carved with hand tools, but may be better done with power. You will also find voids inside the burl, and maybe even included bark like substances and some grit.

There may also be fracture lines within the wood, as you asked about tensile strength. Or the url may possess some exceptionally strong characteristics. almost every burl you carve will be different in character and each can produce a beautiful carving.

It's just going to be a whole new experience for you.

Good luck with your project.

Al

[Bill]

I don't think that you will have any problems with the horns, I will add that if you have any voids or cracks, don't try and fill them they will ruin your carving.
One of first burls I listened to some other carvers, and did try and fill some voids and cracks. Really MESSED it up in my opinion.
Since then I do not fill anything and just carve as if the wood was there.
I use chisels and power for the rough out then swich over to smaller power tools for the detail.
Enjoy, it sounds like a great piece, hope you will post so we can see it coming along.
Bill

[sculptwood]

I taught myself to carve through trial and error, so I can probably deal with that aspect. As far as it being ALL GRAIN, I think that may be a GOOD thing. I think it may have an interlocking effect, which will make it strong. However, I suspect that I am going to have to keep changing direction with the chisel, as needed, which can be challenging. (I have encountered this situation with other logs in certain areas. When this occurs, the wood can be extremely hard, and I usually switch to a smaller chisel or gouge, to lessen the resistance (and save my arm). I will try to upload some photos of my work. Thanks for the input.
Mary