Finishing question

[GeeSaw]

Hi all,

 

ok, so I've decided to have a go at an eagle...Oh no I hear you cry, not another one!

& I know what you're saying but I suppose it's like a rite of passage into the carving

world like bears & mushrooms so I guess they all have to be experienced at least once

 

So, I have a dilemma! I'm at the detailing stage & thoughts of how to finish the piece are

starting to cross my mind so I'm hoping some of you can shed some light & end my chin scratching!

 

Do you think eagles look better finished oh natural just using a clear oil/varnish?

Or

Do they look better with a lick of white paint to the head, yellow claws, brown body/wings etc?

 

Also what do you call it when you use a gas torch to burn colour on to a piece? Is there a technical term for it?

Do you just wave the aforementioned torch over the area until the desired crispness is achieved or

do you apply some sort of chemical to the area first?

 

Many thanks

Gee

[woodsculptor]

Hi Gee

 

Personally speaking I think everything looks better natural with just a lick of oil. If you're going to apply colour you have to be extremely talented and subtle with their use otherwise you're just covering up the natural beauty of the wood and exchanging it for block colours which end up very childlike. It's not often I see carvings that have been painted and think that its added anything (a select few of the American carvers are the only people I've seen use it well).

I do however like a bit of scorching now and again as it can really highlight feathering detail and give the piece more depth. I would never attempt to paint my work as I wouldn't be able to do it justice but using a blowtorch is fairly foolproof and in the right circumstances highly effective.

Having said all this I would ignore all my advice and do what you feel :-D

 

Kim

[dervishcarving]

Im with Kim on this. I use colour on cartoon-pieces (kids favorites like gruffalos etc). Other than that i just use oil

I do use a blowtorch tho to scorch the wood. The advantage of this is that you can bring out details that might be missed with out the contrast of the scorching and, if you make a mistake and scorch the wrong bit you can remove it with a quick swipe of the angle grinder/sander

there is an alternative using vinegar (not malted). get a jam jar or similar. half fill with vinegar. add 1 nail or a bit of wire-wool and leave for a few days. there is a chemical reaction that rapidly oxidises the metal (releases hydrogen gas to leave the jar with the lip placed on but NOT tightened in a shed or something). You then paint this solution onto the areas of wood that you want to darken and slowly it will begin to darken. Add a few more coats and you will get a nice dark effect BUT this only works with wood that has a high enough tannin content. For other woods paint the area with a strong tea solution first, let it dry and then paint on the vinegar/metal solution.

Have tried it myself and found its fine but sloe. Blowtorch is immediate and you can control where the scorching is.

 

Oil is better than varnish as it penetrates nicely and can be easily re-applyed. Varnish will crack and you will need to sand it down and re-apply or the protection will be negated. I use either boiled linseed oil or Ronseal decking protector (it has a wax dissolved in it that gives a nice finish). both expensive but worth it

 

Im now gonna start a new thread about blowtorches 'cos mine is a pain and i wonder what everyone else uses

Main advice would be... try things, see what you like. Some people like the painted effect so dont feel it is anathema to carvers, its just a matter of personal choice enjoy carving

[rooster]

I like to burn my eagles to add color. Spar Varnish (natural wood color) for feet and beak. White painted or highlighted head and tail feathers.

 

http://i249.photobucket.com/albums/gg231/jkubara/PERCHEDEAGLE.jpg

 

I use a propane torch and burn until charred a dark brown. Have water handy to put out excessive "fire". I then brush off the char with a stiff brush or brush wheel.

 

This method enhances the wood grain.

 

ROOSTER

[FriarsGorse]

Looks like you will have to carve two ... paint one ... oil the other !!! as there is no right or wrong .... My vote is NO PAINT !

[splinters]

get it painted i like natural wood but a bit of colour can transform a carving. the secret is to use decent wood stains in nice colours rather than the cheep pish that most peope would think of using. i also like to add highlights to areas of block colour using spray paints. my local skate boarding shop also sells a fantastic range of grafitti spray paints. but in the end it all comes down to personal prefrence.

[GeeSaw]

Many thanks for the feedback I guess there's no right or wrong & it's down to personal taste at the end of the day.

I totally have to agree wood does look better in its natural form but subtle use of colour can work well if it's used to

enhance rather than cover and I see what you mean about the bold use of colour on cartoon type pieces but

the machine Jesse Green seems to have that dialled in for his style of carving

 

Appreciate those handy techniques Dave, think I have an old bottle of vinegar stashed in the back of the

cupboard so I'll brew some up later on & try it out tomorrow.

 

 

Has anyone tried out Liberon Decking Oil?? Just seen 5 litre cans going for £14.20 with free P&P

 

 

Think I'm gonna have some fun with the blow torch tomorrow...... right after I've carved another eagle

 

Cheers

Gee

[dervishcarving]

not tried the Liberon stuff but let us know how it goes eh? The Ronseal stuff is v good but expensive

[GeeSaw]

not tried the Liberon stuff but let us know how it goes eh? The Ronseal stuff is v good but expensive

 

Ordered 5L last night so it should be here by the middle of next week,

fingers crossed its ok, but for that price I think its worth a try ...will let you know how it works out.

[GeeSaw]

Dave, I've tried out the Liberon Decking Oil & it's got a nice thick consistency compared to the runnier B&Q brand so less dripping!

Goes on well with a brush & a nice finish, as for long term protection only time will tell but over all very pleased for the amount spent