[Colin_Partridge]

Hi gang its me your number one pest. I finished up that huge oak and I started another today. This is also about a 300 year old Savanah Oak. Or should I say it is what is left of it. The stump is about eight feet high but there is only about 1/3 of the stump left. It is another carving for as park in Toronto. I will be doing a bunch of carvings for the park over the next few months. This carving is about 6 inches thick from the hollowed out center to the outer bark. I thought I would try something a little different and make the mouth so it went all the way through. If you look at the mouth you can see you have a wonderful view. I will finish it up tomorrow and stain it. Then I have two cherry tree's in the park to do. The problem with these carvings is that the outer sap wood has all turned punky, so I have to cut all of that off before I carve the firm wood. Firm is not the word oak after it has dried is like rock. In fact the chainsaw will spark if you apply too much pressure. Just a tip I learned really quick if you are carving oak let the chain do the work dont force it and it works just fine.

Colin

[Ashbys]

Your not the number one pest .. I am .

Beside being a termite mate you are really showing off the talent. ! Fantasic job !

And please keep be a pest I love these Photos ! Besides I like everyone showing the work going on. !

Ash

[Kenny_S]

I really like this one also Colin. Love the way the mouth is through the trunck. Unique for sure.

Number 1 in my books.

[wood-whittler]

colin,

great work i like the way you cut through the mouth area, really cool.

bart

[Graywolf71]

Colin you amaze me to no end.
The woodspirits are what brought me to woodcarving and the way you carve them keeps me here.
I keep carving on and on seeing my skills with a knife improve.
Thank you for the insperation.

Michael Gray

[Tom H]

Colin, Just load your truck up and be a storm chaser. The supply of tree trunks without tops are limitless, and increasing with each storm. That spirit is first rate, as all of yours are. Tom H

[RoundRiver]

Nice work Collin,

As for the punky parts have you ever used Crysabond thin superglue? It comes in large Quantities and goes on like water. When used with an accellerator it kicks in about five seconds. after that you can carve away and it's hard as Oak!

Nice work!

Russell

[Hugh]

Fantastic work Colin, just can't imagine tackling that old stump. But to come up with something like that, well, it's unbelievable. Keep posting, you've given me the fever. By the way, do you use a regular chain saw chain, or a special type??

[bygeorge]

Colin, that's a really nice job. What a refreshing idea to utilize a stump instead of having it dug up.

Chuck

[Colin_Partridge]

Thanks guys for all the positive comments I am working seven days a week trying to get all this work done. I retired eight years ago you would never know it this carving thing is bigger than I ever expected it to be and it just keeps getting bigger. To think I was going to get out of commissions this year but people wont let me. As for what I use, a variety of saws I have a couple of carving saws one with a twelve inch bar with a quarter tip the other is a sixteen inch bar with a dime tip both saws run 1/4 pitch chain. I also use grinders and sanders and a die grinder with heavy duty carbide burrs. With the oak it is mostly chainsaw work as the chisels wont hardly touch that seasoned oak. Any advice I can pass on please ask I am more than willing to share my experiences with you.
Colin