attaching feet

[Helen]

How do those carvers attach little birdies to branches that soar into the air?
What are the branches made of and how do they attach the little feet? I've been attaching feet to solid bases, but I'd like to try a branch.
Thanks, Oh, I'd just as soon not solder. Epoxy only.
Helen

[Paul_Guraedy]

Helen, the secret ingredient to attaching bird feet to a branch is by making the leg shaft extend through the foot and into the branch. I make the leg and foot from heavy wire as a matrix for epoxy. The foot is left loose on the “leg” shaft. Drill a hole in the branch to receive the leg shaft, form the foot around the branch, cover with the 2-part kneadable epoxy, carve and paint. Some folks use the foot wire as part of the talon. I prefer to make my talons separately from the epoxy and place them exactly where I want so that the tip rests against the branch and maintains the sharp point. This is a simplified outline. There have been articles in most of the carving magazines on this process.

[Helen]

Hi Paul,
thanks for your reply. Some of the branches look as small as the "shaft" of the leg. Is this an illusion? Some samples I've seen use barbed wire as the branch, that has to be pretty small. Is the procedure the same?
Thanks,
Helen

[Paul_Guraedy]

I don't carve song birds; but, imagine that the procedure would be similar. The central shaft (through the foot) is to support the weight of the bird. On a small carving I would not think this necessary. I would still make my feet from wire and/or epoxy, then wrap, glue, or epoxy them to the limb. I have used modelers paste to make small sticks and such and the same could be done for bird feet. Take a wire a little smaller than the diameter of the bird leg, cover it with a light coating of epoxy, cover with the modelers paste, and paint.