[tnartist05]

I found this old stump,its apple! Its hard trying to deep carve him with the 2 straight chisels I have plus working with a oak cutting board on my lap! Guess thats why I relief carve the most! I will have him carved deeper tomorrow. I hope I dont have to paint him seeing some of the old apple is about rotten in places and wont take a stain.[turns black] This is 6" X 8 1/2" I busted the small stump into 2 halfs,carved a funny druid yesterday in the other half,had to paint him! Any s how to stop the old wood from turning black??

OHhhhhhhh The catfish,I will work on him when I have time,right now I have bigger fish to fry~

[Irishman]

I've carved a very large piece of apple wood before so I can appreciate the struggle of taking off that wood with chisels. I thought I broke my mallet at one point hitting my gouges so hard. Your "Indian" looks pretty much on the surface right now so be ready for some work as you relief him deeper in the stomp. As for the black color coming out of the grain....hmmm...someone else will have to speak to that. Share your finished product when completed.
Patrick

[tnartist05]

Thks Patrick for your advise! Heres the 1st stump of the apple I carved,I had it looking good til I applied a coat of clear polyurethane,then the whole carving turned black!! I then just painted it! I was going to not paint it where the wood & grains would show! This was the back of it,will post it painted and carved tomorrow.

[woodtrapper]

Forest, the blackening my be the pitch in the wood after you applied the finish.As you and I talked before I like to start with the nose.Since your chisels did not come in you have a tough project ahead with the flat chisels.Keep us posted my friend.Davy

[tnartist05]

Yes you are right Davy!! I hit the middle of this apple wood[the pit],it was dark red then when I applied a clear finish,it turned totally black! The Indian I will be carving on today,its in the red center of the block so I hope I can carved this Indian right there and get his nose out!I have problems doing that!! I will try to carve him deeper where his nose will be out more! Course if I dont?? He will be called," Chief Flat Nose" Even thoug there was flat head Indians,the Flat Heads Tribes. they wrapped stones on a babys fore head from birth to flatten thier heads. Thks for your input Davy!! and GRrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr about my tools not coming in!!!{oh well~}for now!

[tnartist05]

I finished the other half of the olde apple stump yesterday! I would have liked to have carved him deeper getting his nose out more but every time I would hit my mallet another item would break off,like the teeth in the cat skin on his head,lost seveal teeth there!! I know once I get some real tools and some "gouges" & chisels plus a thick nice wood,I can get the noses and other facial parts to stand out more! I enjoyed trying on this old apple wood,it had some beautifull grains in it once I applied some minwax/poly.

Thanks for viewing and your ideas plus your imput of this old apple wood.

TnArtist

[Hi_Ho_Sliver]

The only thing I ever found in an apple was a worm!

[tnartist05]

HUMMMMM??? eating a apple finding a worm isnt that bad,its when you find half of a worm in a apple you have been eating,that you have to wonder!!!

[Irishman]

Yes its frustrating when the wood starts to break away. As for the teeth, you could always insert some by dremeling some small holes for posts.
Your carving turned out really well...and I'm impressed that you were not using gouges but a few chisels. You'll be pleased when your new tools arrive as the removal of wood will be much easier...and less splintering and such.
Patrick

[tnartist05]

Yes! I will be really happy plus I know once Ive have some gouges & other chisels I can carve deeper in the wood.I appreciate your input and ideas concerning this apple wood carving! Thks Patrick