My version ... WIP (advice welcomed!)

[zodiac]

Hi,

I saw an item recently online and I want to replicate it as it is rather cool. I made a start last night, but hadn't seen the photos for a while and was working from memory. I checked the photos today and it is a bit different to how I remembered it! Well, I've started, as they say, so I'll finish! I might need some help from you guys though

I remembered the piece being carved from a log, I found some logs from a recently cut down tree on my travels, however they are a bit smaller than I need but hey ho I thought I'll just make a smaller version! I am still building up my tools, being quite a newbie to woodworking and none of the saws I have are cutting the fresh wood any time this week, so I decided to cut in a bit then as the top of the piece is going to be kind of cone shaped I would then chisel to that depth then cut again and rinse and repeat. Probably the hardest way I could be doing it but at least it worked!

I'll show you the piece I am copying, ahem I mean "using as inspiration" first...

Now, I am noticing this evening that the construction is a bit different to how I remembered it also, I remembered a carved section of log with a conical upper part which was offset however I am now thinking it isn't as deep as it would be if that were true. I would say the back of it is flat, and there isn't anything behind the back wall of the insides. I am also thinking as it has no bottom but is mounted to a board that this has been made in a similar way to a bandsaw box but with a door not a drawer. Any thoughts are welcomed

I will sort out links to what I have done now, and post piccies...

 

[zodiac]

Ok, the "workshop" needs a bit of a tidy up I admit. I have one side of the shed available, and I am building up the tools and haven't yet decided what will go where so for now it's all a bit chaotic

These logs are very freshly cut, I don't know if this will be a problem as the wood dries out but I am not waiting a year or whatever for them to season. Someone tell me if this is going to go very wrong now before I spend hours at it!!

Anyway, saw, chisel, saw, chisel etc ...

And eventually I got through! The top of the piece I want is part way to how I want it to be as part of the process so not totally an inefficient way to do it :roll:

And... dinner is served so I will post more in a bit

 

[xy mosian]

Hi,
You might consider splitting the log. That will give you a near flat back, if the grain runs well, and can be done while the log is 'Green'.
Please do us a favour and upload smaller pictures. Sorry Zodiac, I don't think it's a problem your end.
xy

 

[zodiac]

Hi, thanks for the idea ... might just do that As for the photos, not sure how to as I take 'em with my phone then link to them from Dropbox.

 

[zodiac]

De-barked and sanded down a bit with the dremel-type-tool ...

And, no it doesn't look anything like what I remembered as we can see :shock: when I brought it inside and thought I'd take a look at original before proceeding ! ...

Hence, the need for a rethink of how I was going to make it. As I said before, I'm quite a newbie, almost no experience, generally use the wrong tool for the job, and I'm learning as I go along... and having loads of fun

That's as far as I have got so far, any other input or constructive criticism is more than welcome If nothing else, my efforts might provide some amusement to the seasoned woodworkers here lol ... however there is a slight chance I might pull this off

 

[zodiac]

And before anyone says it, yes I do know it currently looks like some kind of wooden sex toy. #-o

 

[xy mosian]

..... it currently looks like some kind of wooden sex toy. #-o

I 'm sure I don't know what you mean sailor.
As I said I'm not sure the image size problem is with you. You might have a read through this though.
picture-posting-guide-t63716.html
xy

 

[zodiac]

..... it currently looks like some kind of wooden sex toy. #-o

I 'm sure I don't know what you mean sailor.

I don't know either, a friend said it to me There is definitely tumbleweed in this thread though so I may have caused shock and put people off posting

 

[JustBen]

I agree with mosian. Slice the back off to create a flat.

How about 'hacking' at the top/sides to create the bumps/dents in the wood with an axe then sand to soften the edges with a belt sander?

The wood will warp a little as it dries out. The more pith that's in there, the more dramatic it will be.

 

[Random Orbital Bob]

you sanded it with a dremel?? How long did that take?

 

[zodiac]

I agree with mosian. Slice the back off to create a flat.

How about 'hacking' at the top/sides to create the bumps/dents in the wood with an axe then sand to soften the edges with a belt sander?

The wood will warp a little as it dries out. The more pith that's in there, the more dramatic it will be.

Yup, agree with both of you Just as with bandsaw boxes I can do the necessary and then reattach it rather than leave it off? Hmm...
The other thing is I don't have a bandsaw nor access to one, and this is too thick to cut out the door shape on my scrollsaw. Noooo not the coping saw.. aargh handtools!!

As it is so green, I was also wondering myself if this is going to dry out will it crack or split and grow some interesting features. Would that still happen if I finish the piece, and if so would it be different with oil or varnish?

The hacking idea I like too, thanks

 

[zodiac]

you sanded it with a dremel?? How long did that take?

Probably quite a while, I don't have a clock in the shed lol it is seriously therapeutic though I have watched Youtube videos where people use dremels with sanding drums to do wood carving, looks like something I will be trying and have bought a bag of 100 drums off ebay in readiness!

 

[zodiac]

Ah.

Just noticed that two days of room temperature in what we laughingly call Summer have caused an interesting 3 way split.

Disaster, or potential to be "character" ??

Bear in mind I have never done most of what I am trying before, so I am totally learning as I go along. This is today's lesson, what happens to green logs when you de-bark them then allow them to get warm! Possibly direct sunlight hit it through the window and caused such rapid cracking?

 

[zodiac]

Well, a fourth crack has developed to join the other three, and one at the other end. Does anyone know if this is happening or happening so quickly because the bark is off? There hasn't been any sunlight here since the last post so it can't be that, and temperatures aren't particularly high at the moment.

 

[Sheffield Tony]

As it is so green, I was also wondering myself if this is going to dry out will it crack or split and grow some interesting features. Would that still happen if I finish the piece, and if so would it be different with oil or varnish?
The hacking idea I like too, thanks

Before I scrolled down to your later posts, I was going to say that wood left in the round will most likely develop radial cracks as it dries.
If it dries quickly (cut into short lengths, debarked), it is all the more likely.

Green woodworking rule of thumb is that wood shrinks about 10% circumferentially, and 5% radially as it dries. Hence the radial splitting.
If you want it not to split, you need to cut it up in such a way as to allow it to move. Hence when making chair legs from green wood, you start
with a big log, split it into quarters or eighths, then do a lot of work with axe, drawknife and pole lathe to get them back to round, rather than
using a conveniently sized round log in the first place.