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Post by kk on Apr 3, 2016 0:28:26 GMT -5
Tried the same basic design on two very different material, and the outcome is quite different. First up the project that you have seen already. Done by now, save the need for more clean-up. Still trying to figure that one out. From the beginning,....   .... to the finish-line (for now)  And the second project that went alongside Sodalite   To the finish  My Easter project was the amber: And the experiment is nearly done. Need to figure out how to clean them up. Fascit: While very heat-sensitive, still reasonable to work with once it comes to detailing. Does allow giving form, but with my way of sanding looses edges very quickly and everything is round. Bought it for its purported blue colour, something that is there, but not at the extend to my liking. So, in the end, a very nice material to experiment and get experience with amber, at an affordable price.  Not as blue as I would have liked it.  Thanks for looking, Kurt |
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Post by snowmom on Apr 3, 2016 4:26:02 GMT -5
beautiful work as always, love seeing what you do!
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Post by vegasjames on Apr 3, 2016 5:44:37 GMT -5
Those are great. And you are right about the differences. In the first one you really do not see the hands. Looks more like the beard of an old Chinese man.
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Fossilman
Cave Dweller 
Member since January 2009
Posts: 20,722 
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Post by Fossilman on Apr 3, 2016 9:14:50 GMT -5
As always KK,you nailed these carvings!
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adrian65
Cave Dweller
Arch to golden memories and to great friends.
Member since February 2007
Posts: 10,790
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Post by adrian65 on Apr 3, 2016 14:33:39 GMT -5
The hands are outlined much better on the sodalite than on the amber. It's there where I firstly noticed the hands.
You're so right when you say they're so different.
Adrian
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Post by kk on Apr 3, 2016 20:23:32 GMT -5
Thank you for the feedback, highly apprechiated.
Yeah, the hands can be seen better on the sodalite as I'm more confident of the compactness of the material.
I'm too afraid that something would break on the amber if I would go deeper.
On the other hand, at hand the amber projects a stronger picture when it comes to outlines.
The head-cloth turned out better on the Sodalite, yet the overall face seems younger and ore agreeable (to me) on the amber.
Both have their strengths, and weaknesses.
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jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,603
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Post by jamesp on Apr 5, 2016 3:01:14 GMT -5
I had left some amber in a hot section of the greenhouse and the heat damaged the surface of it.
Not sure if that is normal, but was a surprise. Could be poor quality. No idea.
Beautiful carvings Kurt.
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Post by kk on Apr 5, 2016 4:20:01 GMT -5
I had left some amber in a hot section of the greenhouse and the heat damaged the surface of it. Not sure if that is normal, but was a surprise. Could be poor quality. No idea. Beautiful carvings Kurt. Amber can dry out rather quickly. I'm learning now that I should remove the rind in order to get to more stable material for working. Amber, just like pearls and jade, wants to be worn in order to keep its luster. |
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jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,603
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Post by jamesp on Apr 5, 2016 8:11:11 GMT -5
Thanks kk, amber best kept in a controlled enviro |
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Post by kk on Apr 5, 2016 8:49:51 GMT -5
Thanks kk, amber best kept in a controlled enviro Usually, moisture and natural body-oils will do the trick.  That's one of the reasons why jade was often put in the grave; no-one with the right intentions, wanted to wear something that literally contained the essence of the dead person. |
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Post by rockjunquie on Apr 5, 2016 10:39:03 GMT -5
BIG difference!! The amber is so soft looking that it seems like a surreal alien figure; whereas, the sodalite looks more humanoid with more contrast and definition. Of the two, I like the amber better. One difference I notice is that the top lip of the amber figure seems thicker and so not as defined as a smiling mouth, like the sodalite.
You sure learned a lot on this project. I have an old piece of amber which is carved with a wave type design- very simple. I have often wondered what to do with it. It has a hole for a necklace, but I would rather cab it. What are your thoughts on cabbing amber, given your experience?
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Post by kk on Apr 5, 2016 16:50:56 GMT -5
BIG difference!! The amber is so soft looking that it seems like a surreal alien figure; What are your thoughts on cabbing amber, given your experience? Actually, at hand, the amber resembles/reminds me off, a common type of face found in Malaysia and Indonesia these days. Cabing produces more heat than carving. Hence most breakage occurred during that stage. So make sure you got speed-control and take it easy. |
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Post by rockjunquie on Apr 5, 2016 18:07:47 GMT -5
BIG difference!! The amber is so soft looking that it seems like a surreal alien figure; What are your thoughts on cabbing amber, given your experience? Actually, at hand, the amber resembles/reminds me off, a common type of face found in Malaysia and Indonesia these days. Cabing produces more heat than carving. Hence most breakage occurred during that stage. So make sure you got speed-control and take it easy. I hope I didn't offend you, Kurt. I meant no offense. Thanks for the tip. |
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Post by kk on Apr 5, 2016 19:44:17 GMT -5
I hope I didn't offend you, Kurt. I meant no offense. Thanks for the tip. Not at all! All you did was, make me smile. An honest opinion will never offend me. Just gave you the idea that came to mind while cutting. While fitting the origin of material, was not intended to resemble that type of person. Wrong continent actually from what I had on mind at the start of the project. |
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zapins
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since March 2016
Posts: 116
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Post by zapins on Apr 10, 2016 23:12:30 GMT -5
What tool did you use to scratch the initial lines in?
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Post by kk on Apr 11, 2016 0:11:30 GMT -5
What tool did you use to scratch the initial lines in? Basic outline by carbon-paper transfer, then lines with 2mm cutting blade/bur |
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zapins
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since March 2016
Posts: 116
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Post by zapins on Apr 11, 2016 11:12:31 GMT -5
What material is the burr made from? Diamond, tungsten carbide, something else?
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Post by kk on Apr 28, 2016 10:13:26 GMT -5
What material is the burr made from? Diamond, tungsten carbide, something else? Sorry, did not see your question. My burs are simple plated Diamond burs. But I'm told that amber would be worked better with tungsten carbide, or any other that are used to work on wood. |
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