I'm not a pro carver by any means, but I like to tinker around and being I do a lot of tree removals, I end up with some big conifers that I like to try stuff with. So I saved some rounds from the big hemlock we took down last week and made my wife a pumkin. Have several more to make this week.... Here it is roughed in. Made it out of a 30" diameter round of eastern hemlock...used my Stihl 019T with the 14" bar. And here it is after sanding with a coarse flap disc. All in all, it took less than an hour to make it. Being it's still green, it's very heavy (around 200lbs!), but it'll lighten up after it dries out. I'm going to let it dry a few days and I'll put the finishing touches on it with some paint and stain ... Now I have to make several more for my wife and her sister....lol Any excuse to run the saws is fine with me.
Take a good look at what you want to replicate, and take your time. Sharp chain, patient cuts, use canola oil (especially if you do a lot of carving because you are breathing that dust alot more than normal cutting), and just have fun with it.
I'm going to make another one tonight if the rain holds off, I'll try and set up the go pro on time-lapse and film the process.....
You had to know I'd do that. Now, all I need is some time. My wife grew a couple punkins and one is pretty large. I could use it as a template or model.
I made one last night after I saw your post on the other thread, not quite as nice as yours but the wife likes it. Painted it orange and put a green stem on it before she got home tonight. I might get a few extra kisses...Thanks Scotty.
Well didn't do a video as I didn't even get started til after 5:30 and it was drizzling out, but I did take some pics.... Here's the big chunk I started with. Around 30" long and 20" diameter hemlock that has been sitting since last October. My Stihl 019T decided to act up last night (think the carb needs overhauled again), so I broke out the 372xp for the job. It ain't easy carving with a 372xp and 30" bar.....lol Ad you can see, you more or less just cut "facets" on the ends and sides of the piece to get it roughed in. Then you decide what you want to be the top, and plunge around to make a stem.... Ran out of daylight so put it in the wheelbarrow and took it to the barn to sand it.... A but taller and skinnier than the other one, but looks good with the short fat one....painting them Saturday morning.
Just remember, you want each one to be unique, so don't sweat it if your cuts ain't perfect. I like them to look a little "whimsical" anyway....gives it a folksy look.....
Scotty, if you had the time, you could turn this into a side business. The bear carvers up here do quite well. In fact, we need another one as ours had finally rotted at the base after 10 years or so out in the weather.
In the pic of the roughed out shape, where you're starting to make the stem, are those corners on the sides where the cuts to make the "grooves" are made? ie, do the cuts flank the corners to make a groove, or go in between them on the flats? Hopefully Im explaining clearly enough
I kinda pick the grooves "randomly", but you could make it more uniformly by choosing those other corners I guess.... I make a total of 8 facets....
