[cobalt]

Just a a order for a cardigan stick with a horses head protruding from it. The guy is a race horse fan .Abit of a different task to do just at present putting ideas down on paper before I make template up

how do you remove a photo put the wrong one on?

 

[alador]

From the drawings it looks like a cool project. With your carving skills I'm sure it will be just as great in the execution.

 

[Whiteroselad]

Looking forward to seeing this one progress, I know it has been a while tring to find the right pattern for the horse. Good Luck with it cobalt!

 

[Gloops]

Interesting concept please keep posting the progress.

 

[CV3]

That will be a interesting cane. I look forward to fallowing the progress.

 

[Sean]

Looking forward to seein this.

 

[MJC4]

Don't want to "beat a dead horse" LOL but I too am looking forward to seeing this piece develop

 

[cobalt]

got the blanks cut ready to start carving .

drilled hole in bottom whist in the square eayer to use the pillar drill and to ensure a good straight clean hole

 

[CV3]

Is that limewood cobalt ? Had you consitard cutting it out as one piece. One piece may not be a good option. Just a thought.

 

[cobalt]

People have used lime to make a one piece walking sticks but I have plenty of hazel on hand so its makes sense to use these for shanks as I think there amongst the best shanks you can get. I don't think lime would be strong enough for a one piece,hazel

it will be fine . the grain direction run with the handle and the shaft will have a threaded bar put in nearly till the top, which will strengthen it

had it been a crook or market stick i would have strenghted it ,i may put a hard wood dowl in the handle as well

Traditionally cardigan sticks are made from a sigle peice of hazel . But a single hazel shank with enough wood on to a make a single piece cardigan stick is difficult to get,. this is the third cardigan stick to date with a animal mounted on its lead edge they have been fine.

I would love to have had your bear to put on a selected hazel shank with a buffalo horn collar. so maybe I will have to have a go at a bear as a topper for a hiking[pole

 

[Gloops]

never having done a head attachment to a standard type walking stick, will follow with interest, from the blank the grain is runnung un the right direction shouldn't need the dowel but suppose the added strength may be advantageous (don't know the size /mass of the recipient) and the end cap will conceal it.

Do agree with taking the threaded bar above the change in shape line do this on all my toppers, better safe than sorry (or a rework).

watching with interest.

 

[cobalt]

I use dowel and glue to attach the heads . it is time consuming to get a good fit to the handle and I do drill the hole out both into handle and the head before I start carving. then I have re-drill the hole for the threaded bar out to ensure it slides fully into the handle,

If the heads going to be painted its easy cover and slight errors on the joint with filler and paint .

I will carve the head 1st roughly carves the handle but leave the area around the joint where the head and handle meet carving this when I fix the two pieces together then finally carve it . I will just leave enough room to insert a buffalo horn collar .but this is filed and polished to ensure a good fit onto the shank/

When the handle collar is fitted to the shank I finish of the handle working around the horses head .

Its a slow job but unlike the horse its not a race

other toppers I have done in a similar fashion

 

[Gloops]

My brother-in-law (RIP) made one or two sticks of this form with the "topper" at the front, but he made them from 1 piece as opposed to joining,

 

[Ron T]

Cobalt, that is very nice work. I can really appreciate the time you put into not just the carving but the fitting and assembling. Very nice carvings.

 

[cobalt]

got some time in the workshop today didn't get as much done as I wanted and made a new year resolution I would keep the bench clean ,that didn't last long

but did epoxy the buffalo horn collar and end cap in place

will have to dig out a shank before I go any further to get a good fit

 

[CV3]

You are moving right along with this project. It is really taking shape.

 

[Gloops]

Coming along nicely, like the tidy bench - looks like mine . Her indoors takes one look turns aund and exits muttering "untidy sod " --- IT Works,

 

[Rodney]

Looks good so far. Your bench is still pretty clean. I can still see it in places.

Cleaning my shop is something I've been putting off. It's getting pretty bad.

Rodney

 

[cobalt]

No chance to get into the workshop tody.

I have been using some rasps my daughter got me for a present which is nice ,but there flimsy and the handles are pretty naff. , cant tell her there rubbish as she knew I was after a set.

there okay to do a bit of roughing out on the horn but need some decent ones and some finer ones to use on the wood and start finishing the horn before polishing.

Still a bit to do before this stage and havnt selected a shank yet

The bench and shop is a mess lots of wood sheet leaning up the benches blocking the underneath of the bench and the 1st thing you want is under it as usual

typical saying don't put it down put it away

 

[cobalt]

Sneeked in the shop whilst the boss went shopping, shaping handle chose a shank drill it out ,A bit thicker than i would nornally use but it is for a larger gentleman

Used those rubbish rasps to begin to shape the handle and buffalo horn , fixed the eyes and gave the head a bit more shape started texturing the mane ,

The shank is bent so it will need straightening and cutting down to size as the gentleman wants a walking stick

made a mess of the parts box needs tidying up like the workshop still a tip