Thread: New Welsh Lovespoon WIP

I have no superlatives left David, It's just too good.

Cheers
Michael

Wow. Just wow.

And I really like what you did with the birds.

"WOW" is absolutely correct David. Please take the time to complete it and show us the result.
As for the pile of unfinished projects, I too suffer from that condition. Way too many "wanna tries" and not nearly enough time. I should close the shutters when I start a project and sequester until it's completed. One of these days I shall try that. Another project? Now I have to go and make shutters!
Thanks for showing the progress so far.

It's beautiful, David. I think this may be my favorite, so far. Interesting wood, too. Very pretty color.

Originally Posted by David Stanley

I wonder if other people paint themselves into a corner at times?

All the time....its probably the strongest single factor in launching me into new territory that in my more lucid moments I wouldn't touch with a barge pole. Its also responsible for most of the growth I've experienced as a carver. I don't have enough courage/drive to do these new things if my only motivation is that I want to do them. I need some other, outside factor to force me off my butt and give it a go. (Fear of failure vs need to succeed... the fear amost always wins unless I counter it with a greater fear of taking on a commission and being afraid of disappointing the customer... pathetic I know! )

As it happens, I've taken on a commission for a set of entwined love spoons. I've never made them before and I'm struggling with how to get a final finish on the wood. How do you get such fine work so smooth without it taking FOREVER?

I'd love you to add to your pressures and post a WIP on this part of the process.

Originally Posted by Whittling

As it happens, I've taken on a commission for a set of entwined love spoons. I've never made them before and I'm struggling with how to get a final finish on the wood. How do you get such fine work so smooth without it taking FOREVER?

I'd love you to add to your pressures and post a WIP on this part of the process.

The short answer 'Whittling' is; Get all your gear together, put some music on, 'Flight of the bumble Bee' or the seven dwarfs song 'Hi-Ho, Hi-Ho...' perhaps, and settle in for a bout of FOREVER!

It's worth it though and it will put your work into a whole different class, just by by the application of any OCD tendencies you can muster. You must be at least a bit crazy to take this on in the first place, so make it work for you.

Seriously, It's not as long a time as it feels like. Spend the time with the coarser grades of grit first and don't waste time polishing the surroundings of deep scratches. The finer grits are more 'fun' ( as if sanding ever could be! ) but the immediate gratification of a sheen can be beguiling when deeper scratches still remain.

I have recently bought some micromesh materials from the 'Sandpaper Man' but haven't tried them yet.

Also check out Laura Jenkins Blog. She has recently written about the finishing process she uses on lovespoons and it is pretty much the way I do it, except she HAS used the Micromesh.

I have also written up step by step accounts on my blog on various spoons I've carved in the past, just search through the older posts. If you have any specific questions I'd be more than happy to try and help. All the best on that commission.

www.whimsicalwood.com
www.whimsicalwood.blogspot.com

Thank you for the kind comments everyone. I think you'd like carving the New South Wales Rosewood Laura it's softer than cherry and it does have a rich colour.

Yeah, it sure sounds like something I'd like. Do you have cottonwood bark down there? The way this looks here reminds me a of cottonwood bark, only doesn't look like as much grain - maybe less splitty than CW bark. Looks & sounds kind of ideal if the design can stand up to the darkness of it (which, of course, this beautiful one does!) Can't wait to see it further along!

David, Im Welsh and have seen quite a few love spoons over the years, yours is right up there.
I do a lot of my work in both cedar and rosewood and have found the cross grain weakness is much reduced in butt log timber or better still, sub surface root stock. Can help if you want some.

Thanks for the comments 'Rusty Nail', that butt log and sub surface root stuff sounds interesting. I'd certainly like to purchase some from you to try out.

Wow, I have a long way to go before I could attempt something as nice as that.

that is a beautiful piece of work. Really nice!

A true craftsman, beautiful work. I have done carved table legs from Rosewood and had the same concerns just on a larger scale. The butt end timber may be the way to go. Thanks for the clues Rusty.

beautiful piece