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The Shop => Wood & Stuff => Topic started by: micktoon on October 06, 2013, 07:04:36 PM

Title: Hare woodcarving
Post by: micktoon on October 06, 2013, 07:04:36 PM
Hi all , well I have been starting to do some more woodcarvings, I hate the laying out and band sawing part so have done a few bits at the same time once the gear for doing that stage was out, then I will have enough to last me a while.

 My first subject is a sitting hare, the design is from the woodcarver magazine. First the drawing is expanded to fit the wood on the computer then the print taped on with carbon paper under it and traced onto the wood, The wood I am using is Lime wood.

(http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q631/micktoon/Madmodders%202012/Madmodders%202013/Harecarving1003.jpg) (http://s1167.photobucket.com/user/micktoon/media/Madmodders%202012/Madmodders%202013/Harecarving1003.jpg.html)

This is done for both the front view and side view, this is then cut around with the bandsaw, once the first direction is cut the scrap wood is tapped back so the wood becomes a block again so the other direction can also be cut while remaining stable on the saw table.

(http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q631/micktoon/Madmodders%202012/Madmodders%202013/Harecarving1005.jpg) (http://s1167.photobucket.com/user/micktoon/media/Madmodders%202012/Madmodders%202013/Harecarving1005.jpg.html)

I am also cutting out a pointer dog and two wrens, these were laid out in the same manner but I do not have decent views from the above so will have to carve away rather than bandsaw for these items.

(http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q631/micktoon/Madmodders%202012/Madmodders%202013/Harecarving1007.jpg) (http://s1167.photobucket.com/user/micktoon/media/Madmodders%202012/Madmodders%202013/Harecarving1007.jpg.html)

(http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q631/micktoon/Madmodders%202012/Madmodders%202013/Harecarving1008.jpg) (http://s1167.photobucket.com/user/micktoon/media/Madmodders%202012/Madmodders%202013/Harecarving1008.jpg.html)

This is the hare and all the bits of scrap from cutting it out in the two planes , you end up with some weird shapes, I also managed to cut it out in such a way that it left a decent size and shape bit of scrap that will do for two walking stick handles once split down the middle, I intend doing a ducks head and a pheasants head with these. You can see this at the back of the table.

(http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q631/micktoon/Madmodders%202012/Madmodders%202013/Harecarving1009.jpg) (http://s1167.photobucket.com/user/micktoon/media/Madmodders%202012/Madmodders%202013/Harecarving1009.jpg.html)

This shot shows all the blanks cut out.

(http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q631/micktoon/Madmodders%202012/Madmodders%202013/Harecarving1010.jpg) (http://s1167.photobucket.com/user/micktoon/media/Madmodders%202012/Madmodders%202013/Harecarving1010.jpg.html)

This is the hare staring to be carved out, its tricky getting your head around what is safe to remove at this stage as it still does not look much like the finished thing and with the wood unlike clay or metal , once its taken off, thats it , its gone !!

(http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q631/micktoon/Madmodders%202012/Madmodders%202013/Harecarving1013.jpg) (http://s1167.photobucket.com/user/micktoon/media/Madmodders%202012/Madmodders%202013/Harecarving1013.jpg.html)

Then its just more of the same , keep refering to the drawings and slowly carving away , then checking again and carving more. This Lime wood I am using for the hare is slightly spalted which gives the interesting markings ( lime is normally very bland and no visible grain ) You can see this in the photo of the hare front on here. Spalting is caused by a fungus in the wood, it can make patches of the wood soft but does not seem to bad so far.

(http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q631/micktoon/Madmodders%202012/Madmodders%202013/Harecarving1014.jpg) (http://s1167.photobucket.com/user/micktoon/media/Madmodders%202012/Madmodders%202013/Harecarving1014.jpg.html)

(http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q631/micktoon/Madmodders%202012/Madmodders%202013/Harecarving1015.jpg) (http://s1167.photobucket.com/user/micktoon/media/Madmodders%202012/Madmodders%202013/Harecarving1015.jpg.html)

(http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q631/micktoon/Madmodders%202012/Madmodders%202013/Harecarving1017.jpg) (http://s1167.photobucket.com/user/micktoon/media/Madmodders%202012/Madmodders%202013/Harecarving1017.jpg.html)

Once it starts to take shape it gets easier to know what is really safe to take off but still tricky to know how far you dare go in some areas and there is less of a safety margin for error the closer to size it gets too.

(http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q631/micktoon/Madmodders%202012/Madmodders%202013/Harecarving1018.jpg) (http://s1167.photobucket.com/user/micktoon/media/Madmodders%202012/Madmodders%202013/Harecarving1018.jpg.html)

I decided to do some sanding and dremel work to smooth the shape out as I was having a hard time deciding what was right and what was not.

 (http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q631/micktoon/Madmodders%202012/Madmodders%202013/Harecarving1021.jpg) (http://s1167.photobucket.com/user/micktoon/media/Madmodders%202012/Madmodders%202013/Harecarving1021.jpg.html)


(http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q631/micktoon/Madmodders%202012/Madmodders%202013/Harecarving1022.jpg) (http://s1167.photobucket.com/user/micktoon/media/Madmodders%202012/Madmodders%202013/Harecarving1022.jpg.html)


(http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q631/micktoon/Madmodders%202012/Madmodders%202013/Harecarving1023.jpg) (http://s1167.photobucket.com/user/micktoon/media/Madmodders%202012/Madmodders%202013/Harecarving1023.jpg.html)

(http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q631/micktoon/Madmodders%202012/Madmodders%202013/Harecarving1024.jpg) (http://s1167.photobucket.com/user/micktoon/media/Madmodders%202012/Madmodders%202013/Harecarving1024.jpg.html)

(http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q631/micktoon/Madmodders%202012/Madmodders%202013/Harecarving1028.jpg) (http://s1167.photobucket.com/user/micktoon/media/Madmodders%202012/Madmodders%202013/Harecarving1028.jpg.html)

This is the stage I have reached so far, I can already tell it will not end up exact to the drawing, which wont really matter as long as I think it still looks nice or not wrong, sometimes its best to leave it a day or two then look at it with 'fresh eyes' and it can seem easier to work out which bits need work and what areas are safe to take more wood off.
  So watch this space............More to come soon.
  Cheers Mick
Title: Re: Hare woodcarving
Post by: vtsteam on October 06, 2013, 07:27:52 PM
This is great!  :thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup: :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap:
Title: Re: Hare woodcarving
Post by: RossJarvis on October 07, 2013, 05:10:23 AM
looking good to me too :thumbup:

I thought carbon paper had died out long ago!  Interesting to see Smith's still stock it.
Title: Re: Hare woodcarving
Post by: micktoon on October 07, 2013, 05:48:00 AM
Thanks for comments lads  :thumbup: , Ross I have had this carbon paper for a few years but I think you can still get it at WHSmiths , if not art shops do still sell it , its still realy handy stuff.
  Cheers Mick
Title: Re: Hare woodcarving
Post by: vtsteam on October 07, 2013, 08:38:56 AM
Mick, I'm not sure, but I think lime wood is also called basswood? And I might have it here actually growing in the woods as "big leaf linden". Not sure. But I have cut some up into 4" x 4" and some thin stock. It's light in weight, close grained and carves well. It looks like yours might be spalted -- is that true? If so my hat's off to you (further) for carving.
Title: Re: Hare woodcarving
Post by: doubleboost on October 07, 2013, 02:15:46 PM
Hi
Mick
The wood butchering is coming along very nicely  :bow: :bow: :bow: :bow: :bow: :bow:
Its ear is a good shape  very impressed
John
Title: Re: Hare woodcarving
Post by: micktoon on October 07, 2013, 03:06:57 PM
Hi VT , yes I believe what we know in the UK as Lime , is either Linden wood or Basswood in the USA, I dont really know if its exactly the same tree but its as close as you can get if its not the same, some carving books refer to it as the same thing but I suspect a proper tree buff would say they might be from the same family of trees but variants ? The bit I am using is slightly spalted, which I hope will bring more character and not problems, up to now the spalted bits seem nice and firm, the pattern loked better when it was in a block to be honest but I think it will look better with some finish on the wood.

 John I am still shaping the ears so hopefully they will look better later on  :thumbup:

 Cheers Mick.
Title: Re: Hare woodcarving
Post by: krv3000 on October 07, 2013, 04:07:43 PM
well dun mick
Title: Re: Hare woodcarving
Post by: micktoon on October 09, 2013, 06:25:49 PM
 I have got a bit more done to the Hare carving and also started the wren, I have been loaned three seperate carvings of a wren at different stages from a friend who is an expert at bird carving to use as a guide to doing mine, good job too as they have been a great help so far, I am very greatful to have them to compare to.

This is the hare , I am not sure how different it will look in photos but quite a bit of work has been done since the last shots.

(http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q631/micktoon/Madmodders%202012/Madmodders%202013/Harecarving2003.jpg) (http://s1167.photobucket.com/user/micktoon/media/Madmodders%202012/Madmodders%202013/Harecarving2003.jpg.html)

(http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q631/micktoon/Madmodders%202012/Madmodders%202013/Harecarving2002.jpg) (http://s1167.photobucket.com/user/micktoon/media/Madmodders%202012/Madmodders%202013/Harecarving2002.jpg.html)

The wren along side the stage 1 pattern, up to the stage I have reached , in the first shot mine is the one nearer my wrist and in the second shot mine is the one at the bottom. I have carved it with gouges to this basic shape then used a dremel type tool with sanding drums to refine the shape , it still needs lots more work, I will post photos of the sample carvings I am aiming to copy next time .

(http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q631/micktoon/Madmodders%202012/Madmodders%202013/Harecarving2011.jpg) (http://s1167.photobucket.com/user/micktoon/media/Madmodders%202012/Madmodders%202013/Harecarving2011.jpg.html)

(http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q631/micktoon/Madmodders%202012/Madmodders%202013/Harecarving2013.jpg) (http://s1167.photobucket.com/user/micktoon/media/Madmodders%202012/Madmodders%202013/Harecarving2013.jpg.html)

Cheers Mick
Title: Re: Hare woodcarving
Post by: awemawson on October 10, 2013, 03:27:04 AM
Mick, either you have VERY small hands, or the wren is at least double if not treble size  :lol:

We regularly have wrens here and they are minute.

Very nice work by the way  :thumbup:
Title: Re: Hare woodcarving
Post by: mattinker on October 10, 2013, 05:40:03 AM
Mick,

my parents were both artists, painters and sculptors. As kids we grew up making things, drawing and carving. One of the things that I learnt was that if I wasn't sure what was wrong with something I was carving, drawing or modelling , look at it in a mirror. You see it with new eyes.

Might help, regards, Matthew.
Title: Re: Hare woodcarving
Post by: Pete W. on October 10, 2013, 07:36:17 AM
Mick, either you have VERY small hands, or the wren is at least double if not treble size  :lol:

We regularly have wrens here and they are minute.

Very nice work by the way  :thumbup:

One of my treasured memories, a few years ago: walking the dog along a local footpath edged with tall oak trees on one side and very bushy hedges on the other.  I was suddenly aware of a very loud ticking noise, two mature wrens.  They were out of sight but their brood was in-sight and taking its maiden flight - the young wrens looked about the size of large bumble bees.  I can't think of a suitable adjective to describe the flight of the young wrens but it was certainly not the straight line darting of their parents.
Title: Re: Hare woodcarving
Post by: TLGriff on October 10, 2013, 06:34:22 PM
Looking good Mick, you definitely have the knack for sculpting. Have you thought about carving a chess set? Alice in Wonderland characters would make an excellent theme.

Tom
Title: Re: Hare woodcarving
Post by: micktoon on October 10, 2013, 07:18:39 PM
 Hi all thanks for the comments  :thumbup: , That is good advice about the mirror Matthew , I do already do that and it does work well.
   Pete  I saw some wrens that nested in the garden leave the nest this summer , as you say they are stuttering a bit at first , these chicks had hardly any tails , tat wont have helped them lol.
   awemawson, These still have to have a hell of a lot taken off so they will end up 100mm from tip of beak to tip of tail which is the adult wren size, I am trying to copy the part carved patterns I have so this is still stage one really hence the massive wren stage, even though there is much to spare I think IO may already have took too much off one area  :palm: .... it might be able to be saved yet .....or I have learnt for wren 2 !
  Tom, thanks for the kind comments , to be honest the thought of many more similar items to carve is not a nice thought lol , although I agree Alice in Wonderland would be a good theme  :thumbup:

 Cheers Mick.
Title: Re: Hare woodcarving
Post by: micktoon on November 07, 2013, 06:43:20 PM
 After a good few distractions I have got some more of the hare carved. I have refined the shape and sanded it quite a bit , there is still more to do but its getting there, I have strayed from the drawings but think my version looks better in some areas so will be leaving them as they are.
 Here are some photos at this stage .

(http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q631/micktoon/Madmodders%202012/Madmodders%202013/Harecarving3020.jpg) (http://s1167.photobucket.com/user/micktoon/media/Madmodders%202012/Madmodders%202013/Harecarving3020.jpg.html)

(http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q631/micktoon/Madmodders%202012/Madmodders%202013/Harecarving3022.jpg) (http://s1167.photobucket.com/user/micktoon/media/Madmodders%202012/Madmodders%202013/Harecarving3022.jpg.html)

(http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q631/micktoon/Madmodders%202012/Madmodders%202013/Harecarving3023.jpg) (http://s1167.photobucket.com/user/micktoon/media/Madmodders%202012/Madmodders%202013/Harecarving3023.jpg.html)

(http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q631/micktoon/Madmodders%202012/Madmodders%202013/Harecarving3024.jpg) (http://s1167.photobucket.com/user/micktoon/media/Madmodders%202012/Madmodders%202013/Harecarving3024.jpg.html)

There was then the small matter of the eyes to carve in, I have never tried doing eyes before and the project could have still ended up as fire wood if these went badly wrong ! I was going by an article in a woodcarving magazine which was not as good as it first appeared once you started really needing detail, also I really needed a few carving tools slightly smaller and other shapes than the ones I had but just plodded on for hours and hours but they ended up not bad so now thats out the way I just have to keep refining the shape and then put some finish on it and make a base .

(http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q631/micktoon/Madmodders%202012/Madmodders%202013/Harecarving3025.jpg) (http://s1167.photobucket.com/user/micktoon/media/Madmodders%202012/Madmodders%202013/Harecarving3025.jpg.html)

(http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q631/micktoon/Madmodders%202012/Madmodders%202013/Harecarving3027.jpg) (http://s1167.photobucket.com/user/micktoon/media/Madmodders%202012/Madmodders%202013/Harecarving3027.jpg.html)

(http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q631/micktoon/Madmodders%202012/Madmodders%202013/Harecarving3028.jpg) (http://s1167.photobucket.com/user/micktoon/media/Madmodders%202012/Madmodders%202013/Harecarving3028.jpg.html)

(http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q631/micktoon/Madmodders%202012/Madmodders%202013/Harecarving3029.jpg) (http://s1167.photobucket.com/user/micktoon/media/Madmodders%202012/Madmodders%202013/Harecarving3029.jpg.html)

Cheers Mick
Title: Re: Hare woodcarving
Post by: awemawson on November 08, 2013, 04:09:49 AM
Looking very good Mick. Is that that clampy thing in use?

Andrew
Title: Re: Hare woodcarving
Post by: doubleboost on November 08, 2013, 04:06:22 PM
Superb Mick
The eyes are amazing :drool: :drool: :drool: :drool: :drool:
Nice work lamp :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:
John
Title: Re: Hare woodcarving
Post by: jb3cx on November 08, 2013, 05:13:17 PM
First class micky,looking good. :ddb:
Title: Re: Hare woodcarving
Post by: RossJarvis on November 15, 2013, 05:00:23 PM
Yep, big thumbs up from me :thumbup:, particularly as it seems you're doing some stuff for the first time :headbang:.
Title: Re: Hare woodcarving
Post by: svk on November 15, 2013, 05:18:04 PM
Amazing :thumbup:
Title: Re: Hare woodcarving
Post by: Meldonmech on November 22, 2013, 04:24:14 AM
Hi Mick

              Great hare, I had a large white haired Lop Rabbit just like that, we called him Thumper.  He fathered lots more rabbits and when he was feeling randy he would thump the floor, and that's how he got his name.

                                                                             Cheers David
Title: Re: Hare woodcarving
Post by: micktoon on November 25, 2013, 07:33:48 PM
Thanks for the comments lads , well the hare is almost done, the hare carving is done just a base to do for it now, the main reason for this is the grain in the wood runs up and down so the feet sticking out are likely to get snapped off if knocked at any point in the future.

 This is it after final sanding and the other detail carved in , like the feet.

(http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q631/micktoon/Madmodders%202012/Madmodders%202013/HareCarving3036.jpg) (http://s1167.photobucket.com/user/micktoon/media/Madmodders%202012/Madmodders%202013/HareCarving3036.jpg.html)

It then was waxed using beeswax mixed with turpentine scrubbed in with an old toothbrush, and warmed over with an electric heat gun so it soaks in.

(http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q631/micktoon/Madmodders%202012/Madmodders%202013/HareCarving3037.jpg) (http://s1167.photobucket.com/user/micktoon/media/Madmodders%202012/Madmodders%202013/HareCarving3037.jpg.html)

(http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q631/micktoon/Madmodders%202012/Madmodders%202013/HareCarving3038.jpg) (http://s1167.photobucket.com/user/micktoon/media/Madmodders%202012/Madmodders%202013/HareCarving3038.jpg.html)

Then buffed off with a soft brissle brush then buffed wit a soft cotton cloth and the jobs a good un !

(http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q631/micktoon/Madmodders%202012/Madmodders%202013/HareCarving3039.jpg) (http://s1167.photobucket.com/user/micktoon/media/Madmodders%202012/Madmodders%202013/HareCarving3039.jpg.html)

(http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q631/micktoon/Madmodders%202012/Madmodders%202013/HareCarving3040.jpg) (http://s1167.photobucket.com/user/micktoon/media/Madmodders%202012/Madmodders%202013/HareCarving3040.jpg.html)

(http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q631/micktoon/Madmodders%202012/Madmodders%202013/HareCarving3041.jpg) (http://s1167.photobucket.com/user/micktoon/media/Madmodders%202012/Madmodders%202013/HareCarving3041.jpg.html)

(http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q631/micktoon/Madmodders%202012/Madmodders%202013/HareCarving3042.jpg) (http://s1167.photobucket.com/user/micktoon/media/Madmodders%202012/Madmodders%202013/HareCarving3042.jpg.html)

(http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q631/micktoon/Madmodders%202012/Madmodders%202013/HareCarving3043.jpg) (http://s1167.photobucket.com/user/micktoon/media/Madmodders%202012/Madmodders%202013/HareCarving3043.jpg.html)

(http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q631/micktoon/Madmodders%202012/Madmodders%202013/HareCarving3044.jpg) (http://s1167.photobucket.com/user/micktoon/media/Madmodders%202012/Madmodders%202013/HareCarving3044.jpg.html)

Cheers Mick.
Title: Re: Hare woodcarving
Post by: Doc on November 25, 2013, 08:12:24 PM
Wow!
I'm always amazed with carvings like that. Wish I was able to do that but I wouldn't know where to start and just don't have that kind of talent.
Nice!
Title: Re: Hare woodcarving
Post by: TLGriff on November 25, 2013, 08:14:57 PM
A first rate job Mick. I like how the grain of the wood looks like hair (hare hair?).

Tom
Title: Re: Hare woodcarving
Post by: krv3000 on November 26, 2013, 06:16:47 PM
brill job  :ddb:
Title: Re: Hare woodcarving
Post by: Bowtrees on January 07, 2014, 05:39:11 PM
Hi mick, excellent carving. I fancy having a go myself could you please tell me the magazine the article was originally in and what edition? Thanks Brian
Title: Re: Hare woodcarving
Post by: JD on January 07, 2014, 07:58:54 PM
 Mick cracking job,  :thumbup:   I was born in very small village in West Sussex (population 200 ish) with a large farming community. During my youth we used to see hares a lot, but a lot of water has passed under the bridge since. You have captured the spirit of a rarely seen animal.
Thanks for sharing
John W
   
Title: Re: Hare woodcarving
Post by: micktoon on January 08, 2014, 04:35:59 AM
Thanks for the comments everyone. I will take a few photos of the totally finished job in the next couple of days , Imade a mahogany oval base for the hare as the grain was running upwards on the feet so a chance they could have been knocked off without a base.
  Hi Brian sorry for late reply, I had missed your post somehow, it was the woodcarver magazine the UK one,  I will find out what number and date and post details with the photo.
  Hi John, I live in what was once quite rural place too , its getting built on in every direction so not so rural at all now, I have a dog a pointer that finds hares, rabbits etc and still take him to more rural places, he is 11 years old now  and there are places where we always used to see the odd hare while walking where I have not seen a single one for say 4 years now. I think between building on their habitat and modern farming methods that seems to have no regard for the natural wildlife, the brown hare's future sadly does not look good. As you say thay are amazing animals to watch and considering they are always above ground its amazing how they survive the winter weather at all.
  I am doing a carving of a pointer dog next that I will post but plan on doing more hares in the future as I like them in general but they are a good subject to carve too.
   Thanks Mick
Title: Re: Hare woodcarving
Post by: ddmckee54 on January 08, 2014, 11:27:54 AM
I love the finish.  What's your recipe for the beeswax and turpentine mix?  Could you go into more detail on that procedure?

Don
Title: Re: Hare woodcarving
Post by: Bowtrees on January 08, 2014, 02:08:10 PM
Thanks Mick, appreciate it. Looking forward to the final pictures. Do you use a buffer to get the shine on the beeswax finish or lots and lots of elbow grease?
Title: Re: Hare woodcarving
Post by: micktoon on January 08, 2014, 05:22:55 PM
Hi Brian and Don , here are a couple of photos of the finished thing, its not very good light but you can get the idea of the base. The design was in the UK magazine Wood Carving number 98 a project by Bill Prickett, I am not sure of the date as I was given only the copied pages I needed but can find out or if your stuck copy you the pages I have that have a side and front drawing and not too detailed step by step stages of doing the carving but enough to get you by.

(http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q631/micktoon/Madmodders%202014/SonyJ110iphonepictures2013192.jpg) (http://s1167.photobucket.com/user/micktoon/media/Madmodders%202014/SonyJ110iphonepictures2013192.jpg.html)

(http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q631/micktoon/Madmodders%202014/SonyJ110iphonepictures2013189.jpg) (http://s1167.photobucket.com/user/micktoon/media/Madmodders%202014/SonyJ110iphonepictures2013189.jpg.html)

(http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q631/micktoon/Madmodders%202014/SonyJ110iphonepictures2013188.jpg) (http://s1167.photobucket.com/user/micktoon/media/Madmodders%202014/SonyJ110iphonepictures2013188.jpg.html)

 As for the finish, Its sanded down through the grades of abrasive paper using both sheets wrapped around various foam blocks etc and also dremel type sanding drums/ stones depending on the areas, I sand  say 120, 180, 240, 320, 400, 600 grits so its really smooth then apply the wax then it really takes very little buffing with a soft cotton cloth to get the shine , you can do several coats of wax which seems to give it a deeper sheen.
  The Beeswax and genuine turpentine mix, I have actually used Chestnut brand Woodwax 22 clear , which after looking at the tin is a blend of various waxes including beeswax and carnuba wax, I am sure that just beeswax and turpentine also works but can check when I am back at the carving club. The Woodwax 22 clear is good stuff a soft paste wax that can be used for woodturning or normal rubbing on furniture or carvings, all I have done with the turps is mixed a few drops at a time in a small jar with the wax until its a sloppy slurry then brushed it into any small detail like the eyes etc with an old tooth brush then rubbed in with a cloth all over. As an experiment I warmed it over with an electric heat gun so the wax melted in on the first coat then buffed it off , this seemed to work really well I am glad to say and meant that wax did not clog the detail bits up.
  Hope this helps .

 Cheers Mick.
Title: Re: Hare woodcarving
Post by: JD on January 08, 2014, 07:30:19 PM
Mick, Cant wait to see the Pointer when you have finished going by the high standard of your work its gonna be a corker, will you carve the dog to a size to match the scale of the Hare.
I made my living at sea for over 25 years, on my return in the late 60s after 12 months away I came home to find my mates dad had sold good arable land and the village had gained an extra 300 odd people all from London area, Chelsea Tractors (4x4), green wellies, wax jackets this was how they used to think we all dressed, More like thick heavy brown or green corduroy trousers and jacket, hob nail boots with leather chaps a flat cap with hairy baler string to keep it all together, we the locals used to give em hell, and bloody black Labradors or liver and whites (spaniels) some of these poor unfortunate dogs wound up on the wrong end of a 12/16 gauge shot gun due to irresponsible owners having no control of their animals worrying Cows with Calf, Mares with Foals and general wild life.
Saturday night in the local pub got a bit rowdy.
A majority had gone back to London within the year said it was to quiet a good result all round   :thumbup:.
Rant over.
Thanks for sharing John W 
Title: Re: Hare woodcarving
Post by: Bowtrees on January 10, 2014, 09:19:44 AM
Hi Mick, if you don't mind could I get a copy off you? I have spoken to the publisher of woodcarver magazine and surprisingly they don't carry back issues for more than 8 months ( issue 127) and I am too impatient to wait for a copy to come up on ebay.

With regards to the finishing perhaps I am not going fine enough on the sanding or using the wrong products as I struggle to get a nice shine like you have - could also be I am just lazy and not rubbing hard enough;)
Title: Re: Hare woodcarving
Post by: piper1 on January 11, 2014, 06:58:19 PM
Wow absolutely brilliant, love your work.