Owls and Raptors Carving

[Greg]

I am about to start carving owls and raptors and wanted to know if anyone on this board carves these as I am looking for guidance.

My first of what I am sure will be many questions is on the burning part. I have a Detail Master brand of burner and need help in selecting the needed burning pens.

My second question is that I have read in bird carving books that bird carvers prefer Tupelo instead of Basswood. Any comments on this?

Greg

Not being a bird carver, can't help with the burner pens. As for Tupelo vs Basswood ... in general power carvers prefer Tupelo while non-power carvers prefer Basswood.

Greg,

I have been carving birds for about three years. I do mostly songbirds
but I have done a few eagles and other birds of prey.

Regarding the burning pens; I use a Colwood burner so I am not very
familiar with the shapes that Detail Master offers. For almost all of
my burning I use a medium sized skew tip.

In answer to your question about the choice of wood; tupelo is a
lot softer than basswood and can take much finer detail. Tupelo
is almost completely grainless and is less brittle, you can sand
it down to as thin as a sheet of paper and it will still be flexible
enough to bend without breaking. I started out with basswood
but now use tupelo predominantly.

[icarve2003]

Hi Greg,

I have mainly done songbirds in the past, but I have decided to start doing birds of prey.

I was at a show on the weekend and I bought 2 of the Workbench Project books that are put out by Wildfowl Carving and Collecting
http://www.wildfowl-carving.com/products/index.htm

I bought the Snowy owl and Prairie Falcon. I am going to start with the Prairie Falcon and I am going to use basswood, only because I have a piece the correct size.

To answer your question, I've used both Basswood and Tupelo and I don't really see too much of a difference. I use knives, chisels, and power. When I come to do the Snowy Owl, I may buy some Tupelo and compare the two.

For all of the burning I've done, I've used mainly 2 burning pens. They are skews, one is approx. 1/4' and the other 1/8'. I have the Razortip burner which I would trade for anything.

Now I have a question, have you ever had a chance to look at the book titled Birds of Prey, Blue ribbon techniques by Veasey? I looked at the wood show I was at and nobody had it. I want to know if it's a good book before I order it.

Chris.

Chris,
I take it you were at the Hamilton Wood Show this last weekend I was going but decided to bow out until I find out what is going on with my health. How was the show anyway? You said in the last post that you had a Razortip woodburner that you 'would trade for anything' was that a typo or do you not like your Razortip. I have one and cant say enough good things about it, in fact I have had one for ten years and just sent it back to have it overhauled and all they charged me was $10.00 and it is like brand new.
Colin

[icarve2003]

Hi Colin,

First of all, TYPO!! , I think the Razortip is fantastic and I would not trade it for anything. I have a few of the fixed tip pens and one of the pens with the interchangable tips.

To tell you the truth, I was a bit disappointed with the Hamilton wood show. Not a lot of wood or carving related vendors. Too many of the vendors selling jams, shirts, kitchen knives etc.. I spent all my money at Wildlife Sculpure and Supply from Barrie. I also bought the Flexcut slip strop I've heard so much about.

Having said that about the Wood Show itself, the carvings in the competition were fantastic. Unfortunately I didn't win anything with my Bluejay. I was up against a Cardinal that took first place and Best in Class. Maybe next year. :

I figured you'd probably be taking it easy last weekend, how are you doing anyway? Relax and work on some smaller carvings now so you'll be ready to takle those big ones again in the spring.

Chris

I have a chunk of tupelo but have not used it yet, but what I have heard.....for whatever that is worth! is that tupelo is harder on your knives..thats why it is mostly power carved! I do know they use the tupelo for the grasses and long willowy feathers on say a heron,.

[nadcarves]

Falcons,I want to do a carving of a 14th,century person holding a falcon.Carving will be in Walnut,bird would be hooded,if I purchased the pattern for a prairie falcon,used those lines,would they be correct,or would I need to go to a hawk,thank you for your time,Nad

My wife thinks they used Peregrine falcons for falconry (she is the bird/animal expert around this house) but she also said she thought the basic lines would be the same for any falcon..besides..how many falcon experts are around to know the difference? lolI think the carving would be outstanding no matter what!

[Greg]

I want to thank all of you that responded to my request.

It appears that I am the only one on the board that uses the Detail Master burner. That surprised me since that is the burner that WoodCraft carries here in Tulsa. I do feel lucky because I have a WoodCraft store that is only 3 miles from me.

ChrisM, I have not seen the book, Birds of Prey, Blue ribbon techniques by Veasey. When you requested information on it a few weeks ago, I did try to find it and found that it was released June of 1986. Amazon listed the book for $47.50 new and used for $27.50. I have checked the book stores here in Tulsa and none of them carry the book.

I have decided to try the Screech Owls first and then move on to the bigger owls and hawks.

Again thanks for the replies,

Greg