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Tiki Carving Methodology |
Basement Kahuna
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Oct 14, 2002
Posts: 3587
From: Jawja Province, Isle of North America
|  Posted: 2003-11-26 10:55 pm Permalink
What you see here are two of my "duckbills" that I make. They are ugly as sin, but very functional. Their purpose is for plunging very deep guide cuts in a log very smoothly and quickly, so you don't have to remove wood in as many layers. I make them by taking old chisels as I need them that I bought at the flea or pawn shop and grinding them down on my bench grinder as shown to a very thin (appx.) 1/16th of an inch for a lenghth of about 1 1/2-2 inches from the tip. I then hone the chisel's new tip on all three edges to a razor sharp point. Why all three? This keeps the sides of the chisel from pushing away at the wood on either side of the blade (creating splits in the wood), instead slicing right through it for a nice, clean, split-free cut. The last photo is of my cheap foam stadium seat...these can be a lifesaver to the ass if you're straddling a log for hours on end! Foam is a good thing to have pieces of as well to rest your knees on. The two heavy iron log holders you see there are cut pieces of railroad track, available at many feed and seed stores for pathborder.    
[ This Message was edited by: Basement Kahuna on 2003-11-26 23:01 ]
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tiki410
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Dec 31, 2002
Posts: 156
From: Tonga Isle
| Posted: 2003-11-27 07:21 am Permalink
This is my favorite thread please share more.
Better yet someone needs to put this on video.
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mrtikibar
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Jul 07, 2002
Posts: 832
From: Neskowin, OR
| Posted: 2003-11-27 10:09 am Permalink
I also like these carving threads. Some of you ambitious carvers should pitch a pilot to The Learning Channel. It would be way better than another remodeling/decorating show.
Here's a question. Anyone carve dimensional lumber? I have a 4 foot Doug Fir 4x10 in the basement I was thinking about hacking away at.
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Basement Kahuna
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Oct 14, 2002
Posts: 3587
From: Jawja Province, Isle of North America
| Posted: 2003-11-27 10:29 am Permalink
Actually you could probably use those angles to do something cool, like the Beachcomber (Alberta) tiki. The wood is dry, so no worries about it splitting in bad spots. The only thing to avoid is pressure treated. That stuff is loaded with A R S E N I C, also known as Paris Green, that's the preservative and insect barrier in it (hence the greenish color). That's why a pressure treated deck lasts so long. And why a phone pole (as spoken of above) is so damned dangerous to carve into.
[ This Message was edited by: Basement Kahuna on 2003-11-27 10:31 ]
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Lake Surfer
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Oct 21, 2002
Posts: 3308
From: Milwaukee, WI
| Posted: 2003-11-28 11:06 pm Permalink
Started my first Marquesan yesterday morning... I'll do a progress post here...
Piece is a 16 inch tall chunk of Birch... the wood is like butter to carve!
Opening round...
More pics to come!
[ This Message was edited by: Lake Surfer on 2003-12-02 23:17 ]
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Tiki Diablo
Grand Member (8 years) 
Joined: Jun 24, 2002
Posts: 1888
From: socal
| Posted: 2003-11-28 11:12 pm Permalink
Looks good Lake.
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Lake Surfer
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Oct 21, 2002
Posts: 3308
From: Milwaukee, WI
| Posted: 2003-11-30 11:38 pm Permalink
Some thoughts on quick sharpening...
If a chisel has gouges or chips in it I take it to the wetstone and reshape it. As long as it is not dropped there is an easy way to keep it razor sharp... here's how I do mine...
I bought this "Power Strop" from the Woodcraft store for around $20. I put it on my variable speed drill and clamp that to a stable surface...
Included is this sharpening compound that you hold to the strop before sharpening... it is this that sharpens the edge with the leather...
Then set your rpm to the recommended for the strop and hold the end of the chisel to the wheel... flip to the top to remove the burr edge also... final product should be a shiney surface with a razor sharp edge...
CAREFUL! The sharpened edge should be sharp enough to shave the hair on your arm...
Get back to work!
It is recommended that every 15-20 minutes you resharpen, though everyone will have their own timetable and it also depends on the hardness of the wood...
Sharp chisels make carving easier and deliver precise clean cuts!
[ This Message was edited by: Lake Surfer on 2003-11-30 23:40 ]
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Lake Surfer
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Oct 21, 2002
Posts: 3308
From: Milwaukee, WI
| Posted: 2003-12-02 11:13 pm Permalink
Slow progress on this one... too much going on lately to get back to carving... but here's a few evolutions...
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TikiGoon
Tiki Centralite
Joined: Sep 09, 2003
Posts: 82
From: The Exotic Isle of Mar "Maryland"
| Posted: 2003-12-03 11:38 am Permalink
Hey Guys,
Anyone out there able to advise an aspiring Tiki Carver, where he can get an inexpensive set of tools to try his luck at carving on the East Coast. If I really like it I will step up to some real tools, but I just need a "starter" kit for now.
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bamzeno
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Mar 24, 2002
Posts: 106
From: Los Gatos, CA
| Posted: 2003-12-04 12:45 am Permalink
Please cover your eyes BK, Chiki, & Lake Surfer.
Hey TikiGoon,
I saw a set of carving tools at Costco for $40 here in California. I forget how many pieces were in it, but seemed like quite a few for the money...can't speak for the quality though. I might go pick up a set this weekend & see what they're like. I'll let you know.
_________________
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Basement Kahuna
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Oct 14, 2002
Posts: 3587
From: Jawja Province, Isle of North America
| Posted: 2003-12-04 09:18 am Permalink
Goon...(Let it be known I at least said it) You can do much more with three or so good Sheffield tools than you can do with a twenty of the Chinese crap variety.
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freddiefreelance
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Feb 15, 2003
Posts: 2983
From: San Diego, Ca.
| Posted: 2003-12-04 09:35 am Permalink
Quote:
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On 2003-12-04 09:18, Basement Kahuna wrote:
Goon...(Let it be known I at least said it) You can do much more with three or so good Sheffield tools than you can do with a twenty of the Chinese crap variety.
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I think he means which 3. What, in your expert opinion, would be the best few tools for the beginner? Chisels, mallets, assorted other tools...
_________________
Rev. Dr. Frederick J. Freelance, Ph.D., Th.D., D.F.S
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TikiGoon
Tiki Centralite
Joined: Sep 09, 2003
Posts: 82
From: The Exotic Isle of Mar "Maryland"
| Posted: 2003-12-05 09:58 am Permalink
Well guys, dont yell at me too much, but I just ordered some "Cheapies" off Ebay. Here is a picture of them:
 ![](Well guys, dont yell at me too much, but I just ordered some "Cheapies" off Ebay. Here is a picture of them:
<BR>[img]http://i4.ebayimg.com/01/i/00/fd/10/ee_1.JPG) 
For $16.50 including shipping to my house, I figure if they are too aggrivating to work with I will throw them in the trash. If I really get into it I will step up to some real tools.
[ This Message was edited by: TikiGoon on 2003-12-05 10:00 ]
[ This Message was edited by: TikiGoon on 2003-12-05 10:01 ]
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tiki410
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Dec 31, 2002
Posts: 156
From: Tonga Isle
| Posted: 2003-12-05 4:06 pm Permalink
I have been waiting and waiting and waiting for BK to advise as to the three carving knifes he would recommend to start off with. Christmas is just around the corner and I think I could get one more gift out of the wifey.
Maybe a thread labeled Tiki Carving 101 is needed and then some more advanced threads for the stuff that is presented here. (Just a thought).
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Tiki Diablo
Grand Member (8 years)
Joined: Jun 24, 2002
Posts: 1888
From: socal
| Posted: 2003-12-05 4:46 pm Permalink
Try these shapes: v ( /
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