Thread: Luncheon is served...

I could lean on that all day long. It has a "comfortable" look about it, like a cane that you've used for 40 years. I like the accent of the spacers, too = sets off the carvings.
And, Whittling, you know that I'm fond of frogs, too.

Thanks RV. This is one piece for which nature deserves a big piece of the credit. They are not common, but when they come along these natural wood shapes give a carver an incredible 'leg up'.

And you're right... as an added bonus it happens to be very comfortable to use.

RV, your spot on, it does have a very comfortable look about it.
Whittling, I might have to come down your way when I'm in S.A. later in the year and buy one of your sticks, they are so original.

Hi Rob,

You'd be welcome... Some sticks are the result of patterns I've developed and are therefore repeatable so some extent. Other's like this one are one-offs as they rely on a contribution from nature which is unlikely to ever be repeated.

PM me when you know your plans and I'll send you contact details.

Maybe we can work at getting you some timber that's a little more interesting to work with than pinus.

.

Thanks, I'll do that, I think I need to have another shot at the Jelutong I have. Do you personally use mostly knifes when your carving it or a combination of knife and chisels.
I bought some pretty good Flexcut knifes Recently, still learning to use them.

Originally Posted by Robthechisel

I think I need to have another shot at the Jelutong I have. Do you personally use mostly knifes when your carving it or a combination of knife and chisels.
I bought some pretty good Flexcut knifes Recently, still learning to use them.

Hi Rob, My tool use has changed over the years. When I first started the only thing I had was a Swiss Army knife and I just about wore the blades out on that. Then I 'graduated' to using other quality 3 and 4 bladed pocket knives and for a long time I used a blade about 90% of the time. The remainder was split between a half dozen chisles.

More recently, I've taken to using power more. There's two reasons for this. Firstly, as the demand for stuff increases its getting harder to keep up. In essence I'm carving against a clock and power helps speed this process up. Secondly, as I get older my joints are feeling the pressure and power takes some of this strain off me. Having said that, I still think that one should learn the 'basics' with a blade and a very few chisles first. Once the principles are firmly established, if you feel so inclined, by all means investigate some power alternatives. I run two schools in 'whittling' which I define as carving with the work in one hand and the tool in the other (as opposed to bolting or clamping the work in some way). The first workshop deals with just a blade. Eight to twelve months later the second workshop introduces 3 chisels. My students are in their third year before I mention power alternatives.

Thanks for the advice Whittling, I have a Dremel now with carving attachments which I find very good. I have never been to any classes, just trying to learn by reading and watching you tube videos ect. I do feel I'm improving each time I carve but need to source some better timber. Is American white oak any good for carving?.

[QUOTE=Robthechisel;1480554] Is American white oak any good for carving? /QUOTE]

Don't know that I've used 'white' Oak but if its anything like the American oak I have used, it has a strong fiberous grain and doesn't like being cut cross grain much. You need to pay attention to your tool edge more than usual and be prepared to go slow with it or you risk tearing. I struggled to get fine detai with it. Having said that, I've seen some remarkable stuff done in oak so it must be possible, but I'd suggest its not the easiest of woods to work with. Perhaps some others with more experience with it will have a comment.

I dont know about the oak but I do know youll need to be gentle with the Dremel, I burned out 3 before investing in a Foredom, tried to do work that was too heavy for the unit.

Just a quick post script on this one... I had a show this weekend and I took the frog and his lunch along. I put what I thought was a ridiculous price on him because I really didn't want to sell him quite so soon after making him and this was my way of hanging onto him for a while.

Yeah well.... he sold almost straight away. This is now the second time this has happened to me... both sticks had frogs on the handle. Maybe I need to start paying more attention to the froggy enthusiasts out there....?

Congratulations. Try to finish another before you croak.

You'd better jump to it and leap in while the goings good.