Really enjoying winter carving !

[Bonsailane]

Here are a couple of trees I have been carving on to pass the time of winter .
Species include : crêpe myrtle , Yaupon holly , Chickasaw crêpe myrtle ( Cascade )& morning star magnolia .
Inside the hollows I use a flat black paint mixed with lime sulfur and water .
On the outside I brush on a mixture of ash and water and let dry .
And then I paint on a layer of lime sulfur and water .

 

[Bonsai Nut]

Not taking anything away from your carving skills.... but try carving a tree once with hand tools and compare the difference.

 

[Bonsailane]

Not taking anything away from your carving skills.... but try carving a tree once with hand tools and compare the difference.

I use trained termites .

 

[Underdog]

Looks great to me. I have 3 I'm gonna try this winter. Thanks for sharing.

 

[Bonsailane]

Looks great to me. I have 3 I'm gonna try this winter. Thanks for sharing.

Thanks,,
I had fun

 

[River's Edge]

Here are a couple of trees I have been carving on to pass the time of winter .
Species include : crêpe myrtle , Yaupon holly , Chickasaw crêpe myrtle ( Cascade )& morning star magnolia .
Inside the hollows I use a flat black paint mixed with lime sulfur and water .
On the outside I brush on a mixture of ash and water and let dry .
And then I paint on a layer of lime sulfur and water .View attachment 171977View attachment 171978 View attachment 171979View attachment 171980 View attachment 171981View attachment 171982 View attachment 171983View attachment 171984 View attachment 171985View attachment 171986

You are obviously putting in the time and practise to progress. Great time of year to work on carving.
I have used India Ink with good results for the ageing effect if you are interested in trying a variation. If you want to try smoothing some cut marks, Festool make some great little curved edge tools that are not very expensive. (Home Depot) I have also tried a different technique on the branch scars, take a shingle nail and tap it into the end of the cut multiple times about 1/2 to 3/4 inch deep. Use needle nose pliers or strong tweezers to pull out some fibers randomly. When aged and wire brushed, looks like natural decay. This hemlock had a large branch low down on the larger trunk pointing directly forward until removal and treating. just another idea. It is still a bit dark from recent work, but i expect it to fade in the sun this summer. There is a smaller one above on the same trunk that shows the effect of missing fibres more clearly at this stage. Just some thoughts to play with.

 

[jeanluc83]

Great looking work. A very pleasant way to kill a few hours this time of the year.

Not taking anything away from your carving skills.... but try carving a tree once with hand tools and compare the difference.

I think it depends on the look you are going for. I feel power carving is appropriate for broadleaf trees.

In my area most dead wood on broadleaf trees in nature is a very temporary feature. You are more likely to find hollows where branches or part of the trunk has died. The edges have lost their crispness from rot.

Power carving can give you the more rounded look found in nature. It looks very much like what the OP has created.

For conifers the dead wood lasts much longer so it retains the crispness. I think it is more appropriate to use hand tools and tear along the grain. This can be done after the power carving has been completed.

 

[Bonsailane]

You are obviously putting in the time and practise to progress. Great time of year to work on carving.
I have used India Ink with good results for the ageing effect if you are interested in trying a variation. If you want to try smoothing some cut marks, Festool make some great little curved edge tools that are not very expensive. (Home Depot) I have also tried a different technique on the branch scars, take a shingle nail and tap it into the end of the cut multiple times about 1/2 to 3/4 inch deep. Use needle nose pliers or strong tweezers to pull out some fibers randomly. When aged and wire brushed, looks like natural decay. This hemlock had a large branch low down on the larger trunk pointing directly forward until removal and treating. just another idea. It is still a bit dark from recent work, but i expect it to fade in the sun this summer. There is a smaller one above on the same trunk that shows the effect of missing fibres more clearly at this stage. Just some thoughts to play with.[/QUOTE
I like it !

 

[Bonsailane]

I use some handtools to get different effects but 90 percent of the time I’m using my Dremel .
In my opinion hand tools put too much stress on the trees root system .

 

[Victorim]

Great work pal. Very impressed with the first example.

 

[BonsaiFurLife]

Are you using a bonsai bit or router bit? Thx

 

[just.wing.it]

I'd also like to see the bits you're using.
Looking very nice, well done!

 

[j evans]

You know, even if you chewed them off I like the work no matter the method. A god result, good show!

 

[Tieball]

I have also tried a different technique on the branch scars, take a shingle nail and tap it into the end of the cut multiple times about 1/2 to 3/4 inch deep. Use needle nose pliers or strong tweezers to pull out some fibers randomly. When aged and wire brushed, looks like natural decay.

That shingle nail process is a good idea. I have not yet tried that....but I can visualize it working very well. I’ll give it a try soon.

 

[Bonsailane]

Great work pal. Very impressed with the first example.

Thanks

 

[Bonsailane]

That shingle nail process is a good idea. I have not yet tried that....but I can visualize it working very well. I’ll give it a try soon.

I as well like the shingle nail idea !
I’ll be trying it out soon

 

[Tieball]

Nice work on the carving. In particular, I really like the carving you’ve done on that cascade trunk....the cascade tree stump sitting on top of the gray Craftsman plastic box. Looks like something I’ve seen in an old forest where trees have fallen and regrowth begins from unexpected places. Mighty fine work!

 

[Bonsailane]

Are you using a bonsai bit or router bit? Thx

I’m just using regular Dremel wood carving bits that you can get from Home Depot .

 

[Victorim]

Inshted of a shingle nail, usesh two, it'sh twish as quick.

 

[BonsaiFurLife]

I’m just using regular Dremel wood carving bits that you can get from Home Depot .View attachment 172018

Oh wow. I tried to use my dremel but nearly ruined it. Had to switch to grinder but still slow process no matter what.