[Gray_Fox]

Recently I completed a relief carving and used Briwax to color/finish it. The carving is very detailed with many features. The maximum depth is about 11/16' in a 1' thick basswood board about 12' square. The picture is an eagle in flight with legs and claws extended preparing to land on a dead tree limb. The eagle covers about 1/4 - 1/3 of the picture. There's another eagle soaring in the distance. The background is pine tree covered hills.

I rubbed the Briwax into the wood with a cloth and used a toothbrush for the grooves and edges. I chose a light brown wax color for the entire picture except the eagles, with were done in a darker brown for contrast. I painted the head and tail feathers with a white latex acrylic. Then I waxed the entire picture with a clear finishing wax and buffed it out to a satin finish.

Wow - I was very impressed with the way it turned out. It was just an experiment that worked out great. Anyone else here done anything like this?

The relief carving instructor, (Can't remember the name) at the Creede Rendevous used a mixture of dark and clear Briwax thinned with mineral spirits and melted on a hot plate.
It was applied with a small paint brush. It left a beautiful finish with some darkening in the low spots.
I have used thinned and heated Briwax on some carved signs that were used outside.

[squbrigg]

I use just a paste wax on my relief carvings, like you, apply it with a toothbrush and buff with a shoe brush. You have to work on the corners and keep changing your "angle of attack", but with perserverance, it works.

I haven't tried the Briwax yet, but after reading the "guests" note, I think I'll give it a try. When carving Basswood, you need to darken the wood to increase the contrasts in the depths, and I've tried: oil finish, wipe off, then just a wood stain, wipe on and then off, sometimes it takes a couple of applications to get the darkness you want. The Briwax sounds easier than what I'm doing.
Bob

[oldbearx2]

Hey Grey Fox I've also used Briwax on some of my mountain men. I think it does a great job, Ive use all of the colors but like the dark walnut on basswood. easy to use great results. oldbearx2

Harold

[oldbearx2]

Hey All if you go to picturetrail website you can see how the briwax looks on the mountain man. Harold

[squbrigg]

Wow, those mountain men are well done. Nice job. I can see what you mean about the wax, darkens the wood nicely, and highlights the detail well.

Thanks for sharing those pics.

Bob