A Winter Noggin

[rancid badger]

this is a follow on from reds "isn't winter great" thread to be honest-

I like to carve things, spoons, bowls,cups, small sculptures etc. I picked up a likely looking bit of birch a couple of days ago, it had been twined by honeysuckle when it was a sapling and the tree had grown over the top of the vine, resulting in a twisted lump. the powerline people had chucked this to the side last march, after totally devastating a cracking, birch, oak and alder thicket beneath the wires (500m long by 50 m wide ) with a shredder thing with tracks and chain flails either end. They took the whole lot down to the bare soil but had to take out anything bigger than about 125mm with a chainsaw first.
Anyway:
a couple of days worth of axe, crooked knife and sanding and you end up with this:

I'm not into making the wood do anything it doesn't want to , hence the well wonky shape.Once the axe work is done, I come inside again.I love to sit on the floor, cross legged and set to with my home made crooks and see what turns out.
actually these pics are poo! just cant seem to get it right yet.

never mind I'm sure you get the idea.
Kind regards
R.B.

 

[firebreather]

good stuff i might even have a go myself later and try and save the £25 they want for a kuksa on the christmas market in manchester.

Greg

 

[scanker]

That looks superb - got a lot of character with its wonky (your description ) shape.

 

[rancid badger]

good stuff i might even have a go myself later and try and save the £25 they want for a kuksa on the christmas market in manchester.

Greg

You go for it.
For me, thats really what this forum is all about-getting folk to have a go, me included!
Thanks for the compliments

Regards R.B.

 

[SOAR]

I love that RB really nice, I like the detail on the top of the handle.

Simon.

 

[deepcmonkey]

Looks great and I think the "wonky" shape gives it more character. Great stuff.

 

[Eric_Methven]

It's excellent mate, but there again I think most everything you knock out is excellent.

Eric

 

[Seagull]

That's absolutely great.Well done.

Ceeg

 

[John Fenna]

Not bad mate - for someone who hums with a Geordie accent!
No honestly - I like it!
Must try one of those myself.
John Crusoe

 

[BorderReiver]

Lovely bit of work RB.I like the organic shape.

Had the wood dried out? If so,how hard was it to carve?

 

[British Red]

I love the Wonkiness The natural lines make it unique and very beautiful - much nicer than a formula piece.

Love it!

Red

 

[rancid badger]

Lovely bit of work RB.I like the organic shape.

Had the wood dried out? If so,how hard was it to carve?

Thanks again everyone.

Well now, the log it came from had been down since about march last but the piece I actually used was in the middle, with about 60cm either side(2ft) it was lying on the ground in a fairly damp spot.
It wasn't as easy as a freshly dropped piece but it wasn't difficult.
the only bother I had was occasionally going against the grain when I wasn't expecting it. It's not a major problem, just stop trying to cut and then change direction. Of course it does help if your tools are sharp.

I took a photo of the log itself ( I know!) but I cant remember which file it's in. I'll have a look and post it if I can find it.

Cheers everyone
R.B.

 

[rancid badger]

here we are:
It caught my eye straight away as a possible noggin or kuksa. I got a couple of decent spoon billets out of it as well.

I cut log up on the spot with the laplander and then did the rest of the work at home.

I hope this is helpful
if nothing else it shows that sometimes the ugliest bits and pieces contain surprises!
cheers
Steve

 

[fishfish]

realy nice mate true craftsman!

 

[Shewie]

Nice work RB

 

[Matt Weir]

Brilliant I really need to get going with the carving

 

[robin wood]

Nice one, nice hook too. I love a hook with a gradualy tightening curve like that.

 

[rancid badger]

thank you very much!
The knife in the picture is mostly used for shallow work, mainly spoons, The heavier work, in fact the majority after the axe, is done with a home made mocotaugan or crook knife.
Kind regards
R.B.

 

[Hoodoo]

Some superb craftsmanship in that!

 

[BushTucker]

Wow, that looks really nice