Tagua nut carvings

[mateo]

I'm not sure why i said they might crack if soaked. I don't have any experiences where that happened. Who knows what i was thinkin back in 09 People dye tagua all the time it's no problem. Might want to start a new thread, on where the best deals might be, just so you will get more people in on the conversation. I do know that Lee Valley sells them.

[kev.b]

Matt just read this thread, and im glad i did! those carvings are amazing. never heard on Tagua nuts before and certainly never heard of carved Tagua nuts. just goes to show you NEVER stop learning in the world of carving. I've just checked ebay and there is a company in the UK selling them....10 have just been ordered. thanks to you i have more ideas spinning around in my already full head.
you asked for suggestions in an earlier post..ever tried carving a ball in a cage with a nut, a bit like you'd do for lovespoons? dont know if it would work??
thanks very much for the idea, the pics and the helpful info and advice about carving Tagua nuts.
kev

[medicinedog]

Great work Matt, love your faces. I too would like a close up if you could. I bought a hand ful of these 10 years ago and never got around to carving them. Somehow I thought the nuts were to be soaked in water which softens them up to carve then they return to very hard. Is this correct or do I have a misconception. Thanks for showing them. Lar

[Howie]

Great little carvings!

How does the nut carve? Like a softwood? It looks like it'd be pretty hard...

[mateo]

Originally Posted by kev.b

you asked for suggestions in an earlier post..ever tried carving a ball in a cage with a nut, a bit like you'd do for lovespoons? dont know if it would work??
thanks very much for the idea, the pics and the helpful info and advice about carving Tagua nuts.
kev

This reminds me, when I first started carving I checked a book from the library on netsuke carvings. One of the pictures was of a man holding a birdcage with a bird inside, the thing was made from a piece of Ivory about 1 1/2 inches tall, it was the most amazing display of craftsmanship I had ever seen. I am glad to hear that you have some tagua coming. We only get good by practicing, so form the idea in your head and dive right in and accept that you may ruin a few, it's about the journey. I threw more than a few mutilated carvings into the corner of shame, I can tell you. Another thing, when I realized what a sharp tool really was, it got a lot easier. Good luck and post the results when you get one your proud of.

[mateo]

Originally Posted by medicinedog

Great work Matt, love your faces. I too would like a close up if you could. I bought a hand ful of these 10 years ago and never got around to carving them. Somehow I thought the nuts were to be soaked in water which softens them up to carve then they return to very hard. Is this correct or do I have a misconception. Thanks for showing them. Lar

I wouldn't call it a misconception, let's just say you were misled. Maybe it helps a little, I don't know. It's hard and it's chippy if your not careful. But it's great fun to noodle away on one with sharp skew chisel. Give it a try, if you remember where you put them, they will still be good.

[mateo]

Thanks Howie I appreciate it. How does it carve? It's different than wood in that there is no grain to deal with, so you can cut in any direction. on the other hand there is no grain to show off when the carving is done.