What is it.....?

This is the question that has been asked by anyone who has seen this most recent bit of carving, and the answer is....well, I don't really know. I wanted to do some whittling and had seen some lovely containers on Sean Helman's most recent post and thought I might have a go at something like that.

He calls his needle cases and I'm guessing, though I can't be sure due to there being nothing to reference them against in the photo, that his are somewhat smaller than mine - and I hasten to add more delicate. I guess ultimately mine was just a bit of fun.


Sean's rather wonderful needle cases

The first one I tried, I carved the outside shape first, then tried to drill out the centre using a flate spade bit in an electric drill with it held in a bench vice. Suffice it to say, I ended up drilling through the wall of the box, which split in the process anyway. Those spade bits just can't handle green wood. A complete and utter waste of time.

This second one I roughed first, then drilled out with an auger (I thought I would have more control using this - plus it always amazes me just how efficiently it works), held in my trusty leg vice (.99p from ebay).

 

I love this vice and though it is old and weighs a ton, I use it a lot when making spoons. I bought it originally with the intention of fixing it to the side of my portable chopping stump but when I realised how huge it was, thought I would wait to attatch it to something more permanent, but haven't gotten round to it yet.

Then I carved the outside and painted with acrylic paints.

It was not the easiest carving I've ever done - in fact it was hard wood and hard carving. The star was a beggar and then under-cutting it to do the ball, without snapping it off, was the devil of a job. My fingers were pretty chewed up by the time I'd finished and I still don't really know what it is!

I guess I really should ask Sean for the size and method used on his cases.