Re: Bird Carving Masters

[Joelove]

Hi All. I'm new at this woodcarving. I've carved soapstone and bone in the past. Joe

[bigarm]

Welcome Joelove. This is the spot to ask anything you need to know about carving. I am new also and so far have got a lot of info.

[Ron T]

Hello and welcome, Joe. It's nice to have you here.

[Joelove]

I have a goldfinch carved, now I have to start putting feathers on it. They tell me that it is each individual stroke of a woodburner, Is there any easier way. Joe

[Paul_Guraedy]

It is best to burn the "hard" flight feathers on the wings and the tail feathers. The "soft" feathers of the breast can be "stoned". To do the latter, you take a small cylindrical stone (I prefer the white ones), hold the hand piece in the fingers of your hand so that when you curl them it pulls the instrument towards you. Place your thumb on the wood, position the stone at the start of the feather and pull it quickly toward you. It will take some practice but is not very difficult.

You can use this same stroke on the head but without "fanning" them out to make individual feathers.

Having to do the individual feathers is one of the things that turn a lot of people off of bird carving.