New Bark House

[tbox61]

Wow! I have got to quit starting bark houses! Working on them is like opening a bag of Cheetos...once you start them, you can't stop!

Here is my latest creation. The bark is Fremont Cottonwood from New Mexico. The carving is 14.5"X3"wideX3" deep.

I carved steps coming from the lower right as you look at the front of the carving, disappearing around the back, and picking up again a bit higher leading to a flagstone landing and then up to the door. The front features a off-kilter fireplace made of bricks, (got to go with what the bark gives you!), and a funky window design. I smoked the top of the fireplace with a couple of kitchen matches.

The main house is finished with wood planking and the levels supporting the stairs are large blocks.

The roof line was very challenging, as I made a gable peeking out the right side of the piece. I could not open up the window, so I carved the window as if it were boarded up. The left side of the house, around the corner from the fireplace, was also finished with wood planking.

I am considering putting in an LED light in the back so it would highlight the window and the door when hung on the wall.

I am not a very speedy carver, but I figured I have about 50 hours in this. It will be finished with 2 coats of Minwax 209 clear stain, and then a couple coats of Meltonian neutral shoe cream and buffed.

Hope you all enjoy!

[Morrow7x]

Very cool! Yeah, a warm white LED would be pretty neat! I'm hooked on the little nanos... ;-)

I've never tried carving bark, what's the 'feel'? Like basswood, or is it kinda 'mushy' soft? Or?

[tbox61]

Very cool! Yeah, a warm white LED would be pretty neat! I'm hooked on the little nanos... ;-)

I've never tried carving bark, what's the 'feel'? Like basswood, or is it kinda 'mushy' soft? Or?

It depends...if you get a really good piece, it carves better than basswood. With that said, I have a whole set of different tools I use for bark as it can be very dirty. I have a couple of re-purposed paring knives I used to rough out, and a set of rugged u-gouges, v-tools and flat chisels to get through the bark.

You also need to have some good super glue and good wood glue on hand to put back on pieces that pop off.

If you get a good piece, it will hold detail, but sometimes you have to go deep to get 'through the various layers' that are present in some pieces.

It can be highly frustrating, but it is very fun and rewarding!

[yolli]

Very nice!! ( a pitty that we have no bark over here...ofcourse the trees have barks, but not that thick to carve)

[Arthur C.]

Nice one, tbox! I have a question about the finish: I've always wondered about clear stain when I see it in stores: If it's clear, how is it a stain? What is the purpose?

[DiLeon]

One kind of wood we do not have here. I love unique things like the ruff wood with the smooth carved areas. Plus sure you enjoy the challenges.

[Claude]

The house looks great!

Claude

[Merle Rice]

Hi, Morrow, I can see why you like doing Bark Houses. The Bark is Nice to work with and you do it Well. Merle

[tbox61]

Nice one, tbox! I have a question about the finish: I've always wondered about clear stain when I see it in stores: If it's clear, how is it a stain? What is the purpose?

Arthur...the clear stain enhances the grain of the bark. It also does double duty in turning the bark just a bit darker. The light color of the bark shows dirt and fingerprints. The stain in conjunction with the shoe cream gives it a very nice satin sheen and finish. It also makes the bark not so likely to show dirt and fingerprints as easily!

I will post a couple of pictures when I get it finished!

Thanks to all for the nice comments!

[Mark N. Akers]

Tbox, a very nice Bark House and a great use of the bark piece that you had.

[T J]

Very nice! Love the nail details on the boards. I started one of these a couple of months ago but my creativity ran dry so I set it aside. Thanks for providing me with some ideas.

[tbox61]

Very nice! Love the nail details on the boards. I started one of these a couple of months ago but my creativity ran dry so I set it aside. Thanks for providing me with some ideas.

Thank you! When I was in elementary school, (many years ago!), our art teacher gave us each an empty box, construction paper and some Elmer's glue...we had to make something out of the box!

Bark carving reminds me of that class...I wish that teacher was still around so I could show him what he inspired!

Each piece of bark gives me that chance to be creative!

Regarding the nail holes...I bought a set of stylus' at Hobby Lobby. In it was a tool with a needle point. That is what I have started using to depict nail holes.

I am also a fly tyer, and a dubbing needle would also work for the nail holes!

[Rodster]

Lovely carving and some good comments. Just great!

[Konaflyer7]

Splendid Work! You do such a great job on these!

[tbox61]

As promised, here are pictures of the finished product. I just did one coat of the clear stain, and then one coat of the shoe cream. I like the warm mahogany color that the stain imparts to the bark. You can compare the pictures above with these and see the difference.

I buffed out the shoe cream with a KIWI horsehair brush, and a $5.00 Dremel shoe polisher I purchased at a garage sale!