I need help

Hi Gang,
I have a bit of a dilema. A friend of mine's brother in law passed away suddenly. He was just starting into woodcarving and had semi finished a barn owl. My friend because of the sentimenal value wanted to have the carving completed and asked me if I would do it for him. I couldnt say no under the circumstances and agreed to do it for him at no cost ( how could I charge him him) not to mention the fact that I have never carved a bird in my life let alone anything that small. My problem is the roughed out bird came with two lead feet(at least they look like lead) how in earth do you bend those suckers in order to make them sit on a piece of driftwood. Also I am not going to paint the owl just stain it how do you stain lead? Also how do I afix them to the legs is glue ok. I know I have a million questions but in a way I wished I hadent taken this on I not sure how its going to look finished I am really aprehensive about this carving. Any help you could pass my way would sure be appreciated believe me. I have got so much advice from this board I sure I will get it again. Thanks in advance. :-/ ???
Colin

Colin, those feet are probably pewter, and you can safely bend them by putting them in boiling water for a few minutes. This will soften them enough to bend without breaking. Just be gentle while bending, and do't try to rush the bend.

Don't know about staining the legs, but here's a 'maybe'!

First use a white gesso, followed by a light tan to somewhat match the natural wood color, them brush on stain using a fine artist brush, to simulate thee grain pattern. Might just work!

Al

[icarve2003]

Hi Colin,

I agree with Al on both suggestions. I use 5 minute epoxy to glue the feet on. Just drill small holes in the location that you want the feet and glue them in.

Good luck and make sure you post a photo when it's done.

Chris

Colin, as for the legs, you might use thread to wrap them with and then you could stain them. Thats an idea I got from someone else...don't remember who, probably Donna LOL

[Hugo]

Rick Butz has a couple of helpful chapters on bird carving in his book 'How to carve wood'.

[Callynne]

Hi Colin, with my vast experience in bird carving (yep, one little chickadee) I'll share what I've learned. I agree, the feet are probably pewter, the way Roz Daisey explained in her book you are to make a couple little 'V shaped' notches into the joints where you are going to bend them. Believe it or not your knife will cut the pewter easily without hurting your knife (at least mine did). I tried bending one of the feet without doing this, figured it was so thin it would bend easily...broke that litte toe right off!! Thank goodness I bought two pair...figured I'd mess up! Also bought two pair of eyes...really don't trust myself much, do I?! :
She suggested cutting the V's before attaching to the bird, which you do with the 5 minute epoxy Chris mentioned. Like Al said, then you paint them (and the whole bird) with the white gesso. After that you need a good book or pictures to get the colors right. Good Luck! Callynne

P.S. Sure wish I new about that hot water thing before I did mine, he's ready to attach to the branch and I'm really worried about bending them the rest of the way. Wonder if hot water would work once they are painted....any thoughts on that??

Callynne...get some of the good cyanoacrylic glue...not the 'crazy glue', the good stuff, the kind you buy at a woodworkers supply...also get the accelerator..that stuff works great! and when you hit it with the accelerator spray..it is stuck! I am sure that will fix the leg. It also is a good way to attach the feet to the bird body. I am impatient, waiting for glue to dry is like waiting for paint to dry! LOL

but is so much fun watching paint dry !!!!!!!!!!!!

Now seriously I would like to ad my question to this discussion.
I am finishing up a walking staff that I have to get shipped by Thursday. I am going to attach a leather grip to it. Never put a leather grip on 1 before. It is too far for me to go to WoodCraft and too late to order. I went to Wal Mart and bought some (Bondi everything gell, and some Loctite contact cement) I also have some Gorilla glue. I know the Gorilla glue would do it but it has a tendency to run. I really need to get this grip on the stick tonight, so I can then add the 3 coats of pollyurathene to it. I stained the stick last night and applied the stain heavily and it still a lil tacky. It should be dry enough to do the grip later tonight after i get back from the carving club meeting.
Does any one have any suggestions??? This stick is for the lady who was wanting 1 for her uncle that had a stroke. I am only charging her just enough to cover the materials and the shipping costs. I do want this stick to be perfect as far as the durability, the grip, and the tip. I usually would not have tackeled this with a short time frame, but she really needs it for him. Thanks in advance. I will check back later to read your responses.

we tied our leather strap in a square knot, back up a bit, we ran the leather thong thru the stick with some excess, put some southwestern looking beads on the leather and then tied the leather in a square knot leaving some 'tails' past the knot about 2-3 inches....another way maybe you hadn't thought of! (didn't glue it at all)

Wayne_p
I have never added leather to a stick, but rather cotton rope as a hand grip.i attach it to the shaft using a hangmans noose with the shaft running thru the center of the knot. any excess is woven into the top part of the knot.

Don't know if this what your looking for ,or explained clearly
but good luck with what ever way you decide

jamesfa