Miniature Knight

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Wow! Those look great! The only way I have carved walnut is with a power carver. Are you able to use the same tools you use for basswood?

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Rod, That poem just made my day for a couple of reasons! I am on the 9 year plan heading towards retirement, so I am not that young!...the only thing I hope to be doing 30 years from now is still carving and chasing pheasants and quail behind a good bird dog!

The bank will just have to...

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Joepaulbutler made a comment in the Holiday section on my Santa carved on my yard stick saying 'Leave it up to a carver to find something to carve on'!

I have carved around 45 pieces since my back surgery in May, and I am that far behind in painting and finishing!

What is a...

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Bob, it certainly is! Last week we concentrated on a practice stick doing some of the cuts we would be doing on the main piece...tonight we will do a carve along on the Santa!

Here are my scaled down measurements for the 3/4" version.

Bob's Main Scale------------------------------Tim's...

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I had some extra time on my hands this past week. Our club is using Bob K's Santa as a project for a beginning carving class, and while I was doing the work for the class, I got an idea to scale down the Santa and carve one on a square ruler!

The rulers are 3/4" square, so I scaled...

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Rod...GREAT JOB on separating the legs on Mr. Farmer!

What a great looking group of voters! Down here in the lower 48, we have our own version of RINO's, but that is all I am going to say about that subject!

Keep the carvings coming!

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Everyone gives good advice here. There are many better options that what Mr. Coates uses in his videos. Helvie, OCC Tools and Deepwoods to name a few. My roughout knives are a Gerald Sear's #3 Helvie, and a modified Stanley utility knife.

I have watched his videos, and while they are...

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We ended up with 1" of snow and 27 degrees this morning...first snow of the season here in Kansas, and I think the first measurable snow this early that I can ever remember.

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Rod, very nice! I have carved collars on snowmen with a v-tool, then laid the tool on it's side to raise the collar...yours looks great, also!

As far as your short legs...one of the greatest US Presidents, Abe Lincoln, said that 'A man's legs must be long enough to reach the ground!'...Nuff...

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Well, here's my .02...I have 3 detail knives and use them a lot. I have a 3/4" straight blade Denny knife, which is now made by Mike Shipley with OCC Tools. It is a handy little booger. The two I find myself picking up more than the Denny is Deepwood's Ventures scalpel blades...one a straight blade...

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They are finally making Dockyard tools again, and while they are great, Mike Shipley at OCC Tools is making some micro tools. He makes great stuff and I am sure those are awesome!

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Heading towards 7" of rain since Friday night the 5th here in Kansas...That is almost 1/3 of our total yearly moisture amount in 4 days! Temps in the low 40's.

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Rod,
I will try to answer your first question about opening the legs on little guys. Sorry for the quality of the pic, but these little critters have their legs opened using the Price technique. I specifically made the little cow poke bow legged, and the guy in overalls is more traditional....

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Rod...I am with you on this. Since I started carving 20 years ago, I have had many influences. I took a class from Mike Shipley, and my first book was Jack Price' book on small characters. Lately, I am influenced by Arlene Zomer at carverswoodshop.

I have found that while I may be influenced...

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Great work!

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Bob...what are the dimensions of your block, if I might ask? Don't want to steal your thunder from the article.......

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Our club here in Central Kansas is teaching a 6 hour class over 2 nights later in October. We are using Bob K's Simple Santa as the basis for our class. In the class, we will give everyone a practice stick, and another stick with the outline of where to make the cuts on the wood per Bob's plan....

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Those are great! Taking a class from Marv is on my bucket list!