Making animal carvings

[whittling]

MobsterOkay ,does any one know how to get good detailed hair on a animal carving . I'm going to try to whittle some more critters . As always I'll be using a utility knife ,a V chisel and a X-cto knife . Oh and does anyone know how to make good legs ?MatrixHead Bange

[Callynne]

The best way to get good hair pattern, in my opinion, is with a woodburner. My first animals I did, I didn't have one though and just used a very small V tool. Problem with that is cutting across the grain as you follow the natural hair pattern of an animal. The woodburner will easily burn the wood, no matter what direction the grain goes in.

I'm not sure what you're looking for with your other question, about the legs. Do you mean posing or strength by the way the woodgrain runs, something else?? Let us know, someone will have the answer, that's the great thing about this place! Deborah
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[Thomp]

http://www.woodcarvers.com/Animal%20blanks.htm
try that theres lots of cutouts there

[mdallensr]

When carving most 4-legged animals, the wood grain in your blank usually runs from head-to-tail, which means it runs across the legs of the animal, and that's the weakest direction. That makes the legs fragile. When carving the feet and legs, start with the feet and try to complete the shaping before moving up the legs and closer to the body. That will minimize the stress on the legs, particularly on thin-legged animals like wolves and horses. Despite your best planning and efforts, keep the glue handy.

Realistic fur seems to look best with woodburning, but hair, like a horses mane or tail, needs more shaping from carving and adding detail with v-tools or veiners. Good luck. Mike

[flyfisher]

It's my feeling that reference materials are very important for carving hair on animals to get an idea of hair patterns and length of hair --as well as for other reasons.
For short haired creatures as horses, a fine woodburning tool works well for me. For longer haired beasts as bears I preceed the woodburning with a smaller gouge (e.g. a Dockyard tool) roughly proportionate to the length of hair over the part of the beast where the hair is longest. Often I'll use a fine V-tool after using the gouge for more texture.
Practicing on a piece of scrap to get the desired effect will often keep you from recarving.

[whittling]

O.K . Thanks for the help y'all .

[whittling]

one more thing . what kind of hand saw works best for cutting out blanks

[jillsy]

Handsaw for cutting blanks? That sounds tough. If you could afford one, a bandsaw is totally worth it.

[slivers&dust]

Originally Posted by whittling

one more thing . what kind of hand saw works best for cutting out blanks

copeing saw

also look for a book by Mary Duke Gilden (I think that's her last name) Carving animals, I think you'll like it.

[PeteM]

Originally Posted by whittling

one more thing . what kind of hand saw works best for cutting out blanks

I have a foot powered treadle scrollsaw only, which is tricky over about 3/4" thick, so I use a tenon saw to cut vertical lines to the pattern, then take the waste away with a knife.

I find this method to be much easier than using a pedal or hand-powered scrollsaw/fretsaw.

I am thinking about getting a small pull-saw to do this with in the future.

I have attached a sketch to show what I mean. The red lines represent saw cuts, and are positioned to join up straight lines on the outline.

Hope this is of some use.

Pete