Tagua nut carvings

[mateo]

Here are some of the Tagua nut carvings that I have been working on. 12 of them are going off on their own today, so I took a picture to remember them by.
Matt

[torpidhummer]

Wow! Matt what great work you do,man I would be whittling off every one of my fingers. How long does it take you carve those minute charactors? Awsome work,thanks for sharing.
Oscar

[mateo]

Thanks Oscar. It takes about 2 to 6 hours depending on the piece. At the end of the day I count my digits and if theres ten of them I consider myself lucky.
Matt

[Ron T]

Hi Matt,

Wow! You have been busy. Those are really wonderful carvings. They're so small but very detailed.

Thanks for posting the photos.

I can see my mind racing off into space already, planning my first tagua nut carving.

[mateo]

Yeah Ron, there are all kinds of possibilities with these little things. Figurines, relief carving or some people make jewelry and pendants from them. Thanks for the interest in my carvings.
Matt

[Ron T]

Man, oh man! Matt, those faces are awesome. They are so small and very well carved. I can't believe how each one is so distinct from the next.

Jus, please, don't tell me they only took six hours or less.

What kind of tools are you using.

I have been picking up my nuts and toying with them a long time now but just can't decide what to do with them.

I'll probably try a frog or owl for the first.

Will you post a large photo to the gallery so I can get a better look at your carvings. Thanks.

[brent from mb]

Thanks Matt. These are great. If you can do a few close up pix that would be great. Are you using hand tools or power tools on these?
Brent

[MelNM]

I like the miniature stuff Matt. You did a great job carving it to, did you use hand tools or power tools to make them. How do tagua nuts carve is it real hard or soft.
Mel

[Mike L Hasler]

Great stuff, a Whittlers dream, NO GRAIN ?

[mateo]

Mel, Mike, Thanks for the comments. I have found it best to use rotary tools for the roughing out and scrapers and chisels for the fine details and then back to rotary tools for the sanding and polishing.I flattened (ground down) the end of a very small hole punch and sharpened it. Its my "go to" detail tool. Although I know that dockyard and ramellson tools get small enough to do the job and are no doubt better quality tools for the job. My advise is to keep your tools sharp. Tagua is a very hard material, it tends to chip instead of slice when your tools are dull.
Experementation and perserverence are key to tagua as well as wood carving. Thank for commenting.
Matt