Monster log and (used to be) chisels

Callynne · #1 05-21-2005, 12:07 PM

Before I get busy staining the deck...YUCK!....I figured I'd snap these photos and share them with you. Hubby did the chainsaw carving, some of the cuts are pretty deep, like around his nose, so I have a bit of work to do there but I was wondering what you all think. Could I finish him with a couple large reciprocating blades or should I just go ahead and buy a few hand tools?

I'm attaching a photo of the chisels I've used so far, figured you'd get a kick out of (or be horrified by!) what they look like. As far as I know, they've never been used on wood, just to pry open paint cans, things like that!

Thanks for all your advice so far, I appreciate any more you can give, in case you haven't noticed, I'm a bit intimidated by this big guy! Thanks!

Callynne

Hi_Ho_Sliver · #2 05-21-2005, 12:25 PM

looks like a good start to m e! as for the chisels...lots of work to do there lol.............

squbrigg · #3 05-21-2005, 01:37 PM

Don't be intimitated.....it's just wood....."whittle" him down to size! You have the "edge"!!!

Though, those chisels need a lot of work first! Good luck.

Bob

Baldy · #4 05-21-2005, 07:28 PM

Callynne:

Having seen some of your work I would say you definitely deserve some decent chisels. This is a good start for you as a roughout but lacks the finish we have come to expect from you. You are an artist and deserve to at least have decent tools to work with.
Baldy

Colin_Partridge · #5 05-21-2005, 09:10 PM

Deborah,
Those chisels are carpenter chisels and by the look of them you should send them to Rick they look as if they are really dull. Having looked at the log you seem to have the stop cuts in alright but get Ben to take away a little more wood with the chainsaw. I have found there is no sence wasting all of that time removing wood with a chisel that you are not going to carve. If you use the tip of the chain saw and run it back and fourth lightly on the surface of the wood it will remove the wood like using a power carver. It might take a while to get used to it but once you get the hang of it it works great. The problem with chainsaw carving is that saw gets heavy after a while even with the light weight saws they make today.
I have always advocated that sharp and quality tools are a must for carving and with large carvings it is exactly the same. Good luck we are all waiting patiently to see the finished product. I should have left you some tools when I came to visit you would be almost finished by now. Let me know if I can help any.
Colin

Callynne · #6 05-23-2005, 10:20 AM

Thanks guys, I'm so anxious to get to him, it's bugging me he's setting out there in the garage not getting done!!

Colin, is where he needs more off where his hair is going to be? I'm afraid he'll take too much off in the face area, he means very well but is a bit heavy handed and I know I'm not touching that chainsaw, it scares me to death!!

Duhhh, would you believe I never even thought of sending those chisels to Rick. Guess I just think of him sharpening my little tools, not something like them. Ben has a sharpener and already said he's going to sharpen them....wish I'd sent them out to Rick already, if I do it now, Ben will feel I didn't trust him to sharpen them. Sure hope it's not a case where I have to sneak them out to Rick after Ben sharpens them!

Thanks again for the advice and encouragement!

Callynne

wade clark · #7 05-23-2005, 11:29 AM

Hi Callynne,
I'd suggest letting Ben sharpen them and being happy with the job he does, because they're not the right tools for what you're doing anyway! It sounds like you've got some great friends here who are going to see that the right tools get in your hands. Enjoy them when they arrive! You have made a great start on the face, etc., but those two tools, sharp or not, are going to make it very difficult for you to get where you want to go with that log. A sharpened tablespoon or a pipe cut at an angle and sharpened would be better...but that'd take so much time and effort and be so disappointing! Wait for a few good tools from friends! Or buy even a cheap set of 5 or 6 to get you going...they sell at buy it now for $15 to $50 on ebay. You can always upgrade! Or search under gouges on ebay. There are probably a few dozen old ones on any given day, some going very cheap! THEN send them to Rick! The old ones often have great steel in them.
Have fun!
Wade

Callynne · #8 05-24-2005, 10:03 AM

I agree Wade, I'll have Ben sharpen them but I'll use the gouges I'm ordering for my reciprocating carver. I heard from Colin this morning which ones he recommends and I'm ordering them today.....Thanks Colin!! And thanks to everyone else who's been so generous with their excellant advice, encouragement and offers of help!

Callynne