Latest 3 Spirit Sticks

[Lightningbolt]

Warm November weather in the Carolina mountains has had me on a carving roll here lately! In between all the chainsaw carving I've managed to work in three woodspirit walking sticks during the last three days that I though I'd share. Two sourwood sticks (without bark) and one dogwood stick (with bark) These basic woodspirit sticks, without a lot of detail easily bring $40./each in my area which is quite a bargain, but I don't have storefront rent, employees, or shipping to pay so all is good.

So much to carve... so little time.

[Richard Underwood]

These really look good. I admire you guys and sit in wonder how you guys can carve a stick a day. Either i'm too picky or not agressive enough but i just cant get any done that quick.

[Michael Short]

Great looking spirits.

[carvingbarn]

Nice looking sticks!

[Richard Underwood]

I just spent a couple hours looking at your blogs. I would like to thank you for spending the time with these kids that you do, If there was more attention paid to the kids with problems there wouldnt be as many gangs and crimes involving young people as there are. A lot of the kids today dont have anyone to show them that there are alternatives to getting in trouble and most dont cost anything to do.
Thanks again, I wish i had had someone like you 60 yrs.ago when i was a young man. Richard Underwood undie3423@yahoo.com

[KeithC]

Great looking sticks! Just super!
KeithC

[Waitpinga Whittler]

Originally Posted by Lightningbolt

These basic woodspirit sticks, without a lot of detail easily bring $40./each in my area which is quite a bargain,

Nice trio. Like the middle one the best I think... Doesn't really matter but if you are netting $10 per hour with you carving your doing about as well as anyone I know of!

[Lightningbolt]

Thanks for all the kind words from everyone and I'm glad that you enjoyed seeing them as much as I've enjoyed carving them. Just finished another one tonight and will do the final sealing tomorrow.

Richard and Waitping Whittler: I haven't timed myself but I probably spend about 20 minutes with the big chisels, parting tools, and gouges with my mallet roughing-out the face and beard in the vise. I then spend maybe another hour with the stick out of the vice adding all the detail and just generally smoothing up the cuts. Then about another 30 minutes with the layered painting/sealing.

I suppose that I have a good two hours with the carving/painting per stick but then I have to consider the time spent in the woods looking, cutting, drying, then prepping the sticks for carving which is on-going and can include just lightly sanding the bark or removing the bark/sanding, then rubbing on a thin sealer. I've carved hundreds and hundreds of sticks over the years so I've gotten pretty fast and don't have to think much about the 'process' anymore so that helps with churning out production. Three or four sticks a day have been 'normal' for me in the past but right now I'm doing a lot of chainsaw carving so I'm just squeezing in one stick a day lately and do a lot of it at night in the living room. In the end, I sure hope that I'm making about $10./hour but there's so many 'variables' I'm just not sure ...but I can pay the rent so that's what counts. LOL !

[Gergie]

Nice sticks there Dave, they sure are fun to carve. I like the expression on the middle one

[Camel]

Great looking sticks!
Camel