Newbie Turtle carve "progress thread"

[Macpherson]

Hi, I'm not a carver as such but a bloody good effort for a first attempt, I would say as far as the cracks are concerned that' probably a trait of that timber, it's very hard to get thin ringed up lumps to not split radially particularly if so fast grown, that lump looks about as tight as the soggy Sitka carrots that grow up here.

 

But as a miller [amateur] I sure appreciate the the frustrations of timber selection and  movement.. and think this hard to learn knowledge is the biggest factor in any living lumber to finished product enterprise.

 

You'll no doubt get better the more you do, so good luck and keep

posting👍

 

Are you sure it's Elm.. ?

Edited July 28, 2022 by Macpherson

[dr_innovation]

15 hours ago, Macpherson said:

Hi, I'm not a carver as such but a bloody good effort for a first attempt, I would say as far as the cracks are concerned that' probably a trait of that timber, it's very hard to get thin ringed up lumps to not split radially particularly if so fast grown, that lump looks about as tight as the soggy Sitka carrots that grow up here.

 

But as a miller [amateur] I sure appreciate the the frustrations of timber selection and  movement.. and think this hard to learn knowledge is the biggest factor in any living lumber to finished product enterprise.

 

You'll no doubt get better the more you do, so good luck and keep

posting👍

 

Are you sure it's Elm.. ?

 

Thanks for the positive feedback.

 

Not positive its Red elm (also called slippery elm) but that is what the person owned the trees said -- and they got to see the leaves/buds which helps in identification.  The bark and wood coloring is consistent with red elm --which is different from American or Dutch elm. 

 

Any feedback on if I should I try to glue/fill the cracks now or wait and hope the close up first?  I don't want to put in wedges that cause more stress later.