Dolphin - Bottlenose

[Patrick]

It’s finally start time for my Bottlenose Dolphin project which I’ve been looking forward to. After viewing a number of threads related to Marine Mammals here at the WCI forum and seeing the excellent work I was inspired to get off my duff and give it a go. So, this begins my learning process with the hopes that one of these days I’ll feel comfortable with trying a Humpback Whale.

This is my forth carving project to date after a layoff of some months after working on ‘My 3rd project - Enlow's Missouri Mule’ which still has a way to go but do plan on getting back there in time.

Pictured here is the Gordon Stiller pattern I chose to use and after laying out on a basswood block of 3 X 4.75 X 9.5 inches it was off to the band saw. Taking it slow and easy on the bandsaw you see the results of my rough out. You will notice I decided to leave the flippers with the hope of being able to carve them in one piece with the body. If I fail then I’ll carve separate flippers and attempt to attach and blend them in an acceptable manner.

All comments and input will be gratefully received. Off now to start the fun part of carving and gouge work.

Fingers crossed.

[Inadv]

Re: Dolphin - Bottlenose

Patrick,

Looking good! Thanks for showing the Stiller pattern. It is the first one I've seen and have considered purchasing a few. Always nice to know what you're getting into eh?

The pectoral fins on your guy look much more downward than out, so you should be alright with them not breaking. Your approach is sound. If they do break, you can always do a glue up and likely no one would ever know it but you. Good luck and I'm looking forward to the finished piece!

L.P.

[jmischel]

Re: Dolphin - Bottlenose

That looks like a fun project, Patrick. I'd be interested in progress pictures, as I have three dolphin cutouts (somebody gave to me) that I've been procrastinating on. Mostly because they're mahogany and I don't want to goof on them.

[Claude]

Re: Dolphin - Bottlenose

Patrick:
Looks like a good start. My one bit of advice is that when you begin carving the fins/tail you always carve toward the body, never towards the tip of the fin/tail. Carving towards the tip is highly likely to break off the tip.

Second piece of advice (I know...I said just one...) is to do all the carving of the fins/tail over a table, keeping the table cleaned off every few minutes. That way, when a tip does break off, it'll be very easy to find on the table top for gluing back on.

Claude

[Sean R]

Re: Dolphin - Bottlenose

Patrick, That is really gonna be neat when you finish it. Can't wait to see the finished product
Sean

[Josef]

Re: Dolphin - Bottlenose

Looking sweet so far. I haven't carved a dolphin yet but, I found a piece of driftwood just yesterday that suggested one to me, so I may give it a go. Looking forward to seeing yours done. Joe.

[Old Codger]

Re: Dolphin - Bottlenose

Good luck Patrick! I've always wanted to carve a dolphin but never had the 'nerve' to try it... Thanks! You've given me the hope that I too can carve one... They are such wonderfully beautiful animals... Please keep us posted on your progress and I'll be looking forward to seeing them... p.s.... thanks to all the other carvers for advice to you...we 'newbies' can profit by them too! Sooooo thanks to them too! Safe carving to you all!!!
Kenn

[DiLeon]

Re: Dolphin - Bottlenose

We have bottle nose dolphin here, plus 12 other kinds. When you take the sail boat out into the ocean the dolphin come and race with the boat. If you park the boat and jump in...with luck or hawaiian spiritual heart they will come to you and you can swim with them as they play. I had a whole bunch of them chattering or talking to me once, it was something you never forget. I am talking and they are making dolphin sounds. I say heck ....if you break a fin ...glue the darn thing back on with CA....and sand down and no one will know if you do not tell. smile Di

[Patrick]

Re: Dolphin - Bottlenose

I want to thank you all very much for your encouragement and suggestions.

Di, what a wonderful experience that must have been. The only time I have seen dolphin in their natural habitat was during a trip out of San Pedro, Calif. to the isthmus on Catalina Island. I was crossing the San Pedro Channel on the Catalina Express when about mid point a group of dolphins surfaced and began to race along in the bow wave. What a beautiful sight. I shall always remember that as a very special time.

Made a few chips fly yesterday and plan on doing more this afternoon.

[Patrick]

Re: Dolphin - Bottlenose

That looks like a fun project, Patrick. I'd be interested in progress pictures, as I have three dolphin cutouts (somebody gave to me) that I've been procrastinating on. Mostly because they're mahogany and I don't want to goof on them.

Hi Jim,
Understand about procrastinating on cutting into that Mahogany. I wanted to begin my dolphin using some Butternut I have in the locker but didn't have the courage to start with that. Then it dawned on me to begin with basswood and if I blew it the loss wouldn't be as great. So, if you can make a pattern close to your mahogany pattern(s) I would suggest you give it a go in some basswood first. For myself I finally learned that if I don't take the bit in my teeth and give it a go I'm never going to learn this wonderful discipline.

Anyway, I hope that anything I share here will be of some help to you. Glad you'll be following along with us.

[northwood bob]

Re: Dolphin - Bottlenose

The courage several of you spoke of should relate to your starting a project. Once you get over the start fears of the project, the rest is just an continuance of the effort. The wood species should not enter into the courage catagory. If you have the material, you should respect the tree with your courage to start. Mahogany is delightfully easy to carve as is Butternut. The material is doing you no good if it is setting in a box. If you have it, by all means use it. Continue on and I'm sure the end result will be pleasing to the eye and result in a respect for the tree. The Dolphin is just waiting to come out and it is your duty to free it. Just carve and have fun doing it.

Good luck
Bob

[Patrick]

Re: Dolphin - Bottlenose

Sounds like sound and thoughtful advice. Thanks Bob.

[Howie]

Re: Dolphin - Bottlenose

I'd agree with the grain setting on the length of the body, as opposed to the height. I'm working on my second shark (stylized) right now (fins as a single piece) and would imagine having the grain run upwards would be much more difficult.

[Patrick]

Re: Dolphin - Bottlenose

Looking sweet so far. I haven't carved a dolphin yet but, I found a piece of driftwood just yesterday that suggested one to me, so I may give it a go. Looking forward to seeing yours done. Joe.

Thanks for that Joe.

Hope you're planning on posting your project for us to see when you get started. Sounds like it will be a very interesting piece.

[Patrick]

Re: Dolphin - Bottlenose

After a week I finally had a chance to get back to work on the Dolphin again. As you see from the pictures not much done except removing stock to narrow down the dorsal fin and the mass on the body side that was the flippers left when band sawing from the top view. I also removed the extra stock holding the flukes to the rough out. This was all done in preparation for beginning the rounding and contouring of body using edge tools, gouge and knife. Kind of feeling my way in what part to work next and with what tools.

Since I’m going to attempt a realistic carving I’m beginning to consider using burs with a flex shaft I have for my Dremel which has been sitting in the box for sometime. I’ve been surfing the forums here and it seems I wouldn’t go wrong selecting Saburr Tooth burs with a choice maybe of a Smooth End Cylinder, Flame, Sphere and possibly a Long Taper. Being limited to the power level of the Dremel and 1/8 inch shafts on the burs the sizes are limited but they would get me off the ground I believe. If I seem to get along with the Dremel then I think I’ll consider a Foredom 5240 as a future acquisition being able to use 1/4 inch shaft burs with bigger size selections possible.

The more one gets into this carving business the more interesting and fun it becomes.