Feather carving

cedarshavings · #1 03-22-2007, 03:23 AM

I'm about to start a feather but it is an Owl feather and it is about 12" long.
I've cut the blank out of basswood and the grain runs across instead of the longer length of the feather. I'm wondering if this will be a problem when I get down to the fine detail on the feather tips or will it matter as long I'm careful to which way I'm cutting when I get to that point?

Hi_Ho_Sliver · #2 03-22-2007, 10:37 AM

you need the grain running the other way.

cedarshavings · #3 03-22-2007, 12:50 PM

That's what I got to thinking after I cut it out. I don't have a piece of wood that will allow it for that length and I didn't know if it would be better or worse since I might even be carving from the center (quill) to the tips.

Hi_Ho_Sliver · #4 03-22-2007, 02:06 PM

It would break really easy, not worth putting the work in it in case it did.

Kenny_S · #5 03-22-2007, 02:19 PM

Ditto!!!!!!! been there!

falconer · #6 03-22-2007, 02:44 PM

Cedarshavings, all the barbs of the feather should be running with the grain as well as the shaft of the feather. You might want to try doing it out of a peice of Tupelo instead of Basswood. The tupelo will sand much easier and hold the detail better. Anyway just my thoughts!

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cedarshavings · #7 03-23-2007, 06:21 PM

I've got one now with the grain running the length of the feather. Thanks for the advice. I knew I would get down to some fine detailing and a small crack in the tip would sound like a shotgun blast.