Steve Sutton
Well-known member
no shit.......
And thats for sure.....
Steve
And thats for sure.....
Steve
beginning carving
- Thread starter mike Warichak
- Start date
mike Warichak
Member
I'm still formulating opinions as to what I would like to carve.. Cork vs. Wood deal... I love the awesome paint jobs you can do on the wood. It seems to lose a little something on the cork. But that could be from my very limited experience..
I do want to produce something I can hunt over. I think it's a great way to keep me involved year round. I get bored of all the 'normal' woodworking things. And I can only build a couple of boats.. I love the pictures that I've seen here and would love to see what I could do.. I remember the great sense of satisfaction I received from taking my first limit of ducks in the poleboat I built..
I agree 100percent on learning first hand with someone by your side and will be looking into doing that soon..
I do want to produce something I can hunt over. I think it's a great way to keep me involved year round. I get bored of all the 'normal' woodworking things. And I can only build a couple of boats.. I love the pictures that I've seen here and would love to see what I could do.. I remember the great sense of satisfaction I received from taking my first limit of ducks in the poleboat I built..
I agree 100percent on learning first hand with someone by your side and will be looking into doing that soon..
Bob B
Well-known member
Mike,
I started carving after seeing all the great info on this site and others. As stated there is great help out there and here. Whatever suits your style of learning. Books, video, and hands on. I learned the most from watching then used the books to keep me going. I carved my first birds using foam bodies (FREE) and worked on my head and tail carving. THe last picture is a hollow cedar can I did.
Best part is hunting over a bird you did yourself. I have found tremendous satisfaction from the reception of my work at charity auctions as well. Doubles the pleasure to know people will use my bird and that is raised money for a good cause.
MLBob is here and will give you great advice and carves some of the coolest birds I have ever seen. So is Hank Garvey, who pushed me over the edge and into the workshop. Greayson Chesser stops by once in a while too.
Ask away as you go.
I started carving after seeing all the great info on this site and others. As stated there is great help out there and here. Whatever suits your style of learning. Books, video, and hands on. I learned the most from watching then used the books to keep me going. I carved my first birds using foam bodies (FREE) and worked on my head and tail carving. THe last picture is a hollow cedar can I did.
Best part is hunting over a bird you did yourself. I have found tremendous satisfaction from the reception of my work at charity auctions as well. Doubles the pleasure to know people will use my bird and that is raised money for a good cause.
MLBob is here and will give you great advice and carves some of the coolest birds I have ever seen. So is Hank Garvey, who pushed me over the edge and into the workshop. Greayson Chesser stops by once in a while too.
Ask away as you go.
MLBob Furia
Well-known member
Mike, You won't see any difference in terms of being able to paint on a wood surface as opposed to a cork. Both are usually sealed in the same manner, and if you decide to texture there will be very little difference, if any. Biggest thing to remember is that you need to get started and be determined to figure out what makes for good basic anatomy. The decoratives are tempting, but far too many guys get sidetracked by throwing on all the bells & whistles before they learn how to do a good basic bird. The heart of every well done decorative is the same base anatomy you'd have on a gunning stool bird. Painting is the same way - only takes a heck of a lot longer to figure out. To quote a pretty good carver: "You can put Christmas ornaments on an oak tree, but that still doesn't make it a Christmas tree." Sounds like you have some woodworking background. Use what you know from that when it comes to clamping, glueing, mating surfaces, sanding, directional cuts, etc. There are a lot of things you can learn from another carver, but the big lessons are going to come from layering all that information and deciding what to keep that works for you. Ain't no magic tools or paints, just tools in the hands of someone who has figured out how they can work. What does work is this : "Doggedness" - Not as glamorous as ambition, intellect, talent , or charm, but in the long run it works. Here are some wood / cork ; decorative / gunner comparisons for you: First a smooth widgeon hen gunner in wood:
Same species in cork: 
Decorative GW Teal hen (wood, textured, the whole 9 yds.): 
GW teal hen gunning bird (cork): 
Comparison of decorative mallard drake & cork gunning mallard: 
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MLBob Furia
Well-known member
A few more comparisons:
Blackducks (wooden decorative & cork gunning) :
Lessers, same deal:
You can see that I often will use the same pattern (base anatomy) for both styles of decoy. Just a bit more suggesting what's there on a gunner. Stopped doing the decorative birds way back in favor of gunners. Enjoy gunning birds infinitely more, and as you said, it's using them that is the real payoff.
Blackducks (wooden decorative & cork gunning) :
Lessers, same deal:
You can see that I often will use the same pattern (base anatomy) for both styles of decoy. Just a bit more suggesting what's there on a gunner. Stopped doing the decorative birds way back in favor of gunners. Enjoy gunning birds infinitely more, and as you said, it's using them that is the real payoff.
Charlie S and Titan
Well-known member
Simple gunners.... LOL !!!
Mr. Furia's gunners are nicer than most decorative birds!!!
Charlie
Mr. Furia's gunners are nicer than most decorative birds!!!
Charlie
MLBob Furia
Well-known member
I never said simple; I just said gunners.
Just like with a good Lab - Form follows function -- but if you have a dog that's nice to look at as well....well.
Just like with a good Lab - Form follows function -- but if you have a dog that's nice to look at as well....well.
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Hank H Garvey
Active member
Great info above and I will say that the best thing to do is find someone close by that can help guide you through the process. Don't go out and buy a complete set of tools that you think you need. There are very few tools that you need in the end. Get a good carving knive and learn to use it. I like Cape Forge knives. Get a good drawknive from the local flea market for cork or wood. I would start with cork bodies just to get the basics. Willy is very good source for getting started. Fordoms are great and make some things faster but even after all the years that I carve I still use hand tools for a lot because they are faster. Hope this helps and if you have other questions shout. HHG