[squbrigg]

Well done....both of them. Each has it's own personality, different and unique. Actually the first reminds me of our principal in high school......many years ago. Very distinctive face!

Bob

[KimHoJo]

I finally started on a Green Man carving that I've been wanting to try. I moved my carving outside to keep wood chips out of the house, but my cat keeps rolling around in them and then drags them back in. Now after I sweep off the patio, I have use the broom on the cat too; she loves it.

My kids asked me to carve a Neopets character for them and they liked it so much they entered it in an art contest on the website. They were thrilled when it was chosen as one of the winners for that week and displayed on the site (not to mention the "virtual trophy" they won!). It's the 3rd one down on the left at: http://www.neopets.com/art/gallery.phtml?place=468

It's goofy looking, but you can't imagine how happy it made them.

[Ken Bedel]

Brand new to the site... (got invited to answer questions about a recent project that will be in the next issue of WCI)

Anyway, I am in the process of building the blank for what I hope will become a lionfish. I'm gluing stripes of lacewood and maple together to make the stripes of the fish. I'm not worried about the body - it should be thick enough to keep strength.

I am a little concerned about stacking stripes for the fins, then thinning them out (as fins should be) and keeping any kind of strength. So, does anyone know of a clear stiffining "substance" to coat thin pieces for additional strength? Maybe a finish, or coating with super-glue etc... I'm beginning the experimentation phase and am looking for suggestions.

Thanks for any help, Ken

[AlArchie]

Minwax makes a "Wood Hardener". It is a one step plasticizer that soaks in and really stiffens and strengthens the wood. You can't stain after using it though, but it readilly accepts most finishes.

Al

[Hi_Ho_Sliver]

I have used crazy glue and it works fine to toughen thin wood....practice on a piece of scrap and preferably use a new bottle that is still thin viscosity...as the thick stuff kind of builds up on the wood and you don't want that or have to try to sand it down!

[BobD]

Welcome aboard Ken...

Everyone, Ken won the amateur bird division of the WCI/Woodcraft carving contest for his inlay penguin--It's awsome. He shared his inlay techniques in the upcoming issue of WCI!

I'm still working on a baker's dozen of projects...and not really any closer to finishing any of them <grin> At the Ward show, at the few slow times, I tried to whittle a wimsey chain, but my links kept cracking, and I didn't want to mess around wiht glue, so I just carved them off!

Bob