Beginner's Carving Project

[Iowa Carver]

Saturday May 3rd

I am ready to start working on the face and head. I believe I have the body done for the most part. I didn't want to put in the suspenders until the face area was done. What yah think Rick? That little triangle cut in the front between the legs I had trouble with. Can you post the steps on doing that little cut the right way? Well, it's yard work for me tomorrow... blahhh!!

Thanks,
Corey

[Rick-in-Seattle]

Corey,
You could try making a cut like this; otherwise it looks fine.

Be sure to pencil in the cuts before you make them.

Just clean up the neck a little and put in the suspenders; just notice they disappear at the top.

[Rick-in-Seattle]

I haven't carved the face yet, so I can't provide much information on how it is done.
We are getting close to the most difficult part of this carving, so don't get in a hurry.

[Iowa Carver]

Thanks Rick. I may recut that ... will think about it. I will be taking a break from it today. Will cut in the suspenders tomorrow night and then I won't mess with it until we do the face. I have some other stuff to work on if you are a couple days before you get to work on the face so no worries.

Corey

[Claude]

Corey:
Just a suggestion...your carving seems to be leaning backwards and must be difficult to keep standing up. I'd suggest sanding off a little bit of the bottom of the shoes, on the toe end, before you do much more, so the carving will stand more upright... probably only a 1/16 inch from the toe end would be enough.

The reason I mention this, is that I've often had this problem because my bandsaw doesn't track perfectly and I end up not sawing the bottom of the blank perfectly perpendicular to the sides...then when I begin carving, I notice the figure is tilting forward or backward... If I was able to buy a table saw so I could cut 90 degree angles accurately, that would help, but no place to put a table saw in my small townhouse basement...<woe>...

Anyway, if you're having trouble standing the figure up, this might help...
Claude

[Iowa Carver]

Hi Claude! Your right it does lean back a bit but it's not tipsy. I was going to flatten it out when I got done but maybe I will go do it now. Thanks Claude!

Corey

[Iowa Carver]

Well I sanded it flat but in the process got him a little shorter... now he is really short and fat and also has feet that are turned up a bit. Hit the belt sander at a bad angle... damn bifocals! Boy he has one heck of a bootie! I hope it isn't cheating but I used a nail set for the button.

Corey

[Rick-in-Seattle]

Corey,
You are doing an excellent job on this carving.
Your carving is much closer to being done than mine.
If you want to go ahead and try the face alone, you should.

My only concern is that beginners tend to carve faces on nearly flat or 2D surfaces. You need to look at the side views as well as the front and detailed picture.

If you set the face as deep as shown in the pictures, you should do fine.

[Iowa Carver]

Thanks Rick! I will wait for you on the face I think. I may work on the nose but I am a little nervous on the face.

Corey

[Claude]

Corey:
It's looking great! Nail sets are not cheating - they are just a very specialized completely round gouge...

Claude

[Rick-in-Seattle]

Corey,
Check out my latest website post:
http://www.littleshavers.com/SpecialProjectProgress.html

[Iowa Carver]

Thanks Claude... I love that round gouge then

Rick thanks for that! I will print that off and get started then.

Corey

[Rick-in-Seattle]

I just added some information on carving the projects face.
http://www.littleshavers.com/SpecialProjectProgress.html

[Iowa Carver]

Thanks Rick!

Corey

[Iowa Carver]

Well I have finished my carving..sorta..kind a...

Working on the face which was looking really bad anyway and broke the damn nose off. Put to much pressure on it. I started to carve on it but no help and now I cant glue it back on. So it looks like the end of the road for my carving for now anyway. I like the carving and if I can get more experience carving heads and faces I will cut the head off and add a new one down the road. Such is life!!

Rick, thanks for this great project and for doing this with us all. Guys I encourage you all to attempt this project. Rick will help in anyway he can but at least try it. He spent a lot of time cutting out the blanks, taking photos and mailing all this out. Rick I learned a lot from you on this project. On to the next one...

Corey