Mesquite Bear

[jmischel]

I spent a couple of hours this afternoon out in the garage (hot out there, with the outside temperature near 100) checking over and adjusting the band saw I picked up at a garage sale last week. Just to test the saw, I cut down (did I "resaw"?) a piece of mesquite that came off a tree here a few weeks ago.

What to do with a piece of mesquite that's 2.5 inches long and about an inch square ("square" being loosely defined since I don't have a rip fence for that saw)? Another one of those 5-minute bears, of course.

The mesquite wasn't too tough to carve. Easier than the purpleheart, but then the mesquite is still a bit green...

Finish, again, is Howard's Feed 'n Wax. No sanding this time, though.

[Iowa Carver]

That's a cut little bear. Pretty wood too!
Resawing is generally referring to taking a board and sawing thin slices off of it, such as a 4 x 4 and cutting 1/4 x 4 thin boards off of it.
Corey

[wisardd1]

Jim,
I know he is a bear, but I couldn't help but think of the old cartoon character Snagglepuss. Such a big smile. Good job.

dale

[jmischel]

Thanks, Corey. The wood is pretty, isn't it? And thanks for correcting my terminology. My band saw book is on order.

dale, you're not the first one who's said that one of these bears is a cat or a dog. I don't mind. I've carved a couple that bear (pardon the pun) close resemblance to that cartoon character in the Cheetos advertisements.

[Dileon]

I have a piece of Hawaiian Mesquite called Kiawe.....it is about 24 inch to 16 inch...multi color and multi grain...beautiful, beautiful wood and harder then stone...so far the sucker broke two of my old, old good chisels and my best handmade knife just got ate...talk about mad. Everyone teases me about the wood because I have been trying to carve it now for the last few years!! one of these days...smile prehaps I should have stayed small like you did or get out the stone chisels. I am glad to hear you had an ok carve...my wood is about 19 years old...one of those ...one of these days I will carve the wood...woods..smile Di.

[Nomad]

That mesquite is fine wood. I've seen people use that for scales on custom knives. How hard is it to carve? Cute Mr. Bear!

[jmischel]

> How hard is it to carve?

From My experience yesterday: not too bad. It was a lot easier to carve than the purpleheart and somewhat easier than the oak. However, that mesquite was still pretty green. I cut the limb maybe 4 weeks ago.

Somebody else on this thread said that the mesquite is like rock.

I'll know more when I tear into this older piece of mesquite I have.

[Mottles]

Hey Jim, your bear is just precious and he looks bigger than he actually shows in your image. Super carving.
Kathy

[jmischel]

Dileon: according to my references, Kiawe is very similar to the mesquite we have here in central Texas. I haven't carved the mesquite after it's dried. Your description of its hardness has me a little worried.

I'll know more when I figure out what I want to do with this big piece I got hold of...

[jmischel]

Thanks, Kathy. I surely do enjoy carving these different woods.