New Item...The Horse

[jimbo]

How thick is the wood GB?
Jimbo

[GrayBeard]

The block from the local Michael's is a rough 3/4" thick. Took a LOT of sanding to get a semblance of SMOOTH.
Those 'rounds' are made more for painting or mounting things on than scrolling and finishing.
I have seen them online and in magazines and will likely order some in the future.

~~~GB~~~

[Becky]

Hey, GB, how long did it take to get the hang of using a spiral blade?  I've read that they take some getting used to but it looks like it didn't take you long at all!

Nice job - and nice matching of subject to wood selection too.  I guess that's two thumbs up!

[GrayBeard]

The transition to the spiral went rather quickly. My first attempt, learning process, was a piece of 1/4" BB and was a total mess. But it gave me the beginning feel for the spiral and after two more I did the "Kitten" and the Horse you can see here:
http://picasaweb.google.com/grampedstl/GrayBeardSScrollProjects#.

I think I am becoming a 'portrait addict'!

If you decide to try them get some of Mike's FD-New Spiral in 2/0 size and try your hand.

I should have a few more to add to the photo collection by end of day tomorrow. I'm about halfway through my first piece of the WOOT Cedar Grilling plank!

One other thing about spirals...you get no sawdust! You get saw POWDER!

~~~GB~~~

[Becky]

Hmmm, I might have to break down and give them a try.  I've been playing around with the portrait style for a little while and see how the spirals would be beneficial for them.  OTOH, I still have plenty of practicing to do with the flat blade as I am far, far from perfect.  I don't want to mess up the progress I've made along the flat blade learning curve (if I would).  Have you tried using a flat blade since?  Did the time you spent with with the spiral blade mess up your flat blade work any?

BTW, the kitten is great!

[jimbo]

I cut some rounds on with the chain saw mon. and put them on the lathe to level them off and have left them at 40mm may be a bit thick but I may try one and see, I plan to sand them with a belt sander
Jimbo

[GrayBeard]

Hey Jimbo...were the logs good and dry before you cut them?
What kind of logs are they from?
I would like to find some in this end of the world from cedar logs!

~~~GB~~~

[GrayBeard]

Becky...the transition TO the spirals came pretty quickly. Going back I screwed up a project, small one, so I have determined that I will grab a hunk of scrap and re-learn the feel of the flat blades before cutting anything serious.
I've been an ice skater all my life and I liken the switch to when I switch from my speed skates to my hockey skates and back. They are both ice skates but you perform very differently when on different skates.
So, to answer the question, Yes it takes a bit to react to the different blades.

~~~GB~~~

p.s. that 'kitten' is the third one! I broke two before I got the final product!

[Joesawdust]

GB that looks great, who's pattern is it?

Greg

[jimbo]

They were a conifer I cut some time ago dry, wood may be a bit soft but will be good practice, I have some other small loge must pull them out, problem chain sawing them they are thick and have to be resizes that is why I put them on the lathe will post a pic when ready to cut
Jimbo

[Becky]

Thanks for that info, Graybeard.  I've enjoyed doing the portrait style projects but I might let that go for a while and concentrate on improving my flat blade skills.  I don't want to get too scattered.  When I started all this, I had a long-term goal in mind to make one or more of those amazing clocks.  Not the kind where you cut all the gears and such but the ones where you make the external parts.  I still need more practice to get there and maybe it would be for the best if I kept my focus on the flat blades for now.

Sometime in the future though....