Big Bear

[abercarver]

Hello All,

 

Haven't been on here for a while as in been rather busy but have still been keeping an eye on things.

I'm back to network and to show you a carving of a 6ft bear I've just started, plenty more to carry on with but all good fun [/img]

 

 

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[NorfolknGood]

Thats gonna be nice

 

But where do you procure such a piece of wood and at what cost? I have a right problem sourcing tree locally and don't know the going rate for what size and what type of wood

[dervishcarving]

I work for my wood. Found a woodland-owner and i exchange days of work for as much wood as i want. Do you have a local woods? or contact local tree surgeons, offer them days of ground work if they give you carving-wood? I like the barter system, paying with money is ok but i find i learn much more working for carving lumps

[abercarver]

Same a Derv. It's who you know, ask as many people as possible in the industry that would have wood yards etc.

 

Also depends why and who you are carving for as companies may provide the timber if it's for them

 

 

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[dervishcarving]

offer something in return too.

I have bowl turning mates (im ok at it, they are great!) and they offer a bowl (or something) in return for a batch of suitable wood for turning.

If you offer to carve something for them if they give you a load of carving wood you not only get to carve something they want (good practice, customers often ask for weird things ... and no, im not posting the pics of the willy and boobs i carved last year!) but its also dam good free advertising

if local tree surgeons are aware of you then they will give your details to customers who have just had a tree removed. I have 2 big jobs coming up soon which came from referrals from tree surgeons

[splinters]

I get aot of wood and carving jobs from a tree sergeon friend if i take the big bits of wood away from a job for him it saves him alot of work.

 

also get in touch with your local council parks dep. they arnt aloud to sell what they chop down so it all just gets dumped in the yard. my local council let peope have it as fire wood they even lift it onto a trailer for you with their tractor. i have had tons of huge bits of elm over the last few years.

[NorfolknGood]

How is the bear coming along?

 

Thank you all for advice on buying wood, I got myself a trailer load from 'Luke Chapman' Luke Chapman - Woodcarver | Wood Sculptor | Designer a smashin bloke and fantastic chisel and chainsaw carver.

[abercarver]

Carrying on with it next wknd....so busy at the mo it's crazy,, I'll be adding more pics soon

 

 

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[Happycarver]

I buy a big load on a botex log trailer from one of the local tree surgeons, the other one brings it in a dump trailer.

 

Go and see what your local tree surgeon has in stock and make them an offer