What would you do different next time??

[xsailer]

I've got a lot of things I'd do different the next time but if doing over what I'm working now I'd plane(router probably) down this chunk of wood to get to the good wood instead of hand gouging it. I'm working an old 2"x16"x8' board that has been exposed to light and the air for years causing it to miscolor. Fortunately it's soft Pine so it's not hard to do but it would have easier to mechanically remove the wood. Up to about 1/8' to remove to get the good wood.
There has to be "do things different next time" ya'll have experienced. Care to share your experiences.

[susieq]

A jointer maybe? Even a 6" one would work if you turned the piece end for end to do the other side of the 8" width...... Plus a jointer is a good way to "square a piece up". Just a thought.

[xsailer]

Hello susieq,
The size stated will be the finished size with the carving inside a carved frame from the same piece of wood. In other words the carving is stepped down to leave a 1" border same thickness as stock. I'm almost finished now so too late do something different.
I don't suppose you've any lessons and will do it different next time?

[CarverFromNoWhere]

Hi Bob, I have a few Once I just went and finished a piece without testing the colors and totally wrecked it. I spent a lot of time on it and when I did the color it was awful just did not fit so after a lot of paint thinner to clean off the oil based stains involved. Not mention a lot more sanding I really wished I had tested the colors on some scrap or some chips.

Well there is one from me I don't wanna take over your post and I know everyone on here has at least one story. I think Susie didn't understand ya wanted to hear other peoples, leassons learnt.
Carl

[xsailer]

C/T FN,
I also learned a finish lesson. Don't apply the oil stain after painting and before a light coat of Deft or Polyurethane. I did this and had a heck of time removing the dark stain from the colors.
Yes it sounds like it for Susieq

[susieq]

Yep, that's exactly what happened. I had to go back and re read the first post. Sorry I didn't get what you were asking for the first time out. I know I have had a few of those lightbulb moments when I realized that there was a better way to do what I was trying to do....to late to do it by then of course.

I do santa figures mounted on carousel animals sometimes...the animal is usually mounted with a post through the belly area like a carousel horse. I tend to get really excited when starting to carve a new piece and have gotten a good deal of the piece done before realizing that I hadn't drilled the hole for that post yet.

I hate putting a nearly fully carved piece on my big drill press to do this because of the risk to the details I have already carved. Trying to hold the piece belly up, perfectly centered, perfectly upright side to side as well as front to back so the piece won't wind up sitting lopsided when mounted, and then pulling the lever down with the big bit spinning away. A real nerve jangler...

If I don't have a good grip on the carving, the spinning bit will jerk it out of my hands and the resulting wreck would leave scars all over the already carved piece. Going through this one time is enough to make you remember to slow down and do that step at the beginning.

[Eddy-Smiles]

Bob...

I've got an old but very faithful Black and Decker hand planer that I've used for that very purpose for years on old wood and on roughcut to smooth out. I've even used it on red cedar rounds and ovals to remove the chain saw gouges when making clocks. It sure beats the wear and tear on the hands and it's a lot faster than sand paper alone!

[xsailer]

SANDPAPER!! Thank you Eddy but I'll stick with my gouges. I do have an electric planer I could have used but alas, too late. As I said I'm almost done. I'm doing it the hard way but when I update the sunflower carving thread I think you'll understand.

[Eddy-Smiles]

Each to his own. I don't usually use sandpaper except when I want to start off on a level plane.... Nothing like a belt sander to get things flat!

[xsailer]

Eddy, I wasn't being critical of sandpaper. I just try to make my finish cuts clean enough to not have to sand. I personally like to see cutting tool marks(the slicing kind). I wouldn't object to using sandpaper ever if it fit what I was doing.