A place for whittlers and wood carvers. Everything from Beginner to expert topics welcome. Stop by and show off your work or check out the wonderful creations made by fellow members.
I'm new to this, so don't expect much. I practiced a bit on some wine corks, then gave wood a shot.
I decided to burn it and oil it. Seems like a good excuse to buy a torch. I might seal it with something or other next week when it finishes drying.
It's all an experiment, but fun to mess with. I'll try not to let the next one look like an act of arson. I wasn't patient enough with this one and my torch is probably too hot to begin with.
doglegg wrote: ↑Fri Apr 03, 2020 9:02 pm
Made him look a little dramatic but not bad for sure. Most things I make are only good for kindling. But your owl looks good.
Everyone knows owls are drama queens.
Thanks everyone.
doglegg wrote: ↑Fri Apr 03, 2020 9:02 pm
Made him look a little dramatic but not bad for sure. Most things I make are only good for kindling. But your owl looks good.
I can relate, my carving skills are on the same line as batoning kindling.
Those owls look great!
Pocket, fixed, machete, axe, it's all good!
You're going to look awfully silly with that knife sticking out of your @#$. -Clint Eastwood, High Plains Drifter
At first glance, I thought your "scorched owl" looked like a bronze-age totem or talisman. The toasted areas look like ancient Roman body armor...Gives it character! I think the owl community is quite happy to have its brand promoted, which your carving does very nicely.
Well done: carving, torching
Dennis '' thanks for posting that...I am quite fond of owls.
deo-pa wrote: ↑Fri Apr 03, 2020 11:59 pm
Good job! I couldn't help but smile as the following headline and photo appeared in various newspapers back last November.
Dennis
Firefighters Save Great Horned Owl from California Wildfire
That’s awesome. Predator birds are amazing, but there really is something different about owls. My parents collected owl art so I’d like to contribute one day if I stick with it, at least on a personal level.
QTCut5 wrote: ↑Sat Apr 04, 2020 12:28 am
At first glance, I thought your "scorched owl" looked like a bronze-age totem or talisman. The toasted areas look like ancient Roman body armor...Gives it character! I think the owl community is quite happy to have its brand promoted, which your carving does very nicely.
Well done: carving, torching
Dennis '' thanks for posting that...I am quite fond of owls.
Thanks for the positivity! This is all new, so it’s clearly a beginner’s effort. I’m trying to follow in some relatives’ footsteps.
From reading up, it looks like taking a wire brush to it after the burn might yield more of what I picture, so I might try that with the next one to get more even results. If it goes ok, I’ll post the next one to document.
deo-pa wrote: ↑Fri Apr 03, 2020 11:59 pm
Good job! I couldn't help but smile as the following headline and photo appeared in various newspapers back last November.
Dennis
Firefighters Save Great Horned Owl from California Wildfire
...that is GREAT!!!!!............ .........................
Another one. This time I was more patient with the burn and I also sprayed it lightly with water to slow it down a bit more. It came out a lot lighter (1st picture). The oil...boiled linseed btw...darkened it up a good bit. Before the oil I took Gary's suggestion about a little sanding and used both a brass brush to knock off some carbon and a scotchbrite pad. The pad worked well and didn't etch the surface or take off too much at the edges.
I think the next experiment will be to start trying to get my final cuts to work as something like feathers instead of trying to carve them distinctly. There are some spots like on the back of the head that come out pretty good with the burn outlining it. That's what I'd like more of. Some longer cuts on the wings maybe. I may skip the BLO entirely and just work the burn down and seal it to see how it looks that way. Could be that a mix of stains might get the look I want. Still finding pictures to help me figure out how to make it look better as well. A long way to go on the carving itself, but I feel a little better each time.
The first is after brush/sand, before oil. The others are after.
Nice, but I have to be honest...
I like the "before" version better. Darker, seemed to have a patina to it. Almost had an antique look, and I like antiques.
But that's me.
Still a well done carving, regardless of the finish!
Take care and God bless,
Steve
TSgt USAF, Retired
1980-2000
But any knife is better than no knife! ~ Mumbleypeg (aka Ken)
Still locked up at home, still going.
I continue to torture the original version. Painted then sanded to see what it might look like. The 2nd in the middle, (burn/oil/wire/scotchbrite) I didn't want to mess with that one anymore, I kind of like it.
The 3rd and latest I burned, wire brushed/scotchbrite'd then polyurethane, skipping the oil so maybe it wouldn't be as dark. Added a fence(?) to perch on, a tail and crossed the wings in back, more like some pictures I found. I tried to leave some chips all over it to highlight with the burn, but most weren't deep enough to really show. I'm getting better at a light touch burning and using water spray and I use a spackling knife to block the heat to keep it in the section I'm working. All of that and it still comes out just about the same, but I'm learning something each time. I'm hoping to do what's in my head without buying a gouge or some tool.
The toothpick is my very first attempt. Thought there was an owl in that block of wood, but turns out it just held mulch and a toothpick.
I might seal it with something or other next week when it finishes drying. 
