Howling Wolf

[doris]

glad i was help,,, i just said so, since next door lives a white german shepard dog, very nice dog, and very similar to wolf, not same i kknow, but very similar, and so i ad some reference so... i ike the face of the wolve you carved, that is great. ...i have no idea for the hole, but closed eyes (on humans) look great when one openes up them just a very tiny slit. there are lots of reference fotos of humans with closed eyes which might give you idea for wolf too

[Pete Rieger]

Scaef, don't take this the wrong way, but I suggest you use this piece as a model and create a new piece using sound wood. The second one is usually better and faster and you've had a chance to work out some issues with implementing your design.Thats from my own experience in trying to repair a problematic piece. Sometimes it is simpler to start fresh.If you decide to proceed with this piece, I suggest carving out the void to a regular shape, and making a patch using an offcut, matching the grain, and gluing it in. I like to sift some fine sawdust from the project to mix with the gorilla glue so the color matches better, although in my opinion epoxy is superior in these applications. Gorilla glue bubbles too much for my liking and i find smearing it back into the void as it cures helps eliminate some air bubbles.I am also interested in the European style and I hope to learn more when I can find the appropriate books and internet information. That eagle project you advised me on was put on hold indefinitely so no news there. Good luck with the wolf, whatever you decide to do, I'm sure it will be great. Pete...

[Schaef]

Pete,
&%$@, I hate good advice like that!
I'm seriously considering it. First I'll try everything to save this piece, and then if it doesn't meet my standards I'll do just that. It would definitely take less time.
This was my first wolf, so I spent a lot of hours "sneaking up on it", that is, leaving him fat where I was unsure, carving another part, then coming back to blend the sections together. Right now I'm satisfied with the leg attachment and the seam is nearly invisible.
I filled the holes with bondo and expect to mix up some paint to match the color of the wood. Who knows? It took a long time to get deep enough into the wood to discover the holes. No indication of holes from the outside of the log! Took a whole can of bondo to fill, just to give you an idea of the magnitude.
Will keep you posted, and thanks for the advice!
Schaef

[Pete Rieger]

I hesitated to offer that advice to you, Schaef, but I'm glad you took it well. I've never tried bondo and paint, I can't seem to mix paint very well to match the wood yet, that's why I use a wooden shim or patch when I have to.I patched a crack in a stylized eagle with plastic wood and never got around to finishing it and now its opening up more a year later. I guess I better finish it and seal it up.I know all about sneaking up on a carving, to me it's not chainsaw carving, it's Extreme Whittling....

[Schaef]

Finished him this morning!
Pete, the filler worked. I used Bondo, which fills nicely and carves with a chainsaw, leaving the same texture as wood; then I painted the grey with a cedar color mix, and highlighted the high points with flat black.
I bought a cheap plastic quart pump sprayer, diluted spar varnish with mineral spirits and sprayed/brushed in several coats. Easy and cheap way to put on a finish, and I can re-use the sprayer a few times at least.
Burned the shadowed areas balck, sanded off the high points to create depth. Used the saw to create flowing movement between fur layers.
Delivery tomorrow. Next one will be easier!
Schaef

[Dan Wegiel]

Great job!!! Watching the progression is fun too, thanks for all the posts.

Dan

[Pete Rieger]

Glad that worked out for you Schaef, looks way better than a stock pose.