Santa by the Inch!

[tbox61]

We attended a wedding this past weekend in Platte City, MO, and my wife would not allow me to take my carving tools! So, I had about 6 hours to dream up new projects in my head on the way there. I planned on carving in my down time in the motel room, but it was not to be!

We stopped at an antique shop on the way, and I purchased a square yard stick made from basswood. I had thought about carving a small Santa bust in something like this, and just happened to find what I was looking for!

This is a 3/4" X 3/4" X 2 5/8" version of the Santa bust in my post earlier in this forum. I started him yesterday, and he is turning out pretty well! I just have some detail and clean up and he is going to be finished.

I am not going to paint him, but give the stick a coat of BLO, and then a wipe down with Howard's Feed N Wax, and it will be finished!

These sticks are pretty popular out here in farm country, and can be found at most county fairs and state fairs as give aways.

Hope I inspire someone!

Enjoy!

[Claude]

Looks great! Nice work!

Claude

[Steve Reed]

Great idea, and nice work!

[Bob K.]

Great carving and great idea! Just one little photography tip, however. Next time you're taking photos of your carvings you might want to close the bathroom door! lol

[tbox61]

Bob...yep...that is the 'private bath' outside my office here at work! I will keep that in mind the next time!!!

[joepaulbutler]

A surprise placement for a Santa, well done

[rjrsky]

I love it. Like the design.

Rob Robison

[Soggy]

Boy!..... that Bob K don't miss a thing does he?.......lol
Great idea and something I would be interested in doing. Where would one go about buying such a yard stick? Is there anywhere on line that I might pick up a couple?
thanks
Wayne

[scotia carver]

Hi Tbox
Great idea,I am with Soggy about finding a source for the yard sticks. maybe we will have make our own stick, nice carving ,thanks for sharing
Bruce

[uvawyo]

Now, that is really cool!

[tbox61]

Hi Tbox
Great idea,I am with Soggy about finding a source for the yard sticks. maybe we will have make our own stick, nice carving ,thanks for sharing
Bruce

I checked on-line last night and it looks like that they can be purchased, but the bad news is that you have to buy 150 at a time. They end up costing around $3.50 to $4.00 each. Then I thought about buying 3/4" basswood in 36" lengths and ripping 3/4" X 3/4" sticks...but then all you end up with is a 36" basswood stick and no ruler...

[tbox61]

One other footnote to this...I did NOT use my good carving knives on this project. The stick looked like basswood when I bought it, and I am sure it is, but it was harder than normal. I used a fixed blade utility knife to rough out, and X-Acto wood carving blades in a wood carving handle. I didn't want to ruin my good knives edge on hard wood.

I am sure it was hard as it looked like it had some age. I also bought this stick as it did not have any lacquer or varnish on it...there was another stick in the pile that was lacquered and I shied away from it.

Just some of my observations...I am hopeful if I can get my hands on some newer sticks, they will carve more like good basswood we are used to!