Post #225684 by GMAN on Sat, Apr 8, 2006 6:26 AM

Hey Benz,

The stain job on this guy is going to be a kinda test, so I can be sure I like what I'm getting when I stain my medium sized Maori. I also mixed an ebony, but I'm not sure I want to completely cover all the wood color/character. The deep red mahogany will still allow some of the variations in the cedar to show through. I need to experiment with number coats, soak times, etc. I'm excited to see how it turns out. He should be done by tomorrow evening.

I was comparing pics of the three tekoteko pieces I've been working on - at the same stage. Interesting. I carve my rough outs free-style, without drawing on the log - I never even noticed that the right hand always winds up on top. It's tough to fit those arms in the space the log gives me. I can only get the standard bar to make just-so-sharp a turn. I've actually broken several bars pushing them too far in the turns. Especially on the small logs. Having the arms set up the same way is weird. This isn't planned, I actually thought the medium guy had his left arm on top. Go figure. Here is one pic of each of the Maori carvings at the same stage. The two small ones look just about like this right now, but the big guy has a few coats of spar and his eye inlays in now.

I hope you all make lots a chips today....

-Gman