dervishcarving

Proportions are great, teh height adds perspective. Like how you view your work

I use linseed oil, leave it to soak for a few days and then sand it again. Sanding to various depths will result in lighter or darker results.. I then tend to add a layer of a satin-finish exterior varnish to some stuff (like the toadstool stools)

I have found teh same thing Bart... people like simples. Even if the more fancy isn't a lot more expensive they still prefer the simple. Except my neighbour she has asked me to make a thistle! I ended up having to take inspiration from a carving i found on the internet... worked out ok. I find if its not a commission piece then a price over £50 can be problematic unless its a big lump of wood (like a stool)

ok..a quick pictorial run-through the 6 weeks that i have been carving with chainsaw. I use an electric at home (150 B and Q chainsaw that i have had for about 2 years and i really like. dont remember name but is 18 inch bar and 2200W output). I sand with another B&Q tool, a own-brand angle grinder with a sanding attachment. I had a petrol saw for work away from home but it died (cheep rubbish, got a refund) and have now just ordered a Husky 440e. I also bought a dremel-thing to to fine-details but so far haven't used it I started with mushrooms, then a dolphin and then... well, its safe to say i am addicted now the mushrooms i still like making, the more twisted the stem the better (and they seem popular to buy) The dolphin was my first non-mushroom (and on day 3 as a carver) and took ages, especially trying to get the tail right The otter was from a tree trunk section i found that had a hollow heart (rot killed the tree) and i could just 'see' what was supposed to be there. The Otter is chasing a fish and made a ring with the otters tail. Unfortunately it cracked and broke at the fish-tail/head joints when it dried out so now there is no fish.. ho hum The cat (close up of head only shown) was initially a test-carve for something somebody wants in their garden. I fine-sanded the cat (2 days after coating it al in linseed oil to protect the wood and to add some depth of colour) to bring out the grain and then waxed it. the 'tree' that the cat is climbing i left rough to give some contrast. Anyway... some of my pieces. I still have so much to learn (like how to get decent details using the saw, whenever i try it seems to jump too much and i loose details) but so far so much fun

Its a case of 'the only local option' i suppose. 800 not 900 but still crazy money. thats a 5 day course plus 2 days assessment i guess but makes it too much for a hobbyist like me

thanks Joe. It comes down to price in the end. The NPTC CS30 is about 900 and the lantra one is about 300. Neither are likely to run until the end of this year and so i have time to think about it. I have only been carving for about 6 weeks now but have sold a few pieces so maybe I will be able to justify the high price by the end of the year Its a hobby for me, not likely to become a full-time job but it would be nice to have the option of attending local shows etc and for that i suspect i will need insurance. Nice to know you more experienced boys are so helpful

Hi all. New carver here. Been using a chainsaw for about 20+ years but never had the courage to try carving with it. Had a visit to Simon O'rourke last year to commission a piece and afterwards i figured i would try. Started with mushrooms of course then progressed (a bit maybe). Mainly i worked with an electric saw (quieter so dosn't disturb the neighbours so much) at home but recently bought a cheep-o petrol saw from B&Q. It was ok for a few hours but just didnt cut it (no pun intended) so got a refund on that and hove just bought myself a Husqvana 440e. I figured it was better to spend money on decent tools that will hopefully last a while. I couldn't quite stretch to the 450e but hopefully it will do me well enough for now. I have a question for you more experienced carvers tho. As i said i have used chainsaws since my late teens (I am 43 now) and never got any kind of certificate. Most of my work i do at home or in a barn where i know the owners but i also do a lot of tree-work for my parents (they own a bit of woodland) and other friends. Other people are now asking me if i could 'carve something out of the stump in my garden' and so i think i wil have to get some kind of certificate to stay on the right side of the law. Any suggestions as to where to start? does this course seem like a good statr? Lantra (ITA) Certificate in Chainsaw Maintenance & Crosscutting (Chainsaw Maintenance & Crosscutting for Occasional Users - SAC (Scottish Agricultural College)) i will try to post some pics later but for now i do have a facebook page (dervishcarving) Thanks in advance for any advice