[cobalt]

A friend asked me to do a couple of sticks , so have been trying to find time to get back into the workshop been to busy at the moment to do anything. Who said being retired is relaxing he is wrong busyer than ever.

been asked for a falcon hiking pole and a swan stick along with a dolphin walking stick so a quick drawing of the items before I start ,

Getting the transition from topper to shank has to be right for the falcon , birds like water fowl are easy to get right with there long necks but birds of prey isn't so easy to get a good transition , so as usual the drawing helps. It makes work but its worth the effort to try and get it right hate just carving it and find I'm not satisfied with the result it saves time and wood and losing my rag with them.

so may go with these

been itching to get back into the workshop

 

[Stickie]

Do these help

 

[cobalt]

Ihave always looked for birds of prey hiking poles love the birds but never been 100 % happy with the transition of them. A one piece stick is the way to go pehaps . but think i will follow the drawing so far and what will be will be.

water fowl of any kind are always easier on the eye giving a much better flow from topper to stick.as long as the bird of prey heads is carved well and is well painted it should be okay.

but your examples are appreciated thanks for your time. always something to learn from other peoples work.

the swans head/ necks are graceful and reminds me of swans displaying there courting

 

[Gloops]

Good Morning Dennis, I am also working on a Peregrine when I can spend time on it (too many requests

although someone someone is interested in this and he has only seen the blank). I have used draughtsmans license and made my normal long smooth transition.

 

[cobalt]

its coming along fine .Interesting to see other approach to both subject matter and the transition from carving to shank.

 

[MJC4]

The dolphin concept is intriguing. Will be very interested in the progress.

 

[Rodney]

That kind of realistic carving is way beyond my skills.

Rodney

 

[Gloops]

That kind of realistic carving is way beyond my skills.

Rodney

Its surprising what you can achieve with practice, look at your avatar thats well spotted and a good looking beak so start the journey doing stylised carvings,oops you have already started, well done.

 

[cobalt]

Don't knock yourself I love stylised concepts .This one has the look drawn out the wood , it doesn't look like a laboured carving which is stiff and not right . It isn't like a cartoon it has a natural flow to it .Using wood in this way is a great idea and will always draw attention

Any woodcarver or designer will tell you that having the ability to draw out these designs and build on them enhances all items

Nice one

 

[CV3]

Rodney None of us could care when we first started carving. It is all about the fun I started with real simple detective lines and designs. You just need a sharp knife and a box of band-aids. Here is a site with a lot of basic carving how to's. try one or two. don't worry about doing it just right. If Its fun Doing it right will come.

http://blog.mischel.com/gene-messers-carving-videos/

 

[cobalt]

A tad more done on the swan have cut the blanks for the falcon and dolphin but yet to start shaping them.

shaping the swan doesn't take long from cutting the blank to shaping about 1.5 hrs max .I have yet to select the shank before I finalise the neck and will fit a buffalo horn collar to it then give it its final shaping to ensure there isn't any protruding parts and ensure a smooth even flow form topper to shank

the falcon shouldn't take long but need more reference material with the falcon head facing forward to give a better perspective .

The dolphin will have to be stylised as the dorsal fin would be in the centre of the handle which wouldn't work.

 

[CV3]

The swan is looking good cobalt. The basic shaping is not as time consuming as people think it is. The time is in th detail. More detail more time. Look forward to seeing the dolphin shaped. What thickness did you start with on the dalphin?

 

[cobalt]

I buy 8ft planks of lime 2 inches thick . which i cut up to the size i need its just rough sawn . the plank is from a tree that been sliced up and air dried it usually last me about 9 -12 mnths its a cheap way of buying it and get loads of toppers from it .

the have apple pear cherry woods and some imported wood . they sell it by the cube

I have to fetch it myself as the transports cost over twice as much as the wood.

 

[Gloops]

Hi, I use google images as a base to start from for subject views always plenty there. who's your supplier of your Lime ?

 

[cobalt]

yes that's the route I will take there's good info on it, surprising how different the colours are on the birds

got to the roughing out stage for the falcon

 

[cobalt]

dropped the falcon on the floor today and it knocked a nice part of the beak off . good job I was out of ear shot of anyone

there was a small crack on a knot didn't see it earlier

well don't know if this will be any good or I should have binned it but doweled a chunk into it.Never sure about doing this but I guessed a bit more time wont hurt to see if I can salvage it.

 

[MJC4]

dropped the falcon on the floor today and it knocked a nice part of the beak off . good job I was out of ear shot of anyone

And I thought I was the only one that did stuff like that...........................

 

[Gloops]

It happens to all of us. one colliie topper dropped when fitted to shank, broke both ears , rebuilt the ends using apoxy sculp (a better form of Milliput).

With the beak I would probably taken the plunge and cut the whole beak out and used a ram's horn insert to prevent future breakage.

On a pheasant beak I did a while ago I pre-empted breakage by drilling a !mm hole down the beak from the tip and glued a length of piano wire in to just below the surface and finished with plastic wood.

 

[Rodney]

If you're painting it I don't think the repair will matter. It will be covered anyway.

Rodney

 

[JJireh]

What Rodney said + if you aren't painting it, it may have a noticeable grain shift on that lower beak