[Tom H]

I am beginning to think that trying to follow Lynn D's tutorial and carve the Chuck Wagon Cook 3 " tall instead of 9" was a big mistake for a rank beginner. The force to make a knife cut is very near the same force to cut through the wood. What I have done so far is without detail. How much detail I'll be able to add is, at best, questionable. The arms need to be glued on and sculpted in. And I am awaiting the head tutorial. Until then this head will do. Don't know what I'll do with the hands. And, No did not use a box cutter on this piece. My apology to Lynn Doughty. Tom H

[mwilleson]

I like it Tom!

That's a good amount of detail in a small carving.

[love2carve2]

I agree that is quite a bit of detail given its size. Maybe you could try a mini box cutter. Ha-Ha. Looks good so far!!
Mary

[Thomp]

Tom,

that is a GREAT effort,

I find full sized tools 1/4th" and bigger are so hard to minapulate and get detail with on such a small item, without marking up the carving with the back of the tool with pressure creases.

a knife point will only do so much and you start getting undercut or overcut marks in the detail areas,

keep your tools sharp.

to help this and ive got differing results with it, i bought a cheep soldering iron-wood burner from hobbie lobby, becuse i couldnt afford a pyrographic station like razorcut burner, this soldering iron type has interchangeable tips that get pretty small, the wood burner will do great detail, but its pretty hard to drive the thing to begain with, reaching into close quarters like doing inside pant legs will scorch the oppisite leg if your not careful or have the right bent tip.
the burner was $14.99 BUT WITH A coupon sent to me in EMAIL from the online store http://www.hobbylobby.com/site3/home2.cfm 40% off store coupon i got it for something like $8.00 it is worth that much for what i can get out of it.
the tips can be found at walmarts and other hobbie sections in stores, they even have a knive blade for thin lines.. i reshape the tips for what i need, if i cant find what i think i need, there made of copperalloy and easy to file or sharpen,
lots cheeper than the first investment into micro tools v grove and gouges less than 1mm.... or a real pyrographic station, if you were thinking of getting one.

one more hint, this is a 30 watt continious heating pen, and between times you use it in a session it nearly over heats, i found a dampnaturel spounge cools and cleans the tip from the carbon build up and cools down the tip so you get lesser burn,
the wood is compressed in the detail lines and paint wont cross the line, unless you really coat it heavily... be warned,
if you dont mind the detail lines being dark its no problem

i been practicing on the trains, you can see where it got away from me if you look close,
oh wear 2 gloves, im still healing blisters........

my $.20 cents....
thomas

[Lynn O. Doughty]

I talked to Tom yesterday on the Carving Magazine chat. Looks like he's about as far along as I am. One thing about writing a Blog while carving the figure is that I'm spending more time at the keyboard than in my shop. But, that's okay! I'm having fun!

On carving smaller versions...When I started carving, I began with Harold Enlow's book "Carving Figures in the Ozark Style". I think those figures averaged about 8" tall. As time passed I increased my figures to around 12-14" because that made a much more impressive figure setting on a desktop or display stand. Especially when the base was added.

Now there is nothing at all wrong in going the opposite direction. However, you have to remember that while you can make the carving smaller the wood still stays the same no matter what the size of the carving. Those little cells will not accept detail as smooth and fine in minature as they would in a larger version. Yesterday I made the biscuits that will go into the Dutch Oven for the scene. Those measured a little less than 1/2" each. To do this 3 times smaller will be a challenge. I try and keep my burn lines as small as possible but on a reduced size carving even those fine lines will be magnified, maybe to the point that it would be best not to use this technique. Make sure you test it on a scrap piece of wood to make sure you want to try it on your carving.

[Kenny_S]

first of all, Tom, That is a fine looking piece so far. I agree, You have accomplish a lot of detail in such a small carving.
Second, Thomp, Those are good burners for carfting but can't achive very fine burnings with the tips provided. I have used those burners in Scouting. I understand about the amount of cost involved with buying say a Razortip verse a Hobby lobby set and I am one that trys to get the best for the least. Well, Maybe well all do that. I am not saying these are not good for burning carvings as by first,second and third burners were these very same burners.

Last but not least, Lynn, Thank you for your comments and your tutorials on this. I am following it but not in actually carving the cook as I have other Irons in the fire right now but find myself going back to your site looking forward to what you add.

[Thomp]

kenny,
i agree the cubscout wood burner tool isent great or even good, but its better than heating a wire and using it for a
branding iron, but it gives you some ability to see what burning will do and get you use to the method. if for nothing more than to sadisfy the question what if i burned for detail... this type of burner is best suited for soldering or flat burning on placks, but you can get some detail without tossing away a C note for experimentation....
thanks for the information.

i was waiting to buy a burner, but now doing lynns cowboys i now have a real need for a bandsaw, a scrollsaw wont cut 3 " blocks....

[Kenny_S]

Thomp. I agree whole heartedly on those types of burners. Like I said I have several sets of them and use them with my Dial-A-Temo regulator.> I have even filed down the knife tip to have a thinner edge on it also.
Bandsaws. Do you have a Woodcraft store near you? Look at their Rikon bandsaws. I believe Blake has one now and likes his. I bought the Grizzly's Ultimate 14 inch one last year and I am happy with it.
Might look at Grizzly and they do ship and it doesn't seem like a lot for shipping. I am close enopugh to the Springfield Grizzly store that I drive and pick up the equipment.
The only difference I have seen in the Rikon and Grizzly is the paint job.
Look at www.grizzly.com
And you can get a 6 " riser kit for the Grizzly.
Personally, I would spend a little more for quality Than get a smaller one . I used a 9" for years and years and it does ok, but not like the 14 ". You can get by with a 12 " but for a few dollars more, the 14 is better.
BTW, I like what you did on the little 3 " Chuck Wagon Cook. Lots of detail in a little carving.

[Blake Lunsford]

Thanks Kenny for throwing that out there! I'm still very pleased with my Rikon that I bought back around Christmas time. It's only a 9" saw but it runs and cuts great! I definitely don't have any complaints with the way it has performed so far, and I think it was only about $150ish with the base! Definitely a good investment. I will plan on upgrading to a grizzly in the future but I would recommend a Rikon to any beginner wanting a good sawto start out with. Just my $.02 worth! It all depends on your budget and how quickly you want/need the saw!

Blake

[Thomp]

kenny,

i didnt remember the dial-o-temp name when i was telling marci about it, on the questions she was asking.... but it was what i was attempting to tell her about where i told her never to leave the wood burner plugged in when she left her work area.. too easy to forget its on. i got a burnt spot on my keyboard, and black smoke was filling the room
when the cat apperently bumped the chord and caused the thing to fall off its chepo stand,,,,
---
Ill look at grizzly about the bandsaw,
but i know if i buy a small one ill just wind up kicking myself later, so i procrastinate, hence "MASTER PROCRASTINATOR" under my avatar....
---
hope you aint giving me credit on the mini 3" chuckwagon cook, the carver of that project was tom h, not me!....
---

TOM H,

I FOUND YOU A MINATURE COFFEE POT, look beneath.
found it at micaels hobbie & crafts in the minature dollhouse stuff. it was only $1.99 couldnt pass on it., if you cant get to michels tell me where to send it in a private message, its metal but painted the right color, couldnt find a dutch oven with biscuts and beans though
a just about right for a 3" cook/// a dime in the for round...