Post #582947 by coconuttzo on Fri, Apr 1, 2011 1:32 PM

I was commissioned to do a traditional Lono head on top of a 4.5' long staff of Kauila(Alphitonia ponderosa), which is a very rare wood. I've been told that it can withstand the elements of Hawaii weather for years. There are actual fence posts used today out in the countryside of Ka'u which were erected over 60 yrs ago. To date, this would be my 3rd project made of wood which to me can be intimidating.

This wood was a very, VERY hard & dense wood and pretty heavy for it's size. For a stick that meaasured 4 1/2' long & about 2" in diameter at it's widest, it weighed in at a cool 7lbs. I tried to use the chiesels I had but I was having a hard time penetrating & controling the cuts. It also didn't help that there were already cracks in the wood. So I had to make a trip to Home Depot to buy a rasps & files set to help with the manual grinding. I used my dremel to make detail cuts for the inlay cavity and the nose and used a chisel to hand shave the roughouts of the rasps & files used. Then I cut out the eyes from whale tooth ivory scraps, fitted them in the cavity, drilled about an inch deep and pounded in a tapered peg made of Koa. Sand, polish & got a very happy customer.
In fact, he was so happy, that he invited me to share a booth with his club, The Royal Hawaiian Order in a major craft fair during the Merrie Monarch Festival happening on April 24-30 here in Hilo. I'm stoked yet feel a lil' unprepared because I don't have much inventory of finished pieces. I can barely find the time to carve. I guess I gotta make the time, huh.

Notice the cracks I had to deal with.

I actually like the cracks because it makes the image seem more antique with an ancient feel to it.

The image had to face one way because of this huge crack!

So I got the invite last week & I've been trying to pump up my production when I have the chance.

This is an Orca, I don't know why but I just had this image when looking at the bone. It just fit, I guess. Against my better judgement though, I carved between the tail flukes when I knew they'd need some sort of support to prevent breakage. A hard lesson learned. Oh well, you win some & lose some. I'll salvage the piece by shortening the flukes.

Here is a carved Hammerhead shark where the top is done in relief.

Because of the popularity of SUP surfing, I'll be carving more of these. This is not as big as my first one though. The 2 eyelets are because I wanted to see how it'd look like attatched to a 2 part necklace instead of the typical one neckace, if that makes any sense. :roll:

I made this because locals, here on the Big Island have island pride the size of the island, BIG and aren't afraid to show it. I carved a petroglyph paddler too for the love of paddling. I actually came up with this idea during the last outrigger paddling season but only last week carved it out. The battery pack went out on the drill which is why there is no hole on the extra tab there.

I loved the flow & shape of this hook so much that I had to make another one.

And finally, what I'm sure you all came here to see. Another tiki head which I just finished carving yesterday.

All that remains are sanding & polishing :cry:. Not looking forward to that. Oh almost forgot, I still have to braid the necklaces for them too :x

Still got more to carve so I gotta go. I'll keep postin new stuff when I find time to carve. Till then, te tau toki fetaulaki!