Fan carving!

[Tjurved]

Hello inspired by Stuart Kings videos on youtube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dLve-y--M6sI) thought I would try fan carving! Kinda hard to get the right shape on the wings for a bird I think. Quite fresh pine.


2nd try, next time I will carve the bird-body before I make the fan but after the splitting...



Next up is a little longer piece of pine which should yield quite a big fan .

 

[malente]

that's fan-tastic!

 

[gowersponger]

well done mate keep up the neat work

 

[Cobweb]

Love it, looks great!

 

[robin wood]

That is funny that you should get inspired to do them from Sean who was inspired by a book from the USA which was inspired by old ones made in northern Russia not far from you. The best and most amazing I ever saw were in the ehtnographic museum in Novgorod where they have some with over 1m wingspan.

 

[Eric_Methven]

Roy Underhill's Woodright's Shop series on PBS did a fan carving episode.

You can watch the whole episode here.

It explains the complete process much clearer I think.

Eric

 

[Tjurved]

That is funny that you should get inspired to do them from Sean who was inspired by a book from the USA which was inspired by old ones made in northern Russia not far from you. The best and most amazing I ever saw were in the ehtnographic museum in Novgorod where they have some with over 1m wingspan.

Some crafts have already died out here .

 

[robin wood]

Some crafts have already died out here .

I don't think fan carving was ever a Swedish tradition, I certainly never saw any fan carving in the ethnographic museums there.

 

[Stanleythecat]

Hello inspired by Stuart Kings videos on youtube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dLve-y--M6sI) thought I would try fan carving! Kinda hard to get the right shape on the wings for a bird I think. Quite fresh pine.


2nd try, next time I will carve the bird-body before I make the fan but after the splitting...



Next up is a little longer piece of pine which should yield quite a big fan .

Lovely work. Would you mind telling me what tool you used to cut the strips? I have been looking for a way to create petals for some flowers I wanted to carve and this looks like the perfect technique.

Many thanks

Leo

 

[Tjurved]

robin wood: yes you are probably right. I have neither seen or heard of them around here.

Stanleythecat: I use almost the same tools as in the video. If you by stripes mean the feathers I split em out using a push knife. I think the quality of the wood is much more important then the tools.

A little bigger one, I wonder if I can use it as a sail...

 

[wattsy]

does the wood have to be green or seasoned?

 

[Tjurved]

Greener the better I think...

 

[Hoodoo]

That is some wonderful carving!

 

[Sean Hellman]

These look fantastic, it is a skill that takes a while to get good at, but does not anything take practise.

They are thought to have originated from Western Russia in a region called the Russian Karelia, which is next to Finland. They have spread throughout Europe. There are living makes in Finland, Solvenia, Romania, Russia, America, and Sweden where they have been commemorated on stamps. Probably many more countries.
I have met people in Devon and Somerset who as children were given fan birds by Austrian prisoners of war.
The only other person I know of making them in any quantity in this country is Owen Jones the oak swill basket maker.
Most of the fan birds are made from 2 pieces of wood and so have 3 sets of wings. 2 wings and one for the tail.
Have a look at my blog with some of the birds I have made http://seanhellman.blogspot.com/2010/04/scots-pine-and-fan-birds.html
http://seanhellman.blogspot.com/2009/12/traditional-russian-toy.html and http://seanhellman.blogspot.com/2009/12/traditional-russian-toy.html

It looks like pine you are using, what kind is it?

Rive the wings first and before they are fanned out, carve the body, I have found this to be the best way. Green is always best, but I have also done it from seasoned wood, just wet they hinge before bending.

 

[Whittler Kev]

Blast you to a blasty place for showing me this:BlueTeamE.
I'm so impressed with the ideas I've "wasted" a morning watching youtube vids and then gone and joined the pole lathe association (free insurance when doing demo's etc) - Another £15 gone :why:
Seriously..thanks for sharing, first time of seen them. The birds are lovely. Got to have a go at this
"Wheres me shed and push knife.......?"

 

[TREETOP]

nice fan there, well done. not tryed one yet might have to give it a go.

 

[relfy]

Wow those are gorgeous!

 

[Leon]

Nice thread and it's inspired me to having a go!
Regarding the riving knives, I wonder whether one with a single bevel, like the Flexcut one here http://www.axminster.co.uk/product....id=Flexcut&name=&user_search=&sfile=1&jump=44 or the Mora push knife with double bevels would be better? Anyone tried both?
Thanks.

 

[Tony]

Wonderful stuff

 

[Tjurved]

Nice thread and it's inspired me to having a go!
Regarding the riving knives, I wonder whether one with a single bevel, like the Flexcut one here http://www.axminster.co.uk/product....id=Flexcut&name=&user_search=&sfile=1&jump=44 or the Mora push knife with double bevels would be better? Anyone tried both?
Thanks.

I think the double bevel is better because the sharp edge stays away from the wood on either side then.

I find fan carving to be a very "dramatic" craft .