[errol]

I make all the legs & toes for all my carvings. I am improving a little on those.

heres a blackcapped chickadee, notice the piece of wood I'm going to mount him on..I'm just getting ready to put the washes on him.. hard for me!!

[tnartist05]

Really a excellent job on his feet plus the birds them selves!! Going to have to call you,"The Bird Man" Just nice work Errol on your behalf!! Forrest

[errol]

This is how I put together bird feet,


I use #12 copper for legs, #18 copper for toes, the "V" are the 2 outside toes, the curve piece is the middle toe & rear toe. this I got from Robert Guge, but I had to make a few changes to make it easier for me.
this is a device I bought at a discount tool store yrs ago. I have a board I drilled holes in for the legs to stand, then I clip the top of legs in this device to hold steady while I solder the toes. I think the solder takes better if the copper wire is sanded some.


above is how the toes fit together to the legs ready for soldering

After bending the claws , I use a disk grinder on a dremel or foredom to shape the claw
will continue on next thread
Errol

[errol]

below is how the soldered feet looks..



I use ribbon epoxy over the legs and toes..


then after covered with the epoxy, it can be detailed with a knife



the legs are attached to bird by drilling holes in the bird and 5 minute epoxy
holes are drilled in whatever bird will be mounted on using epoxy.
as with the downy, the feet are NOT attached to base but a pin used to hold the downy to the mount. I drilled hole ih the "tail" since they usually always have their tail on the tree for stability, insert pin, with glue then drill in the mount and insert pin with glue.
Hope I have explained where anyone interested can understand! lol, Maybe someone can even improve on this which would be helpful. thanks
Errol

[markken5889]

very helpful Errol. Thanks for sharing!

-Mark

[Nancy_G]

Wow !! Making your own bird feet ... that's GREAT. Sharing such fine photos of how you do it with us other carvers ..... that's VERY GREAT.
Thank you so much.

[Bandaid]

Thanks for sharing your technique on making feet Errol. Nice work on the birds too.

[errol]

you are all welcome guys and gals! this style of making feet is the easiest for me. I hope some of you can use this and even improve on this way. If so please let me know, it has taken several tries to get this far for me.
Errol