#%$&*!@.......Suffering succotash

Eddy Smiles · #1 08-01-2007, 10:18 PM

The past two weeks haven't been some of my finest. I completely screwed up one project beyond any earthly hope and then I started this bear .... I know... why another bear? Because I like bears!... anyway, I started this bear and really didn't pay much attention to the wood until I'd already roughed him out and started carving. Besides being spalty it's the most honery piece of wood that I've ever tried to whittle on. Half of it is so soft and spongy that it chips out instead of holding detail, and the other half is so dang hard that the knife twangs when you try to carve on it.

I went back and checked a couple of other posts and saw where Lynn, Hi-Ho, and others had recommended spraying a mixture of 50-50 alcohol and water on the wood to soften it up. I decided that it was worth the try so I went out and bought a bottle of the 91-proof stuff. My wife had some 70-proof but I figured if 70-proof would do a good job then just think what 91-proof will do. Anyway, that's the way it works when one imbides, or so I've been told........right?

So far it's working pretty good. I spray a little on and then whittle a bit. As soon as it dries I have to spray it again. If I ever get the darn bear completed I'll post the finished product.

stickman · #2 08-01-2007, 11:31 PM

It will be interesting to follow your progress.So your saying that the alcohol mixture is working so far?What type of wood are you working with?It sounds like iron wood.

gene messer · #3 08-02-2007, 05:09 AM

Never used the mixture Eddy .. but it's interesting to see how it works ..

That looks like it's going to be a good looking Bear your working on .. Keep us posted ..

Thanks for the info ..

Gene

Lynn O. Doughty · #4 08-02-2007, 07:21 AM

Eddy.....For God's sake don't let out that your carving "pithy" wood. You'll be taken to the woodshed for sure!! But hey! Maybe you'll find a good piece of basswood in there!! Just keep your blade sharp and you'll have no problem with that mixture.

windsong · #5 08-02-2007, 07:34 AM

Good Morning Eddy
Thats going to be a nice Bear when you get done with itThere is not anything wrong with carving Bears.I'm with you i also like BearsThats why i carve little people!!! because i like them.Keep us posted on the progress.GREAT JOB.

Vic.

Irishman · #6 08-02-2007, 07:37 AM

For a piece of wood that's not cooperating, your carving has turned out pretty good so far. I've never tried that technique....however, I have gone back and recarved some dry wood after I treated it with pure tung oil and it definitely helped allow me to carve the wood without worry of it chipping on me. Good luck with your final steps.
Patrick

xsailer · #7 08-02-2007, 07:52 AM

I carved Shawn Cipa's Dragon and had approx area 1.5 X 6.0" of end grain to face off. Parts of the carving surface was hard to get to and I was not happy with the surface texture. The wood was excellant condition Basswood from a well known vendor. I used the Alcohol and it worked great. It is now in my bag of tricks.

Treever · #8 08-02-2007, 08:55 AM

I had the wrong kind of alcohol pictured in my mind. I don't think Scotch helps a body carve any better!

Kenny_S · #9 08-02-2007, 09:21 AM

Oh No, Not that dreaded Mixture technique! Ethyl, get the shotgun!
Nice bear and you fpund out for yourself the mixture works. Classic.

Hi_Ho_Sliver · #10 08-02-2007, 10:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eddy Smiles

The past two weeks haven't been some of my finest. I completely screwed up one project beyond any earthly hope and then I started this bear .... I know... why another bear? Because I like bears!... anyway, I started this bear and really didn't pay much attention to the wood until I'd already roughed him out and started carving. Besides being spalty it's the most honery piece of wood that I've ever tried to whittle on. Half of it is so soft and spongy that it chips out instead of holding detail, and the other half is so dang hard that the knife twangs when you try to carve on it.

I went back and checked a couple of other posts and saw where Lynn, Hi-Ho, and others had recommended spraying a mixture of 50-50 alcohol and water on the wood to soften it up. I decided that it was worth the try so I went out and bought a bottle of the 91-proof stuff. My wife had some 70-proof but I figured if 70-proof would do a good job then just think what 91-proof will do. Anyway, that's the way it works when one imbides, or so I've been told........right?

So far it's working pretty good. I spray a little on and then whittle a bit. As soon as it dries I have to spray it again. If I ever get the darn bear completed I'll post the finished product.

LOL, that piece of wood looks exactly like one I finished yesterday...I carved from a Pete LeClair pattern and this piece of spalted wood was the right size for the pattern, so I said to myself "how bad can it be?" geez, famous last words ....and I too survived it by misting alcohol on it, but you see, I use the stuff straight ha ha