monthly arb-talk carving contest.....

[fen01]

Awesome, is that really your first go? Mega!

[Leejc]

thanks. yeah the mushroom was my first and the shell me second. been using saws for nearly ten years though so its not like i just picked one up and went for it, only thing i've done before is probably like most arbs ( i.e. turning a stump into a plain highbacked chair )

[Leejc]

ok as expected the cherry has split lots....is there anyone that can give me some tips on how to lessen this problem? how do you guys do it, should you always use seasoned wood or kiln it before carving?

 

how do the exceptional pieces that are carved by the likes of tommy craggs last?? should i ever be blessed so to create something even close to quality i knkow i'd be destraught to find it ruined through drying out too quickly/unevenly, cheers, lee

[Leejc]

I take it then that that information is a heavily guarded secret or nobody really knows

[wisewood]

Big stuff is always going to crack, I guess the easiest solution is to use the more stable woods.

One other way you could try is to firstly take a slice off the end of the log before you carve and wait to see where it splits. Then use that info as a guide to where the work may split. Is this making any sense??

I don't know any more than that mate, It's a good question.

[Leejc]

cheers simon, it does make sense mate yeah. i'm sure there must be some rules to follow that experianced carvers know but guess i'll just have to learn through trial and error.

[jrose]

I tend to treat the wood asap with danish oil, at least 2 coats and for any wood that is very likely to split (oak etc) 6 or so, it's kind of a feel thing. And then if it's hot sunny weather I try to keep new carvings in shade where possible for a couple of weeks, seems to work for me.

[TommyTreecarver]

If you have big timber and just carve small carvings, half your logs straight away, this takes a lot of the stress out of the log resulting in less splitting! Fell your wood in the winter when there is less moisture in it, removing as much heart wood as possible from a carving takes a lot of the stress out it. Keep your carvings in the shade and oil as much as possible straight away.

Just a few of the things I have had to learn for myself and I'm sure there is much more!

Oh and you need to learn how to repair bad splitting, its not that hard. If you know its going to split keep some of the offcuts from carving it, you will have loads of wedge shapes and thin slithers, you can shape them with a grinder, try to use the ones that match the grain direction, gorrila glue and tap in the correct size wedges, recarve and sand. I have even glued and ratchet strapped a face with a 1" split shut then screwed in the side!

I will show you a before and after pic, when I upload to pbucket!

Hope this helps!

Tommy

[Mutley]

Hi can I join in? I'm new here. I've never carved before, just sawed up firewood, but have always fancied a go and got an Stihl 192 at the weekend.. I'll post pics when I've made something (if the neighbours don't complain).

[Leejc]

Cheers tommy, that is very helpful info yes. I am not surprised at all to hear that you have repaired some of your peices, they are so good it must be heartbreakin to see them crack. I have space issuses for larger lumps of wood and because i'm just starting carving I thought id stick small but that means it will be even harder to remove lots of heartwood, which sounds difficult anyway. Thanks again, I look forward to seeing more pics. Lee.