Leg Cleek

3534 Views 9 Replies 4 Participants Last post by gdenby, Apr 2, 2015

cobalt

Discussion Starter · Mar 29, 2015

Think i may have posted part of this before ?

I have a couple of large blocks of wood which i have had for quite some time i managed to salvage from being burnt.

there some sort of burl wood dont know what and the guy said there where at least 600 years old? They where bought down during a storm some years ago

I decide to take a slice off it and make a couple of leg cleeks and heres the state of play to date.

Would love to know what the wood is?

Wood Trunk Hardwood Flooring Natural material

See less See more

Save

Reactions: 1

1 - 4 of 10 Posts

cobalt

Discussion Starter · #3 · Mar 30, 2015

Zebra wood looks great and would make a nice topper ? dont know what its like to carve

The above wood is extremly hard and is easyer to use the rotary tool on than try to use the chisels but it should polish up very well.

I had to cut a slice by hand for the cleeks it must have taken mt a hour or so to do it . its to thick to get into the band saw.its at lest 2.5 ft long by about 18 inches thick and about 18-20 inches high the other peice i have is much larger .Not to sure what to do with it yet .I fancy trying to carve a swann with it but i shall just treat the wood with oil and not paint it ,the grain should come up well.

Save

cobalt

Discussion Starter · #6 · Mar 31, 2015 (Edited by Moderator)

I was very pleased to get the wood far better than burning it.People pay a lot of money for it and its not to easy to come by.

Parts of the trunk have been attacked by wood worm which isnt helpful. To think someone would burn it is crazy.

It took me over a hour to saw a slice of the lump its so hard in parts until you hit a part that has been attacked by worm.

Just a small part is effected and have tried to work round those parts.

Its unbelivable hard to carve almost imposiable , I burnt out a drill bit just drilling a hole for the threaded bar ,The rotary tool will manage it but i found using rasps the best way of shaping it .

Problem is where the worm had been and you cant tell until you cut it is soft so using the rotary tool didnt get a flat finish .I have cut and shaped it and treated the soft area wood with a solutiopn on PVA to harden it .But the rest is to hard to use a chisel on it.

Some people sat its maple some oak some yew have seen some wood like it which was maple but i think its to difficult to tell what it is.

I have yet to smooth resand it and polish it

Food Cuisine Staple food Dish Ingredient

.water buffalo horn collar attached

See less See more

Save

cobalt

Discussion Starter · #9 · Apr 1, 2015 (Edited by Moderator)

thanks for your replies regading the wood much appreciated. I think its yew?. I doubt very much if i will come across any more of it. but i am happy with the 2 large chunks i have.

Your right aboutt keeping the wood and will be planning to do some toppers with it. and of coarse they will have to have a clear protective coating on. think mayby a griifin or gargoyle?

I have burnt out one of my rotary tools working on the wood due to its hardness and will try to do as much work on it by hand , i have already lost the use of another one as the bush`s have gone and need to replace them.

It isgood to work with wood so old and it needs something which will reflect both a quality design / carving as well the woood its self. just hope i am up to it.

Wood like this i understand can fetch £75 - 100 per block if you can find it. not cheap

I will however do a market /crook stick from some any off cuts wiil be stored /incorporated into other carvings.and jewelry

Save

Reactions: 1

1 - 4 of 10 Posts

This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.

Leg Cleek

cobalt

Attachments

cobalt

cobalt

Attachments

cobalt

Top Contributors this Month