wood burning

I currently am working on carving a bird, the stumbling point that I have come upon is detail for the feathers. Would burning the feather detail in work. Any other options would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
Matt

Yes.

[Donna_T]

Matt,
Burning feather details will give you the finest details you can achieve--especially with practice. You can use a micro v-tool, but there is just more you can do with a burner tip than just make fine lines. For instance, when you put the center barb on a feather, you can go back over the line and lean the tip toward the outside of the feather to compress the wood slightly away from the barb to make it stand out. As you outline each feather, you can do this also rather than carving around each feather to soften the look and make it the 'tinyest' bit of a different height.

So, burning would be the best option for the best look.
Donna T

[icarve2003]

Matt,

Definately burn the detail on feathers. That is all I use when doing the primaries, secondaries, tertials, etc.. When doing the softer looking feathers on the chest 'belly, and mantle, I use the dremel tool with a small stone. It gives them a softer fluffier look.

Birds are what I carve the most. I started out doing ducks but I enjoy doing songbirds more. I found that the ducks were all too similar.

Let me know if you have any more questions.

Chris

[Donna_T]

I Carve:
Which stone do you use for those 'soft' feathers--color, size, and shape? I've wanted to try that process, but have never heard which stone to use.
Thanks for sharing details.
Donna T

For soft edges after burning use the white ball shape cutters to soften. I space allows a long white cutter is used. A blue cerem cut from Foredom may work but white is recomended.

[icarve2003]

Hi Donna,

I use a small white inverted cone ???(don't know how else to describe it.) I try to get one as small as I can and I use the edge of it to sort of 'draw' in the feathers. I find if you rough in groups of feathers before you start actually texturing, it makes them look a lot fluffier.

I've seen a demo on the web somewhere. I'll try to find it and I'll post the link.

Chris