[cobalt]

A couple of new sticks on the go in the basic stages yet pretty crude

A guy wants a tamworth pig on the cardigan stick and a puffin

Puffins are one of my favourite birds we used to watch them fly from the north sea and land on Bempton cliffs in Yorkshire. then they scuttle into there burrows with a beak full of fish for there young. A comical clumsy bird on land but its the only time they come into land to breed the rest of there lives they spend at sea.

The cardigan handle is lime wood with a mahogany end piece , its been strengthened with a hardwood dowel through the handle. the puffin is lime wood .

 

[RandyL476]

Let us see the end results I know it's going to turn out good.

 

[gdenby]

Puffins are really nice looking. I had a friend whose brother would travel up towards the arctic every summer, and one year he came back w. some very fine pics of puffins. Got to admire the photos he left w. my friend.

Other than color, is there a way to make a hog's head look "Tamworth," as opposed say to "Berkshire," etc?

 

[CV3]

As always, a couple more great looking projects. Look forward to seeing them come along. Just got out my copy of Stickmaking A complete Course. I want to get a crook stick and a cardigan. Was in the shop most of the morning finishing up on a couple of honey do projects, Will try and cut out the two handles this afternoon.

 

[cobalt]

There are slight differences in most pigs apart from colour ,The snout on a Tamworth is slightly longer and the head appears to be slightly deeper, but there's not a great deal of difference ,maybe its just the pics I looked at ? I wouldn't know the difference unless pointed out. But a pig farmer would disagree on other points of views

Just got the basic shape nearly there on the handle The pigs head needs some attention yet so hope to get back to it soon .The ears will be carved separate and dowel and glued on.

 

[cobalt]

shaping the handle to fit the shank before I start carving the ears of the pig and fitted a buffalo horn collar. Just the ears to carve before final fixingThe cap on the handle is mahogany

 

[cobalt]

finally got into the workshop for a hour and managed to something done

 

[CV3]

Nice job fitting the head to the handle. Is that a Buffalo spacer at the base of the handle?

 

[cobalt]

not to happy with the pigs head decided to redo it, the snout is to long

straightened a couple of shanks ,unless I can straighten them I wouldn't use them as people relay on for support and a bent stick is a weak stick. A 1inch shank wil give enough support for the average person and hazel shanks are strong and flexible

The aftermath of working I don't usually work like this but got lost in what I was doing now its blunt tools and a session tidying up so will pay for it tomorrow by time wasting tidying up

 

[CV3]

I have looked all around for some hazel shafts. Can't find a supply yet? I like the shorter snout also. Your work area looks like your busy. I started cleaning out the shop a few months ago. Got in to it and then got side tracked. Now just have a mess.

 

[cobalt]

the collar is water buffalo horn .it polish up brilliantly ,its e.asy to shape and bend when warm and simple to shape with a rasp

Its difficult to find time at the moment to get things finished much to busy with other things .You would think you have all the time in the world when you retire but it seems like you more to do?

.

 

[cobalt]

well trying to sort the ears out on the cardigan stick still a bit of work to do on it. but determined to get it right.

 

[cobalt]

A little more done on the sticks . getting the basic shapes about there and need to improve the transition between the stopper and stick,the buffalo horn needs polishing .

still some to do the .All the toppers need texturing and the puffin and goose need wood burning before painting.

I have to stick the pigs head on the cadigan handle .The transition between the shank and the puffin will be left unpainted whilst the puffins head will be painted, don't know what it will turn out like hopefully it will provide a better contrasting colour.

 

[CV3]

You have done a great job on those cobalt, Your proportions on the pig head turn out very well. I look forward to seeing them done.

 

[cobalt]

A bit more done today on the grey lag goose whilst waiting for the glue to dry and set on the other items.

I am considering not painting the goose. The problem is that the grey colour of the goose seems to define it

the beak has had a wash of yellow/red to highlight it, but not sure about the grey?

not sure what to do with it maybe give it a grey thin wash or not?

also came across a picture of a deer haven't checked it out yet but sure its African so maybe have a go at carving .s

 

[gdenby]

I looked up some images of grey geese. Some have darker color, others, rather pale. I'd go w. darker coloring to give better contrast to the beak color.

 

[cobalt]

Think maybe your right .Always good to see other peoples point of view

 

[CV3]

Tha Grerylag goose has a rich grey color that would look good on a shank.

 

[cobalt]

The pig is nearly finished at last. Just needs a few coats of varnish

the puffin is coming along the eyes need fixing ,with the thin coats of base colour laid ready to its final coats .The water buffalo collar ground back and polished to fit the shank

 

[cobalt]

gave the pig a secondary light burn and another coat of varnish today its coming on.The snout has had a light tint painted on don't think it shows oh the photos.

I have started painting the puffin just thin coats trying to avoid getting any on the transition from bird to shank just the head would look out of balance . Why there is so much difference in the picture I don't know they where taken at the same time.