Decoys, calls... Pipes? The Big Five up in smoke.

Ardent

Ardent

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Northern BC, Coastal BC, or Africa. Depends on the
Who else works with wood, making the artsy side of hunting stuff. I make quite a few stocks, and wanted to change gears with a hunting theme. Alright alright I'm just trying to not get this pipe and post thrown out of the hunting group who I feel will most appreciate it.

Spend more than half my time in camp deep in the bush, and I don't watch TV, and one can only play so much chess. So we're continually working out projects, last was steam powered pencil sharpeners, this time best pipe that reflects your interests.

Mine's a bit slow going, but getting there, the Big Five pipe. Will post when finished. Idea is the center will be a volcano, scenery around it. Base will get contoured or given lion's feet. Good fun.








 
I had no idea what the hell this thread was about judging from the title alone but i got the jist of 'er now. I'm sure it'll turn out beautiful Ardent. Interesting stuff. At least you're not letting the "cabin fever" time of the year go to waste.
 
Wow impressive. I wish I was artistic. I haven't had much time for hobby' get lately with our new born boy. I always wanted to try leather working and hopefully start reloading this fall. Maybe tying lanyards with parachord and picking up the old banjo again. So little time .......
 
Thanks folks, buzz a mix of everything for tools, the wood is briar. I use a dremel to hog the major material and flexcut carving tools to detail. Lots of pick and micro file time too, I have little hook shaped files from stock checkering that are good for shaping in the awkard places. Been using an engraving bit in the dremel for some detail too. Most of the branches are back cut and free floating.

As for hours into it so hard to say, maybe 20'ish. I draw the basics and then just go from there on gut feel, I've used mostly images from my head though the rhino was sketched out from a real picture. The cape buffalo and lion figures are posed on the back under the "V" for five because those are the two I've successfully hunted to date.

Lottttts of finishing work to do, but it's roughing out nicely.


 
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Some kind of African wood? Wasn't sure if it was a burrell or a knot couldn't see any grain. Got in to carving Five or so years a go as a stress reliever. You can't carve and not pay attention LOL!! The hardest thing that I have carved to date was a block of reddish salt from Nepal . drilled inch and a half hole up through the bottom three quarters of the way and put a night light in it ( Forstner bit ) then on the flatfish side carved the image of Jesus with his outstretched arms , six inches tall. The salt rock was about 12 inches tall by 5 inches thick and 7 inches wide a good fifteen pounds. I had to recarve the face three times the dang nose kept breaking off. I used a small multi tool on a flex shaft. It made a lot of dust that rusted any tool that happened to be on the bench. The finish was easy just rubbed it with wet fingers. When lit the inclusions in the salt really make a nice effect. A gift to my sister for Xmas. Got the salt blocks at a sporting goods store 12 bucks a piece they were the big ones, they were selling them for deer licks. The people that have seen it don't believe that its salt so I have them lick it ,have been good for laughs.
 
Haven't carved salt yet! Have done soapstone though, nice to work with, and even granite once but won't do that again. The wood is briar, pretty well the quintessential pipe wood, carves nicely but is very hard and has a propensity to flake so you have to be careful. It's strong and supports delicate aspects nicely.
 
I think that a block of soap stone will be in my future. I carved a Tiki mask 24 tall/ 16 wide out of the but end of a red cedar hydro pole . you would think it was easy to carve but the grain varies in thickness and hard ness and will split real easy it allso dulls the tools fast ( lots of silica in the woods) . For the eyes I drilled out the back and countersunk some battery powered tea lights in them looks like the eyes are on fire. Called it the Can Tiki !
 
Once carved do you have to treat the wood somehow before lighting up ? Nice job .
 
I checked in to it this briar wood comes from south america its a root ball of sorts. Resistance to burning and doesn't affect taste has been used for years for pipes. As for finish some use a alcohol base stain that is lit on fire to impregnate the stain and burn off the alcohol.:cool:
 
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