Are these the correct steps to attach arms?

[jillsy]

I tried this once before and messed it up, so before I try again, I want to make sure I'm doing it right.

I want to make a figure with outstretched arms (in front of her). To do this, I know I'm going to have to attach the arms separately.

Are these the steps I need to take?
-bandsaw body
-bandsaw arms
- carve away some of the body, leaving the shoulder area alone
- carve away some of the arms, leaving the shoulder area alone
-THEN glue the arms to the body
- Let glue dry
- continue carving, blending the arm in with the body

Last time I tried this, I carved the shoulder area first. Then when I tried attaching the arms, they didn't fit well. Luckily, a friend here suggested wood filler, which worked. But, I'd rather do it right the first time.

Thanks,
Jillsy

[chuckbolton]

you might check with lynn doughty's blog-- i bet he had an instruction on putting on arms. i know he attaches them seperately. he may even respond to your post--

[Paul_Guraedy]

Jillsy, I would think that attaching the arms on a carving would be about the same as attaching wings. The way I do it is to carve a hole in the main body and leave a protrusion to stick in the hole on the wing. I then make up a batch of the putty type epoxy and use it to fill out the area where the two pieces meet. This cements the two pieces together and, when carved, makes the joint invisible.

[Canopener]

Jillsy,
Sounds like you are on the right track.
You might want to find some books by "Bill Higgenbothem, Humorous Country Characters" , published by Dover Press. I believe our own Fox Publishing stills carries it. He also wrote some other books. To put a point on it, this was his style of carving. He liked to bandsaw the pieces and then put them together. If nothing else, his books are an interesting insight into an older style of carving that you could use.
Steve Prescott's book "Cowtown Carving", published by Fox Chapel, also has some info on carving in pieces that have been bandsawed, then put together.
Good luck with it.
I cannot express how frustrated I get when I break off an arm or other appendage, by trying to carve in one piece. Aaargghh!!! I am almost finished with a piece right now, that bends with every cut, because I have made him soooo thin.
So Really, Good luck.
Jim

[Kenny_S]

I believ you are spot on kiddo

[jillsy]

Cool beans!

Actually, I just found 2 old messages I kept from the last time I screwed up. Lynn and Susieq both gave me good advice at the time and it looks like I remembered it correctly.

Thanks to all for your added advice!

[Thomp]

jillsy,

lynns blog covers this the best i can think of to show you how, heres the link, for the chuckwagon cook.. way back when lynn started that blog...

Out West Woodcarving :: A Hankerchief, Some Burning, and a Left Arm

[Claude]

Now that only hard part is to find yourself some old inner tubes somewhere to use for the rubber bands.... I'd suggest the closest bicycle repair shop...

Claude

[Pete Rieger]

i just attached some arms to a carving with the joint at the elbow, the shoulder and the bicep being a part of the main block. I used dowels, gorilla glue, and 2 rubber straps off a dust mask for elastic clamps.Tied the ends together on each strap and used a wedge between the straps and the rear of the carving to get all the slack out.worked great.

[Dull Knife]

Originally Posted by jillsy

I tried this once before and messed it up, so before I try again, I want to make sure I'm doing it right.

I want to make a figure with outstretched arms (in front of her). To do this, I know I'm going to have to attach the arms separately.

Are these the steps I need to take?
-bandsaw body
-bandsaw arms
- carve away some of the body, leaving the shoulder area alone
- carve away some of the arms, leaving the shoulder area alone
-THEN glue the arms to the body
- Let glue dry
- continue carving, blending the arm in with the body

Last time I tried this, I carved the shoulder area first. Then when I tried attaching the arms, they didn't fit well. Luckily, a friend here suggested wood filler, which worked. But, I'd rather do it right the first time.

Thanks,
Jillsy

Why not learn how to cut your blank with the arms attached and then carve it that way.....that's the way I've been doing it since I started carving....it's actually quite simple once you try it.
But leave plenty of extra wood for when you carve the hands.