How would YOU do it?

[LMiller]

If you were carving a staff and wanted to include a crystal prism into the staff, how would you do it?

Ideas coming to me include:

• finding a staff with branches that could be bent around the crystal;
• carving a hollow into the staff and fitting the crystal into it;
• 'weaving' a leather strap into a cradle and suspending it into a hollow within the staff;
• hanging the crystal off a lanyard from a hand strap.

I was leaning towards a 40 mm Swarovski faceted crystal ball for use as the prism. I believe I can get a 20mm size off of ebay as well, if the larger one is too large.

Any different suggestions?

[Marvin Little]

All good suggestions but you missed the most obvious one. Use a separate head with the chrystal fitted within it.

Marvin

[Irish]

A swarovski crystal bead will already have a hole drilled through the center for jewelry work so I would use a copper wire, probably 16 or 18 gauge as my anchor.

I would drill two small holes into the center area of the top of the staff where the bead will rest. Then I would use two part epoxy to set the wires in the hole and at the base or bottom of the crystal to the wood. Masking tape works great as a temporary clamp while the epoxy sets up.

Copper wire develops a beautiful dark brown to black patina over the years so what little might show will not be overpowering in color.

Just my thoughts - take what you want and throw the rest away.

L. S. Irish

Oh... there are some wonderful bead, link and wire suppliers on the net. My favorites are Fire Mountain Gems and Goody Beads.

[TreeWizard]

I'd carve a basket to hold it, make the staves thin enough to soak in water and let them flex. After you insert the crystal you can bend the flexable staves back into position.

[Waitpinga Whittler]

Given the shape of your crystal, I don't know if this will be much help, but I once had a commission in which the customer wanted me to incorporate a natural quartz crystal in to a carving of a wizard. I've attached a photo of the result.

It isn't my 'cup of tea' but he seemed happy with it.

[LMiller]

Originally Posted by Marvin Little

All good suggestions but you missed the most obvious one. Use a separate head with the chrystal fitted within it.

Marvin

Thanks!

Didn't quite understand "separate head." Do you mean carve a topper for the staff and fasten it to the staff? I would appreciate some further explanation..

[LMiller]

Originally Posted by Irish

A swarovski crystal bead will already have a hole drilled through the center for jewelry work so I would use a copper wire, probably 16 or 18 gauge as my anchor.

I would drill two small holes into the center area of the top of the staff where the bead will rest. Then I would use two part epoxy to set the wires in the hole and at the base or bottom of the crystal to the wood. Masking tape works great as a temporary clamp while the epoxy sets up.

Copper wire develops a beautiful dark brown to black patina over the years so what little might show will not be overpowering in color.

Just my thoughts - take what you want and throw the rest away.

L. S. Irish

Oh... there are some wonderful bead, link and wire suppliers on the net. My favorites are Fire Mountain Gems and Goody Beads.

Thanks! This was very helpful!!!

[LMiller]

Originally Posted by Waitpinga Whittler

Given the shape of your crystal, I don't know if this will be much help, but I once had a commission in which the customer wanted me to incorporate a natural quartz crystal in to a carving of a wizard. I've attached a photo of the result.

It isn't my 'cup of tea' but he seemed happy with it.

Most excellent work. Your customer and my friend would be like-minded. So how did you fasten the crystal to the staff? What type of crystal did you use? Where did you get it?

[LMiller]

Originally Posted by TreeWizard

I'd carve a basket to hold it, make the staves thin enough to soak in water and let them flex. After you insert the crystal you can bend the flexable staves back into position.

I haven't ever done anything like this. Can you tell me how to accomplish it? How thick or thin must I carve the staves? How much flex would be possible? What kind of wood would take the flexing? Is there anything I could read or study to learn more about bending or shaping wood like you suggest?

I really appreciate the help...

[Waitpinga Whittler]

Originally Posted by LMiller

Most excellent work. Your customer and my friend would be like-minded. So how did you fasten the crystal to the staff? What type of crystal did you use? Where did you get it?

The crystal is a natural clear quartz. Not sure how rare they are but customer seemed to set great store by it. He supplied it.

Its base was almost flat. I was able to take its pattern and carve a recess for it which fitted exactly into the brim of the wizard hat. I carved the bottom of the recess to accomodate the slight cant on the bottom of the crystal, so that when fitted into the recess it was perpendicular to the carving and shaft of the stick.

I then used a 2 pack epoxy to hold it in place.

That was 3 or 4 years ago. I haven't seen it since but I've had no negative feedback from him.