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23rd May 2014, 10:46 AM #1SENIOR MEMBER
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I'm late, I'm late for a very important date!
I recently finished this take on the Mad Hatter. Inspired by an article in Australian Wood Review. The size is ex 260(L)x250x150 and the timber is, I think, Acacia Dealbata.
I had a number of issues with breakages on the short grain sections, losing both hands and one leg at different stages. I found it quite frustrating to be totally aware that I needed to be careful in those areas only to have a momentary lapse in concentration, push too hard and snap. I hate that sound!.
By the time I got to the raised leg I decided I would try to gain extra strength by pushing a dowel up from foot to hip.
Beyond not allowing breakages to happen in the first place how do you guys doing this commercially deal with this issue? I assume you don't just ditch the piece and start again.
Constructive criticism and/or suggestions to help me improve my technique are most welcome.
Regards.
Philip.
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23rd May 2014 10:46 AM # ADSGoogle Adsense Advertisement
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23rd May 2014, 07:33 PM #2GOLD MEMBER
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Hi Phil
Nice piece!
If you hadn't mentioned there had been breakages I doubt anyone would have picked it up from the photos.
Acacia dealbata?....is the common name for that silver wattle?
Perhaps on your next project a bit of "carver friendly" timber might help the breakage issues, like a bit of huon or king billy pine.
Regards
The stone thrower from nearby.
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23rd May 2014, 08:32 PM #3GOLD MEMBER
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I can't contribute anything, except to say it looks really good.
How did you do it? With a knife or chisels?
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23rd May 2014, 09:08 PM #4SENIOR MEMBER
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Hi Cava
Almost totally carved with chisels, apart from finishing some of the harder to get at details with a penknife.
Hi AB
Yes, as far as I know A.Dealbata is Silver Wattle. What do you reckon the chances are of 'finding' some Huon or King Billy Pine at the roadside?
Philip.
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23rd May 2014, 09:41 PM #5Senior Member
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- Jul 2007
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- Loire , France
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Hi. Good , good job! To avoid snapping , there are some things you can do:
1. Carefully choose your timber. Some woods , like common beech , are strong enough across the short grain , while others , even VERY hard woods , would break if you just look at them the wrong way!
2.Adapt your design to the wood.
3. When working the short grain , dont push too hard , don't try to cut lot of wood in one go. It may be better to use rotary tool , like a Dremel with a burr , before cleaning the surface with a sharp chisel.It's a slow and painful process...the secret is, dont mind the pain.(Ian Norbury)
________________________
Regards
Ivan Chonov
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24th May 2014, 06:05 AM #6
Nice piece HP ..I agree with artful and Artesano about picking the right wood..if you're going to spend a lot of time on a piece you might as well make it easy on yourself..
I noticed in the pics that you have the grain running the right way for the piece (there's always a compromise on grain direction when doing a complex piece like this)
however, it looks like there is only a few years of fast growth in the wood you used, I'd say that's probably your main problem with breakage..tighter grain and friendlier wood is the go.
what if the hokey pokey is really what it's all about?
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24th May 2014, 09:25 AM #7
Well done on this piece.
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24th May 2014, 11:55 AM #8SENIOR MEMBER
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- Jul 2009
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- Waitpinga
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- 835
Fantastic 'flow' to the form. I particularly like the way you've done the coat.
As for breakages, I reckon that the others have said all there is to say except perhaps my particular mantra: "If God had meant me to be perfect He wouldn't have invented super glue."
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24th May 2014, 03:16 PM #9Senior Member
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- Mar 2012
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- Perth
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HI phil, Nice work and certainly not an easy carve, don't be too hard on yourself with breakages, I make mistakes with nearly every carving I do but I certainly learn from them, the others have given good advice. One question " why is HuonPhil using Arcacia?" if you don't want your Huon send it my way
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24th May 2014, 07:35 PM #10GOLD MEMBER
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[Quote}
Hi AB
Yes, as far as I know A.Dealbata is Silver Wattle. What do you reckon the chances are of 'finding' some Huon or King Billy Pine at the roadside?
Philip.[/QUOTE]
Well you have made a great piece from silver wattle then. Truth be known it is a timber that I detest with a passion, grows like a weed round my place. Is extremely fast growing with widely spaced growth rings. Cripes, it's also miserable firewood!. Big trees are horrible to cut up because of their awkward branches. I try to cut down/destroy any young ones that appear on my place as soon as I notice them. Ok, so I have vented enough spleen about them.....Admittedly I have seen some nice wall pannelling made from it and even the odd bit of furniture.
Gotta say your wood harvesting procedure('finding' at the roadside) is rather unorthodox. The chances of finding a well seasoned lump of wood with no cracks or other defects would seem slim.
Have to wholeheartedly agree with underfoot here...Quote [Nice piece HP ..I agree with artful and Artesano about picking the right wood..if you're going to spend a lot of time on a piece you might as well make it easy on yourself.]
From the dimensions you gave about the mad hatter carving..260x250x150. It shouldn't cost a kings ransom to buy a bit that size and It'd be much nicer to carve.
As they old adage goes ,"You cant make a silk purse out of a sows ear". Strangely enough though you have seemed to do just that.
Looking forward to seeing your next piece.
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26th May 2014, 04:13 PM #11
Action packed!
" We live only to discover beauty, all else is a form of waiting" - Kahlil Gibran
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