cedar indian

Mottles · #11 01-25-2008, 01:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jartzh

I am new to this "glue together the piece" stuff. I can add a lot of details (feathers, strap for gun,...) but that will make it pretty fragile. Should the extra fragile things be screwed on so they can be removed for transportation of does that make it a mannequin?

Wow, I have never seen a glue together carving this big, fantastic! As for a base to bad you could find a dead tree trunk. Also, I like the idea of just a feather or two for the hair. How about, just a knife sheath and strap around the waist? Just thoughts....
Looking forward to seeing your progess on this one, thank you for sharing.
Kathy

mark yundt · #12 01-25-2008, 03:11 PM

As for me,,I have yet to do any statue without glue up. Since I don't start with a solid tree trunk I'm not sure how you actually went about fastening the legs.arms or whatever you added. The joinery there to me would be quite critical. I would imagine you at the very least splined the joints,,if not prepared a half lap or tenon type joint for some measure of integrity in the piece.
As far as anything else you wish to add they *could* be screwed on,,if you have a good way of hiding the screws or fasteners. I tend to favour key slots,mortise and tenons or some other way to interlock the pieces,,have the ability to carve straight through the joints to make it appear as if it is all one piece,yet the addition can still be removed. If these are preped properly they will by just friction hold fast.The slightest parting line where pieces are simply stuck together drives me nuts as well as compromises the joint.Even if I think a piece of paper MIGHT slip into the gap,,it's already too big.But then again that's just me.
Would it be possible to see some closer shots of the piece. I do realize it's in the rough out stages at this point,,but it just may give me some more ideas to suggest to you as to how and where you plan to add things.

JFoster88 · #13 01-25-2008, 03:28 PM

Wow... what a project. I wonder if it's possible to use "biscuit joints" to help give it strength.
Jerry

mark yundt · #14 01-25-2008, 03:44 PM

A biscut joint to edge glue a board is wonderful. In a more massive joint,,where absolute accuracy of the joining pieces is critical,,the biscuts aid in alignment and little in the way of strength. Now if this piece isn't subjected to any stress ( weight of the piece standing on a leg or two) It may not be a problem. That's why I suggested a more mechanical way of fastening the pieces. This way you have the mechanical strength as well as 2-3 times the glue surface. That's why dove tails work so well in relatively thin boards. Here it's more important.
Then again,, I have a habit of overbuilding something.

jartzh · #15 01-26-2008, 12:48 AM

I use steel dowels to hold the legs and arm on. 1/2" for strength and then a 3/8" to keep it from spinning. I want the joined leg to be strong. Remember this isnt solid good wood. its splinter old cedar. I did put a couple feathers on the back of the head. I started smoothing out the head and arms. I will take a pix after I get it all smoothed and all the gaps filled. I have a huge hole in the right thigh. like a skinny football.

I am planning on a bullet belt and knife (carved not added). So the only thing still to glue on is the rifle strap, unless I carve it into the rifle. I still have plenty of wood on the rifle.

I have decided on a base of rocks (carved cedar chunks - since I have plenty). I will join them with threaded rod because I can get it 48". and I should be able to make it massive enough to keep him from tipping.

Something I havent incurred before: I have to stand on a chair to work on the upper part of the head. So I plan on laying it down to detail. then build the base seperate and connect it to the base and stand it back up.

Nice thing about doing life size things is I have a model always available.

it wont let me attach a bigger picture.

jartzh · #16 01-30-2008, 07:09 PM

Here it is today after I filled in the holes and joints. And took the weekend off. I just started carving the hand and the rifle. So now the fun starts, I get to carve a little scene (hand holding gun, belt with bullets and knife, pants with fringe,...) one at a time. I have been lucky and only had to add the feathers on the head. everything else is on carved out of the log.

It is free standing but I still plan on adding a "rock" base for stability.

With the white sapwood so strong, I think I will have to stain the entire piece.

Mottles · #17 01-30-2008, 09:43 PM

Wow, wonderful update looking forward to following along. Your carving is going to be just great and all the detail you plan.
Kathy

jartzh · #18 01-30-2008, 09:56 PM

What you cant see in this view is that his left hand is behind him. I plan on him holding a leash to a horse trailing behind. It will be just a head that will be mounted on the wall behind the piece. Gives it a little action. but that twisting the body is a challenge. Cedar is not as flexible as it could be!

dmatias · #19 01-31-2008, 09:07 AM

Great carving so far. It sure sounds like it will be strong and not come apart anytime soon. Hope you keep us up to date on the progress. Am looking forward to seeing it progress.

Colin_Partridge · #20 01-31-2008, 12:04 PM

Looks absolutly fabulous already that is quite the undertaking especially adding material. One word of advice if you are going to give him feathers. I talk from experience I did a large native with two feathers coming from the back of his head. Well the kids of some vandel broke them off and I had to attatch them again and they got broke a second time. If you are thinking of feathers it is my advice to put them laying flat against his hair on the side that way they wont get damaged.
Colin