"ANCIENT"

[Great Ape]

Solid mahogany...hope the pics don't get boring, but I can't tell you how many hours have gone into this project already...





The original idea for this was just to carve a couple of Trilobites and call it a day, but, well, the ideas start to percolate, and before ya know it, trilobites are just not enough...

 

[Great Ape]

Well, the carving is done (I think), and now I have to figure out how to get into all the holes & crevasses with something that'll sand everything smooth...

 

[Great Ape]

 

[MikeW]

Wow! This is your best yet Ape. Amazing piece of work so far.

 

[6stringer]

Just amazing!

 

[stratamania]

Great work.

But try and keep those trilobites out of the coffee percolator. Then again they might roast well

 

[Cagey]

Excellent work!

As far as sanding - have you considered blasting with walnut shells? Much less destructive than sandblasting, and actually sorta anneals the surface. Anybody who has a sandblaster can do it - it's just a different media. Same tool.

 

[DarkPenguin]

Ick!

 

[Surf n Music]

Must feel good to keep on outdoing yourself and growing in your artwork. Very nice.

 

[Great Ape]

Excellent work!

As far as sanding - have you considered blasting with walnut shells? Much less destructive than sandblasting, and actually sorta anneals the surface. Anybody who has a sandblaster can do it - it's just a different media. Same tool.

While I would never, ever, question the veracity of your information, this time I am balking at your recommendation, if that's what it is--I think I'll pass on the "shell blasting" idea, and maybe settle for some tedious hand sanding with small pointed objects... :toothy11:
 

 

[Cagey]

I'd definitely want to experiment before I tried it on a piece of work that nice, because it may soften your detail more than you'd like. But, that's what walnut shell blasting is for - woodworking. Gets into the detail to clean things up without destroying it in the process. Sand and bead blasting is more for brick/masonry/metal/etc., but walnut shells are for wood.

On the other hand, you're clearly very patient, so perhaps sanding slowly by hand would suit just fine.

 

[TroubledTreble]

That's great! Looking at it I am wondering if you are planning anything for the cavities you have created. Will there be any injection of any substances clear, colored or otherwise into the carving? There certainly doesn't need to be but the possibilities...... :icon_thumright:

Your creativity encourages my own!

 

[Great Ape]

That's great! Looking at it I am wondering if you are planning anything for the cavities you have created. Will there be any injection of any substances clear, colored or otherwise into the carving? There certainly doesn't need to be but the possibilities...... :icon_thumright:

Your creativity encourages my own!

Well, the truth is, I really try to stay away from injecting substances these days, Ken... :icon_biggrin:...seriously, though, thanks for the kind words...

 

[stubhead]

I've mentioned this before (in the context of why modern woodworking is so much harder on the lungs) but in traditional carving arts, there was very little sanding - ever. With enough variety of sharp tools, they just didn't have rough parts left. This includes a lot of burnishing and fine scraping, just to clean up, not removing much. I don't know how to do it, but one can surmise that grain direction is critical. 

 

[DangerousR6]

With 4 tools that's all you could do.... :doh:

 

[Great Ape]

With 4 tools that's all you could do.... :doh:

Don't forget the 5th tool, Doug--ME!! :icon_biggrin:

 

[DangerousR6]

With 4 tools that's all you could do.... :doh:

Don't forget the 5th tool, Doug--ME!! :icon_biggrin:

:laughing7:

 

[Great Ape]

Ready for final finishing...

 

[Surf n Music]

I like the reptilian skin part of it. Can't wait to see the finished product.

 

[Cagey]

Same here. That's a gorgeous piece of work!