Rotten luck....

[dervishcarving]

So i have had a few people asking me about carving a dolphin-type thing for them (after the dolphin i carved back in march) so i thought that rather than just make more carvings the same i would try some other ideas. This idea was for a pair of dolphins entwined. Partly i liked the idea but also i thought it would be a good training exercise as its definitely a complex shape, figuring out where one ends and the other begins. I had a nice lump of oak which had a side branch which, when i removed it, turned out to be hollow. Unfortunately the rot from teh branch had penetrated the trunk right through where i wanted to carve Ho hum, i changed teh balance slightly to avoid the worst of it but it did mean i couldn't carve any tail-details.

Today i learn't a good lesson, wood that might appear sound can have defects and, if you don't notice them early enough, they can spoil a carving.

I think it came out ok but 'could be better'

 

All carved with a couple of chainsaws before sanding

[Mutley]

I had that with a kingfisher's beak in oak. I bought some wood hardener from b&q and painted it all over the rotten bit (after finishing the piece) only time will tell if I've achieved anything. It worked wonders on some rotten window frames I was repairing year's ago.

[FriarsGorse]

I had it with an owl... right where his big round eyes needed to go ... so i turned it into a "Short necked flat top Dudley quarry owl" ... a very rare local species !!