FriarsGorse

I needed a brushcutter at the start of the year but pennies were a problem ! I couldn't afford a bigger Stihl machine so on recommendation I bought a Tanaka. With a Stihl cutting blade it has so far done about an acre of established head high brambles and been incredibly good ... still loads guarantee left !!

That's a really good meerkat ... very lifelike.... are you sure we are not looking at taxidermy!!

Do you know how many they want ?? Probably a bit far from me but if they are after a few ...

Good Luck with it ....Post Some Pics

PM Sent

We've had a few first attempts recently so I thought I'd be brave and post my third and fourth attempts at eagles. One done last September for a mates 50th ... had to cut away some soft wood around his chest so he looks a bit like he's on a diet! and one I just finished .. always wanted to try one with spread wings but finding the right timber to start with was difficult... not one for the bunny lovers !! Both Sweet Chestnut with 4 coats of Danish Oil.

I probably should have separated my last two sentences.... Is football a business like tree surgery ?I agree a poorly run anything deserves to go out of business but with the amount of emotional money chucked about in the supply of and the demand for football... the parameters seem to have become unjustifiable. Anyway ... are we sure that Fergie doesn't just fancy the Wolves job ??

I use a cheap version of a dremel... I fancy a die grinder but they aint cheap! I try and do as much as I possibly can with the saw but when I need an eye or a nostril then my crappy dremel copy is a godsend !!

Undoubtedly the most successful and greatest football manager ... can anyone really argue that he isn't ? But in my opinion ... at times a disgrace to the title "Sir" ... Always ungracious in defeat with a list of other people to blame when his team were beaten. How many other sporting Knights of the realm would openly blame their sports officials for their failure ? My first footballing hero as a nipper was Bobby Charlton... and I was captivated by a team that contained George Best, Dennis Law Brian Kidd etc until my Dad convinced me I should support my local team. I am a football lover and I am no Manchester United hater but who takes over ... I couldn't care less !! When the game sees its smaller clubs going out of business because they are in debt to the same amount that Frank Lampard earns in a week then its very difficult to defend the game. Football constantly gives the people that hate it a good reason to hate it !

I would be chuffed with that so far ... well done... you certainly have the shape and form just right. I wanted to post a headline of "HORNY OTTER FLATTENS UNSUSPECTING RAMBLER !!" but I didn't want to cause any offence ... its difficult to get perspective from just one photo. Dervish is right you need some ripples...if you look back at Woodsculptors fantastic "Down by the river" may give you some idea (I'm not suggesting any direct copying but we probably all borrow an idea or two from the best carvers) When I moved on from mushrooms I just found the need to really take my time and cut carefully (still do) so that's the only tip I could offer.. Keep the pictures coming of your progress .. WELL DONE:thumbup:

They Look very good .... especially if you did them in a couple of hours !!! My experience is the bark will probably come off in the long run ... depends how long your timber has been down and where its been since. (Wish my grass looked that healthy!!!)

Some help for a novice please ... I am hoping to head for the islands in September .. maybe Islay Jura Arran i'm not sure yet. Is most Island whisky smoky/peaty as i'm not a fan of the medicinal stuff !! Any recommendations for non peaty island whisky is what I am asking I think ...or... any recommendations for distilleries with the best try before you buy policy would be good !! Monikieman ... that bottle of Caledonia that you have murdered ... is it much different from Edradour 10 year old (do you know?) as that is my favourite so far by a long way and I don't know whether to blow 40 quid on an internet purchase of Caledonia ...

That's a lovely job ...well done.

Fantastic ... captures just what that fish means to him. Where is that location ... and is there another stump needs doing there ???

Looks excellent ... its nice to share your work and leave it for others enjoyment in situ ... I find myself hoping it doesnt get the Rothley Owl treatment whereby someone comes along and cuts your pecker off !!

Nice pecker mate..... great markings ... careful saw tip use ??

Ouch ... sorry to hear about the injuries Dervish sound nasty ... Get right soon !!

Thats unbelievable !!! They even left his feet behind ! Staggering ... my sympathy to you

Its not acceptable ... you should name & shame

Very nice all of them... like the terrier and the oss ... very difficult to do an oss without it looking anglo saxon !!! Great stuff

Very Pleasant ... looks very good especially for a first attempt:thumbup1:

Hi Dave .... Thought I would share my experience with you as I went through the process of buying a lathe about 18 months ago. I new nothing and managed to get lots of info on what I needed from my local Woodturners club who were very welcoming to a complete novice. I think you have already had advice from people who know much more than me but it struck me if you are currently on a pole lathe (presumably outdoors !!) and you are going to be turning in a sheds confined space ... and you are looking at set up costs.... you will need some form of extraction. Dont underestimate the cost of your health. I was lucky to pick up a 12 month old Record CL3 off E-bay for £200 although it was 300 mile round trip to go get it !! If you go to AWGB website and find your most local branches you may find they have members with lathes for sale... usually older guys who have stopped turning now but really looked after their machines. Hope this helps ...sorry if you had already thought of these things ... Best of luck with it !!

Sympathy to you ... its a horrible feeling!! There are so many badly treated dogs ... console yourself with the thought that your dog was one of the luckier ones ... she had a good and happy life because she met you.

Same story here ... Drunk on whisky at the age of 18. Didnt go near it until I was 45 !! I now head north every year for as many days as I can and sample as many single malts as possible. I am not a smokey/peaty fan and I decided I wasnt keen on the superstition... took the whole bottle to make sure !! Last years trip to Perthshire introduced me to the very sweet Edradour 12 yo ... I do not believe I will ever find anything better... but I will keep trying !!

Brilliant job there Gee ... especially if this is your first eagle. However , a word of caution !!! Should you really name your carvings ? Are you too close to them ?? I have kept my first attempts, and with Charley the Croc, Harry Hare, Willy Wizard, Bollock the Bear etc my gardens quickly gettin crowded ! Great Job:thumbup1: