wampidytoo
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Post by wampidytoo on Feb 2, 2018 5:54:08 GMT -5
I was given a pine log that someone thought would make a good coat rack. It had been partially burned, buried and wind driven sand blasted almost to oblivion. Thinking different than all others I decided to make a coffee table stand out of it. When I started working on it I figured out that it was not cedar but pine and when dead standing the sap gathered in a large portion of this part of the tree. All of the branches are what I call pre amber because they are almost pure pitch. A 3/8th inch thick slab will pass light like a dark agate and is nice and solid for carving. So far I have carved nine branch ends and sides, a bear head that I mounted so it looks like it is coming out of a cave and have prepped four 3" slabs to mount at four corners to hold the glass top. Carving those will probably take another week. I am changing it up a little from what the photos show but it doesn't amount to very much difference in looks but will make it easier to mount the slabs that hold the glass. Jim During assembly of the three main parts.    Assembled. Weird color shift.  Ram  Hard to tell without black but supposed to be a raven.  Fish and naked wolf. Got a learning curve to work out on fur.  Eagle  Mountain goat.  Howling wolf.  Back side of the howling wold is this snowy owl.  Some of these still need some work but they are getting close. More to come later. This is just a piece of branch that I carved abstract to show how much pitch is in this wood. No Polish other than sanding to 500 and rubbing with a cloth.    |
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Post by fernwood on Feb 2, 2018 7:04:57 GMT -5
Oh wow! Amazing work.
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Post by fantastic5 on Feb 2, 2018 8:16:01 GMT -5
Love the work that you've done on that wampidytoo! Your carvings are amazing! All the resin in the wood make it look like its glowing from the inside. Love it! I'm so glad you were able to create a work of art, rather than just let it deteriorate. Kudos to the person who brought it to you too. |
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wampidytoo
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Post by wampidytoo on Feb 2, 2018 8:41:41 GMT -5
Oh wow will tweak my happy nerve every time. Thank you. Jim |
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Post by MsAli on Feb 2, 2018 9:03:08 GMT -5
That is awesome
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wampidytoo
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Post by wampidytoo on Feb 2, 2018 9:06:24 GMT -5
Love the work that you've done on that wampidytoo! Your carvings are amazing! All the resin in the wood make it look like its glowing from the inside. Love it! I'm so glad you were able to create a work of art, rather than just let it deteriorate. Kudos to the person who brought it to you too. Thank you. The kudos reminded me of what I said when I pulled it out of the trunk of her car. "What am I going to do with that?" It was taller than me and as much as a raggedy old back wanted to carry. At first I considered splitting it and make two coat racks but if I do not need one I really do not need two. Then when it hit me to make a table base I had a hard time convincing myself that it was okay to cut it. At that time I had not given any thought to carving on it but just like most of my projects it snowballed on me and took on a life of it's own. Those are the projects that get my blood flowing again but end up making me sad when they get finished. You have good vision because you saw the glow before the real glow is posted. I need to get the back lit photo up but at this time I have a piece of carbon paper and pictures taped to the face of the slabs so it will take a while. Jim |
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Post by hummingbirdstones on Feb 2, 2018 9:48:03 GMT -5
wampidytoo - I've said it before and I'll say it again -- your ability to see and create these masterpieces astounds me. I can't wait to see it finished. It's going to be beautiful!
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wampidytoo
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Post by wampidytoo on Feb 3, 2018 2:27:56 GMT -5
wampidytoo - I've said it before and I'll say it again -- your ability to see and create these masterpieces astounds me. I can't wait to see it finished. It's going to be beautiful! Thank you so much Robin, but please tread lightly for fear of making my head swell to the breaking point.  Two more photos to be added next showing how cool this wood really is. The wood has more talent than I. Jim |
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wampidytoo
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Post by wampidytoo on Feb 3, 2018 2:32:31 GMT -5
I finished the rough grinding on one of the four last carvings and figured it would be good for the back lit photo and it did not disappoint. White tail deer.  Love this wood.  Jim |
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rockyron
off to a rocking start
Member since January 2018
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Post by rockyron on Feb 3, 2018 4:29:01 GMT -5
WOW! do you get into spalting?
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Post by fernwood on Feb 3, 2018 6:42:58 GMT -5
The back lighting really shows the character of the wood. IN HS I did some simple "refinements" of what I believe was similar wood. One was a lamp shade for a night light.
I like your term of pre amber.
It appears certain portions of the wood require very little sanding/polishing to have a smooth finish. Will you be putting a final finish on the completed piece, or is the wood strong enough to leave as is?
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wampidytoo
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Post by wampidytoo on Feb 3, 2018 6:51:07 GMT -5
WOW! do you get into spalting? Have to admit I had to look that one up. It makes some pretty wood but sounds like it would be a pita to get it right. Thanks for the lesson. Jim |
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wampidytoo
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Post by wampidytoo on Feb 3, 2018 7:04:24 GMT -5
The back lighting really shows the character of the wood. IN HS I did some simple "refinements" of what I believe was similar wood. One was a lamp shade for a night light. I like your term of pre amber. It appears certain portions of the wood require very little sanding/polishing to have a smooth finish. Will you be putting a final finish on the completed piece, or is the wood strong enough to leave as is? The main part of the wood has been coated with glue. Weldbond. The hardware was out of the glue I usually use and ended up buying this stuff. I read the label and learned that this glue is also used as a wood sealer and dries totally clear. I tested it on a small piece and liked the look of it, shiny but not really shiny with one coat, so I brushed it on and liked it so much I went and bought a large bottle. I doubt I will put anything on the carvings, tried heat and it was a disaster, since the wood is already preserved in those areas. Jim |
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Post by rockjunquie on Feb 3, 2018 8:12:19 GMT -5
What can I say? Your imagination never ceases to amaze me. It was almost a requirement to save that piece of wood. It's so beautiful and so are your artistic touches.  |
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Post by hummingbirdstones on Feb 3, 2018 8:49:21 GMT -5
wampidytoo - I've said it before and I'll say it again -- your ability to see and create these masterpieces astounds me. I can't wait to see it finished. It's going to be beautiful! Thank you so much Robin, but please tread lightly for fear of making my head swell to the breaking point. Two more photos to be added next showing how cool this wood really is. The wood has more talent than I. Jim Don't sell yourself short Mr. @wampidytoo. If not for you that wood would be G_d knows where getting eaten by bugs instead of being made into a table that's gonna be so cool. |
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quartz
Cave Dweller 
breakin' rocks in the hot sun
Member since February 2010
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Post by quartz on Feb 3, 2018 22:26:23 GMT -5
I thought I'd seen some pitchy wood, but nothing like what you are working with. Original thinking, and very nice work on it, my compliments.
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Post by Pat on Feb 3, 2018 23:35:14 GMT -5
Wow! Interesting at every turn. Well done.
Thanks for showing. It is s delightful surprise.
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wampidytoo
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Post by wampidytoo on Feb 4, 2018 17:16:27 GMT -5
Thank you quartz and Pat for the compliments. The compliments like this from all those above are what keeps me going back, sitting down and working on a project like this, very time consuming and tedious. Maybe I am a little to critical of myself because to me it is never good enough. fantastic5 pointed out the glow coming from this wood that I only saw when it was back lit. Now I see it all the time. If there is a strong light anywhere in the room the wood seems to collect it, turn it around and make it glow. Thank you for being so observant and pointing that out. Back to work now. Jim |
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wampidytoo
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Add 5016 to my post count.
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Post by wampidytoo on Feb 10, 2018 8:56:55 GMT -5
I finished the carvings that are going to support the glass top. They are a little bigger than the ones on the log. 2.5" X 3".  A little better photo of the squirrel eating a peanut. Furry animals are not a relaxed carve for me.  I more or less did the buffalo as a silhouette.  Mamma bear coming out of the den. It is still fall because she is fat.  This is another little humongous project that did not go well. I put the sagebrush slabs on the glass then poured the very thin super glue over all the gaps so it would soak between the glass and wood. The glue got hot and cracked the glass in several places. It didn't fall apart so I filled it with the pour on polly. It doesn't look too bad but not good enough that I would ever try to sell it. I hope the second one will be better.  Jim |
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Post by hummingbirdstones on Feb 10, 2018 9:32:30 GMT -5
Love the idea for carvings on the supports for the glass. They will add so much interest to the top (like you needed more interest on that table)! It's going to be beautiful.
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