[Dave_from_Toronto]

Most of the Santa's that I have carved todate have fairly simple hair/beards. Straight or slightly curved details carved with v-chisel. I would like to have the current Santa have a somewhat curlier beard.

Are there any good references for carving curly Â*or flowing hair. Can anyone share their individual techniques?

Some examples of my work:
http://www.woodmagazine.com/default....ml___15089___0

[Hi_Ho_Sliver]

looks to me like, if you carved him like the mane on your painted carousel horse, you would have what you are looking for?

[Donna_T]

Dave,
I loved your carvings. Good Job! Your website was cool, too.

Harold Enlow has a 'hairball' go-by casting that shows how to make all kinds of hair--curls, braids, etc. My experience has been such that to get curlier hair set up, use a veiner to put some random curvng/flowing high/low contours to the beard-- some (a few) deeper --but always cuving--never straight. Then go back with a smaller veiner to set-in more detail before using a v-tool to finish.

Donna T

[lorax]

For me, it always seems while I'm carving it, the hair seems curly, then when I'm done it only seems a little wavy. Stone sculptors from the high gothic, and early rennaisance used an early form of drill bit to create a hole, then carve the surrounding part to be a curl of hair. I dont know how feasible that would be for a santa, but if you lay out the hair using loops and circles you will get more curly than wavy. You will definately need more than just a V tool to create a curly beard. Sorry not to have a reference for you. I personally would try a couple of different methods on a srap piece, before deciding on a method for your santa.

[Callynne]

Dave, your work is great!! I love how much detail you have in your carvings!
I'm trying to get more curl in my Santa's beards also, I use a combination of V-gouges and the GR tip for my woodburner. The wood burner allows you to make more curving 'stop cuts'....I know because Nancy G said so and she makes the best curly beards there are!! Callynne

Hi Dave,
I am from Thornton a little north of you. Have you also looked at Jeff Phares book carving hair and ears it is also a great reference book. I was lucky enough to have taken Jeffs course when he came to Canada this summer in Bowmanville.
Nice web site love your santa's also nice job on the web site as well.
Colin