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Incised Carving.....Moose Head

Hand Lettering topics: Sign Making, Design, Fabrication, Letterheads, Sign Books.

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joe cieslowski
Posts: 338
Joined: Sun Apr 11, 2004 6:15 pm
Location: east canaan ct
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Incised Carving.....Moose Head

Post by joe cieslowski »

I sell these when the customer doesn't want to spend for the full relief.Image
Image

First the image is outlined with a deep "V" cut. Then the image is shaped using a knife and a small gouge. It takes about an hour to carve and staining takes about 30 minutes.Image

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Joe,
Makin Chip$ and Havin Fun!
Larry White
Posts: 1213
Joined: Thu Apr 08, 2004 4:18 am

Now ya see there...

Post by Larry White »

...Joe is havin' as much fun as I am!

I like seein' your stuff, and your steps, ya see I wouldn't know, cause I don't carve. But I can tell you one thing for sure, if I needed a carved and gilded sign, I'd be gettin' it from Cieslowski out in the town of East Canaan, You're just as likely to get something extra fancy!

Keep up the good work!

-WB
Doug Bernhardt
Posts: 1077
Joined: Fri Apr 09, 2004 9:29 am
Location: Ottawa Canada
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Post by Doug Bernhardt »

Keep making chips and keep having fun. You'll have to let us all in on what you used for the finishing.
joe cieslowski
Posts: 338
Joined: Sun Apr 11, 2004 6:15 pm
Location: east canaan ct
Contact:

Post by joe cieslowski »

Thanks Larry and Doug! :D

I always felt that it is a personal choice whether I consider work to be fun or not. Given the 2 choices, I always opt for the fun!!! :wink:
I think it keeps me loose and creative.

Doug,
The panel is "stained" with 1Shot thinned with low temp reducer (about 30%) and wiped on with a rag. When it's dry (about 4 hrs) it's coated out with Minwax Helmsman Spar Urethane applied with a 2" foam brush (thin coats) scuffed with 220 sand paper and a green scotch brite. I wait at least 2 days before I mask and carve the letters.

The staining for the moose is done with Minwax Natural "stain". It's their regular stain without pigment. To this, I mix regular artists oil pigments and then make like I'm an artist. There are two "tricks" here that make this work. One, the surface of the carving can't be sanded. The tearing of the fibers by the grit renders control of the stain useless. Two, Eastern White Pine. Pinus Strobus has a unique density that I haven't found in other softwoods. With just a light coat of the MW natural, I can float the "stain" and work the colors. The western pines and cedar absorb the stains too quickly for good control which sort of muddies up the job. This can be mitigated to some extent by coating the carving with the MW natural first and let it dry. Then paint (or should I say stain). After staining the image, I usually wait about 12 to 24 hrs to let it dry......this can be speeded up with the use of a hair drier. When it's dry, I rub the carving with 0000 steel wool to remove any surface wax. This also brings out the highlights of the carving itself.
The carving is coated out at the same time as the rest of the panel with the MW Helmsman Spar Urethane.

Image

Of course, as every carver has been told, Eastern White Pine doesn't hold fine detail. Well, if the wood doesn't hold the detail, I guess I'll just have to..... :wink:

Image

Hope this is helpful......

Thanks Again,

Joe
Makin Chip$ and Havin Fun!
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