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My 1st small scale tiki |
Raffertiki
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Oct 31, 2003
Posts: 1527
From: L.I.
|  Posted: 2005-01-04 3:38 pm Permalink
Since I'm still recovering and am not supposed to play with big logs I figuered I would try something small.
Congatiki is about 4" tall and carved from butternut. I used mostly a box cutter and a dremmel, oh and a grinder to rough out the conga shape.
A question for the pros, what are some techniques for sanding down the eye cavities, etc.? My finger bones ain't used to this dainty work.
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Benzart
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Jan 09, 2004
Posts: 10306
From: Port Saint Lucie, Florida
| Posted: 2005-01-04 5:30 pm Permalink
Raffertiki still rocks. Looks really good Raffer. The key to the smoothe eyes and small detail is to Not have to sand it in the first place. go to your hobby shop, or Here
http://www.treelineusa.com/cgi-bin/shopper?preadd=action&key=290-0302
and get a hook blade to go into This handle
http://www.treelineusa.com/cgi-bin/shopper?preadd=action&key=290-0501
With the hook blade you can make cleaner cuts around the eye and on the eyeball itself. Be very careful because it Really LOVESFingers and has a terreffic appetite for blood. the blade is sharpenable also.
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Benzart
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Jan 09, 2004
Posts: 10306
From: Port Saint Lucie, Florida
| Posted: 2005-01-04 5:31 pm Permalink
For using a boxcutter, you got a Lot of detail. You won't believe the difference of a good knife though.
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congatiki
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Jun 01, 2004
Posts: 2406
From: wisconsin northwoods
| Posted: 2005-01-04 5:35 pm Permalink
very nice tiki....raffertiki....nice to
have a wooden namesake!
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Raffertiki
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Oct 31, 2003
Posts: 1527
From: L.I.
| Posted: 2005-01-04 7:07 pm Permalink
Thanks for the info Ben. I already placed my order, even though I don't really see how it will carve tight recessed areas such as the eyes. How would you approach it?
Congatiki, the conga image seems to keep recurring in a lot of my art, so I'm sure you'll soon have more wooden namesakes. Do you play the congas?
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Benzart
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Jan 09, 2004
Posts: 10306
From: Port Saint Lucie, Florida
| Posted: 2005-01-04 9:02 pm Permalink
Wel, when you are setting up to do the eyes, draw your lines and create 2 little mounds, one for each eye, get the depth down from the nose and cheek so the mounds are basically the "closed eyes". then you draw he eyelids in and cutout the lids part that opens them up, then you draw in the pupil and line it in any way you want.
good luck. I'll explain more tomorrow.
Cheers
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Polynesiac
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Jan 29, 2004
Posts: 2020
From: San Pedro, CA
| Posted: 2005-01-04 9:50 pm Permalink
Hey raffer...howz it?
I'm sure Ben has a much cooler way of doing it (and I can't wait to read his response too), but I'll give you my .02 for what it's worth....
I usually do all the fine detail on my small guys using the different dremel carving attachments. I do use the sanding disk, but sparingly because it tends to burn if not done carefully. Most of the "sanding" is done with the carving attachments. Once I carve the general outline, I carefully take away the wood little by little (or a lot at once, once you get the hang of it) with the carving attachments.
Once it's all carved and almost smooth, I bring in the folded sand paper and sand along the crease of the fold in the hard to reach places of the carving. I start with not so fine grit, then work my way to super fine (or whenever you feel the work is done).
After that, pop on the polish attachment for the dremel and shine it up!
works for me...but I can't wait to see what Ben says.
Hope this helped, bro.
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Aaron's Akua
Grand Member (8 years) 
Joined: Jul 09, 2004
Posts: 1594
From: Rancho Santa Margarita, CA
| Posted: 2005-01-04 10:22 pm Permalink
Lookin' nice Raff. I'm glad to see your recent mishap hasn't slowed you down a bit.
I used to lay carpet many years ago & cut myself with carpet knives more times than I care to remember. Ben, that hook knife scares me. But, considering the source, I might have to get one.
Polynesiac, I'm so glad you posted that. I used your recent advice, but promptly burned out my Dremel sanding disk (Arrrrgh!). After that I used the exact method that you just mentioned, good ol' 60 grit folded up & shoved into the crevices. That and lots of cleanup with Flexcut palm chisels.
Thanks for asking the good questions, Raff. I too await Ben's words of wisdom on the art of making "rough" into "nice".
A-A
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Sam Gambino
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Dec 02, 2003
Posts: 2197
From: www.samgambino.com
| Posted: 2005-01-04 11:12 pm Permalink
Very cool Raffertiki - even more knowing that you used a box cutter. If I tried that, I know what would happen - I'd end up getting the blade stuck in the wood and breaking it off! That's me with a blade and a block of wood. Keep up the good work.
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congatiki
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Jun 01, 2004
Posts: 2406
From: wisconsin northwoods
| Posted: 2005-01-05 06:12 am Permalink
Keep the conga-tikis coming...i seem to
have a lot of conga designs in my paintings...conga players...etc...they have
nice curves! i do play congas and other
ethnic percussion but not in a profession
sense...tho we have kicked out a couple
of homemade cds.
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surfintiki
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Sep 30, 2004
Posts: 1561
From: S. Chatham, MA
| Posted: 2005-01-05 09:01 am Permalink
Raffer- looks great!
For some of the sanding I use these mini sanding blocks, they are a life saver for me...no cramps in the fingers and wrist anymore. Go to...
http://www.leevalley.com/wood/page.asp?page=20183&category=1,42500&ccurrency=2&SID=
I use "c" thats pictured there.
Congatiki...lets jam! I got a basement that looks like a musical instrument store!
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Monkeyman
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Mar 04, 2003
Posts: 2300
From: Vista, CA
| Posted: 2005-01-05 09:43 am Permalink
Raffertiki,
Nice start in the world of carving. Did you use a lathe to shape that piece of wood or were you able to buy it that way?
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Benzart
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Jan 09, 2004
Posts: 10306
From: Port Saint Lucie, Florida
| Posted: 2005-01-05 1:09 pm Permalink
OK, Here's a pair of eyes about 1/4" round carved in Very soft bass wood (which I hate!) I started with a small gough to get the basic nose bridge and the mounds for the eyes.
Here are the knife blades I use and a sanding star I use
This step is where you want to do as much sanding as you can to get it smoothe because it will be the basic end product around the eyes.
Once you get it smoothe and get the mounds even and equal and level, then you mark the eyes with a pencil
Next I use the small hook knife (since these are small eyes) to cut the outline of each eye. Keep the depth even about 1/16 th" deep all the way around. You are just making a slice for each side of the eye. 2 slices per eye. Then I begin to cut the "eyelid" off the eyeball itself. Using the small hook and small straight blade I just cut down to the edge of the eyelid and round out the eyeball a small bit at a time.
It takes a bit of practice but after a few you get the hang of it.
Just try to picture an eyeball up close, or better yet, find a picture and enlarge it until the eyeball is as large as you can get and then study it and use it for refrence.
I know I skipped over a few steps but I hope this helps.
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Raffertiki
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Oct 31, 2003
Posts: 1527
From: L.I.
| Posted: 2005-01-05 3:44 pm Permalink
Hey guys thanks for the comps and the tips. There are a few new toys I will need to order. Those little sanding blocks look to be very useful.
Quote:
| Did you use a lathe to shape that piece of wood or were you able to buy it that way?
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I got the conga shape using a grinder and eye-balling it. Be sure to use thick leather gloves if you try it.
Ben, What can I say? I think you just made everyone's day. I can't wait to start my next piece so I can try out your technique. Two hunks of sasparilla wood should be arriving any day now.
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surfintiki
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Sep 30, 2004
Posts: 1561
From: S. Chatham, MA
| Posted: 2005-01-05 3:54 pm Permalink
Damn Ben! Whaddya got, a telescope on yer camera?? No seriously, those are great macro shots, what kind of camera are ya usin'?
Raffer- Are we the only tiki-heads in New England?
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