BENZART's Carvings Second original thread

Ben you are crazy...see ya at Coontiki!

Great work ben, nice and smooooooothe.

Can all you CoonTiki people even imagine how jelous I am?

Great job, Ben! I love that Elvis sneer!

flip-flop-flip-flop-flippp..."Mana ikaika, keu â ka u'i; nani kôkî!" (powerful, supremely beautiful!)

Ben, since I can't make it to Coon Tiki I was hoping you could tell me what kind of tool you use to do this texture?

And how do you do it? Under a microscope I imagine!

awesome work, hes giving us the people's eyebrow!

HEy tikigap, thanks, you don't have to wait too long for Coon Tiki, just another week, hurryhurryhurry.

PockyTiki, thanks. All it takes is Practice and then more practice on top of that and then a bit More practice after that. I'm still practicing for the next one.

GMAN, THAAANNNNKKS

CongaTiki, Yeah I'm Crazy all right. You gotta be crazy to do this stuff and then just let it go. Thanks

Thanks Tfisherart, I appreciate that too.

Finky, yes I guess I have some idea, but who knows maybe we will have a SoCali Carving Seminar??

Sam, thanks, the person getting this is an Elvis fan and wanted that sneer. Don't quite have it right yet but one of these days....

Traveling Jones, Thanks so much for your Powerful, Kind words and again Welcome to TC, we're Glad to have you aboard.

Hey Lake, Sorry you are not gonna make the Seminar, but you could come and be a teacher your own self.
The tool I use for that detail is called a Millgrain tool and it is used for adding detailed borders to jewelry pieces, rings and braclets and such you can see them here .
The tool just indents the wood and it can be sanded off very easily and on softer woods it dissapears on its own sometimes. I takes a lot of hand strength and control since it is like a little wheel you push around on the wood to leave the impression.You can see larger ones for the lathe on the next page that could be mounted in a handle and might be easier to control.
And yes, I do ALL the detail wearing a magnifier to bring it up close. Then when I photograph it using the MAcro mode, I can see all the places I missed and messed up.

John, thanks, yeah like the Evil eye.

On 2006-03-23 06:40, Benzart wrote:

Finky, yes I guess I have some idea, but who knows maybe we will have a SoCali Carving Seminar??

That would be even worse since I live in Milwaukee! :lol:

I was also re-reading your last post and I think it's funny that you're worried about your Maori looking too realistic. We should all have such problems!!

On 2006-03-23 16:01, finkdaddy wrote:

I was also re-reading your last post and I think it's funny that you're worried about your Maori looking too realistic. We should all have such problems!!

I agree with Finkdaddy! I had the same thought when I read that.
JP

Benzart,

That is yet another amazing carving. I am always in awe of your work and attention to detail.

cheeky half

Wow, what cool detail on that face!

Finky, You seem like a ScCale kind of guy even tho it says you are from Milwalkee, Wi, Where is that, In the USA, not down in Mexico, orgreenland or sumthin?? Well we will have to have a Seminar closer to where you are or where you will be sometime.

That is what you will be missing this time, but next time should better.
Thanks for the funny props.

JohnnyP, More wisecrackers I see, thanks for the props though

Cheeky Half, after awhile you find the detail screams at you to take it to the next level, so you go out and get these Big Magnifiers that show you all the crap you left behind and you AHave to Clean it up. Thanks for the kind words. Now that I have the "Lessons" finished, I can get back to other stuff I started and have going on.

Bette, Hopefully you will be saying that about the stuff you see on Your carving as it will be getting finished up after this teachin trip.

Those are some amazing "lessons"!! I hope to see pictures of the final exam :wink:

How long did that take and how many are there?

Professor Benz rules!!!

Y I P E S !! Those are incredible Ben! That's all done with a hook-knife?!?

Yep these were All done with the hook knife.
Moki thanks, these took from 2 to 4 hours each. one or everyone at the Seminar, including C'Al. I will take as many pictures as I can..
Maybe we can work out a SoCali tiki seminar soon

On 2006-03-24 19:43, Benzart wrote:

Maybe we can work out a SoCali tiki seminar soon

Now your talkin!!!!1

wow! if i had an artistic bone in my body, not to mention the time off, i'd love to be at the seminar. with so many talented artists on this board, i'm anxious to see what comes next.

Benz,

Wow! you sure have put a lot of prep time into this seminar. Dems some funky heads! If my math is correct, you spent something like 80 hours just making the half-faced guys....not to mention preparing for how you will relay your techniques to these folks. That's at least 20 Benzart carving days! I hope everyone has a great time and truly realizes what a great opportunity they have in having you there - and willing to share some secrets. I hope you all bring a buncha band-aids though, 'cause those hook knives are gonna be tearing into you like hungry piranha!!!! I'm getting dizzy just thinking about all the blood! Seriously though, I hope you all have a great time, learn lots, and return home with all your fingers!!!

-Gman

Kings TD, thanks, yes, what comes next should be very interesting. You don't have to be artistis, you have to have the desire and a minor knowledge of how tools work. Those along with a few tools and a log will get you a Tiki,, Guaranteed!

GMAN, thanks for the props.. I don't think I have 80 hours in these, but I know I have a Bunch. As far as prepping what to relate, I have prepared for that all my carving life aaaa, but I will probably spend more time on avoiding the Hungry hook blade than anything. We Will have plenty of Bandaids, but I Hope NONE will be needed. Everyone is gonna be super careful and take their time, Right Guys???

Oh Shh.. I think I want to take the class now.

Moondance, SO Glad to hear from you, I thought something bad had happened, well No computer, THAT's Bad. Glad yer back homeagain and are happy with the tang. I NEver did finish the second one I was going to use as a replacement. It just stands on top of my bench watching me, waiting for sumpthin to happen, and I guess the right thing hasn't happened cuz he is still there keeping an eye on me waiting, watchingHe's a good guy and I talk to him ocassionally and we have these strsssange conversations, but in the end, he just sits there waiting and watching. Sometimes I go up to him and ask if he has the correct channels on or sumthin and he says he does but I sneak up and change the channel we is watching and he just gets ready for another Soap. I come round and check on him in a day and he has a whole new tune playinh Thats about all goin on round here mam, glad youre back.

On 2006-03-25 08:12, Benzart wrote:
but I will probably spend more time on avoiding the Hungry hook blade than anything. We Will have plenty of Bandaids, but I Hope NONE will be needed. Everyone is gonna be super careful and take their time, Right Guys???

Hey, on this front, Smoky Mnt. Woodcarvers sells an $8 and $15 carving glove to prevent just that issue. I plan to invest in one this week.

Now I am officially pissed and not being able to be there. Ben your amazing. Cant wait to see the pics.

Cool carvings, wow, you've been busy, it's like a class called "Tiki 101" in here, ha, ha. Oh yeah, and I do have the feeling that "Lono Junior" is a surprise and gonna be something special, don't doubt that for a second. Carving trip sounds like it's going to be a blast.

Hey Benz,

What ever happened to that mahogany Lono you started? Did I miss the finale or did you banish him to the fire pit?

Didja have fun in the mountains? Any casualties?

-Gman

well, here I am, back from Coon-tiki and you are all right: Ben is the man! Patient, knowledgeable and totally cool!
I am still trying to get my head around some of what he showed us.

Thanks Kapu, Just a quick note to say how Well EVERYONE Did on their carvings. NO BLOOD and GUTS.
2 Bandaids for the whole weekend and they were for Very Minor cuts where a bandaid would have possibly not even had been Needed..Way to go Everyone. That was one SERIOUS RECORD...Mahala, the gods were with you. Pictures Tomorrow.

Looks like you all had a fun time (I just saw the other forum thread), that's great to hear.

Well, it's back to work a little bit. Here are updates on # 69 and a couple shots of BigBenZart# 10 for the Forbidden Island

Awesome as always, Ben!

Is this one of heads that you brought to Coon Tiki, or is this one yet ANOTHER masterpiece of yours?

Speaking of masterpeices, did you bring the big Maori head home with you from Coon Tiki so you could finish it? I hope so. I'd really like to see how he turns out!

Thanks again for a great class, Ben. I'll post a picture or two of my project as soon as it dries ( I just stained it using BK's "secret" technique ).

Happy, Happy, Happy, infinitum.

Wow Ben, u always have quality AND quantity. Nice Ku and another beautiful Maori. Thanks for all the eye candy.

ST

Hey Tiki Lee, thanks for the props. No, I left the Maori head there to finish at a later seminar. This Ku is new. I just started it a couple daze ago and it is for the Forbidden Island. The small Maori head is one of the pieces I brought to the Seminar.
Love your new piece, can't wait to see the finish all done...
Thanks Sneakytiki, I appreciate the kind words. It's nice to be back to work.

Hey Ben! that pendant is awesome, I love your detailed moko and the expressions you give your carvings

THat big benzart is going to be a real show stopper at the Forbidden Island! The place already looks awesome, but with that tiki it's going to be AWESOME! Glad to see you pumping out more big benzarts, gives me hope to own one, one day!

Great stuff ben and as always thank you very much for sharing!

Thanks PolyN, I appreciate the comps. I have several BigBenZart logs I need to carve up so will be doing some in the near future. Heres the progress on the Forbidden tiki about 1/2 done

Benz,

That guy is beauty! I digz the feetz! He looks a bit more stringy than your coconut palms you've been using - what is that? Is it tough to work in? I'm glad you are back workin and postin. Your pics are a fun part of my day. Thanks.

-Gman

looks freaking awsome as always. can't wait till the day I grow up and get one of your carvings.... when I was in vegas got to to a lot of storage places in vegas. kept a open for something you did. casinos keep some crazy stuff

Very inspiring work Ben...the patrons at Forbidden Island are going to be very fortunate to
gaze upon this one....nice to see to digging into work right away after your Tennessee trip.
I haven't been doing anything...except sharpening chisels!

WOW Ben! He is and will be AMAZING!

I've got to say that I learned almost as much just watching you carve as I did trying to copy your half of the tiki lesson! I'd already read your post from way back about how to sharpen tools when you made your presentation at Coon Tiki, but I soon found out how much I had yet to learn about sharpening! Have you ever considered writting a book on carving?

It's not too bad GMAN, Softer then the Coconut Palm and more stringy Washingtonian. Thanks again for your continued entheusiasim for my work.

Thanatos, Thanks for yours too,You are gonna grow up before you know it. Yes those casinos keep some wierd stuff and I heard there was a room full of tikis being stored for sombody at the Trop.
I'm still makin New stuff for more savings.

Congatiki, NICE to see you back on the boards again . Enjoyed seeing you and being with you at the Coon Tiki . All I can say is your chiselsmust have needed a LOT of Shrpening for you to still be working on them. We'll bw seeing you again I'm sure. Thanks for the kind words Conga.

SilVerLine!!! That last pic you took of the group shot was absolutely Perfect.here it is again, I hope you don't mind me re-posting it here. Thanks again for an awesomw picture.
I am Really glad you got a lot out of the lessons. I would love to writea book about carving, but I would need a writer and all that stuff I know how to carve and I don't know how to write a book about it As soon As we get those two halves matched up, I think a Killer tiki carving book will be in the works. If anyone knows how to do that get with me later,,, Thats abouyt it for now but to say CoonTiki was fabulous and I would do it again in a heartbeat
Thanks to ALL who halped make this a Success! In the meantime I will have several new pieces coming out very soon so if anyone wants any let me know ,

M

[ Edited by poptiki on 2022-10-12 04:58:25 ]

Pops, I'll have to work on that, it WOULD Be nice. meanwhile here are a bit of updates.

duuuuuuuude! totally killer stuff man!

always an incredible inspiration!

Thanks Kooch.
This guy started out at 150 lbs and I finished hollowing out the back and so far he's down to 30 lbs. Now he is getting shippable.

I think a book is no good. What is needed is a video. I can easily imagine a very practical video. Words and static pictures don't do this stuff justice. You have to see it in action. If we get Pablus on board, we could get it done right.

Ben definitley needs to be seen in action. Pablus Pablus Pablus!

Very nice Benz! He looks great. That palm is working real nice...or is it that it's not so nice, but your technique makes it work well? I wish I could drop weight like that, jeez! Another lucky customer : ).

That pendant is crazy. I love the dots you roll into the Moko. These little guys are getting too good. You're gonna need to stop making so many or they are gonna get you one night! I think they've been communicating with my guys....I think they are gonna start a revolution....more later

-Gman

Hi Ben,
On the previous page you mentioned pendant #69 and on this page #68, both of them look so great, so you are almost done with those now? Can't believe your awesome detail. Also, that Big Benzart #10 is so cool looking, the toes are so great on that one, and a cool face on it too. How tall is that one? Is Forbidden Island a tiki bar?

[ Edited by: Bete 2006-04-12 06:40 ]