[Woodcarver] Donna's website(chat)

[Donna Menke]

Funny, I have a whole batch of blanks that got some of the holes too close to the edge too. I keep them to work on myself, but I probably should just toss them. They are for the joined hearts which are delicate anyhow.
Purpleheart and ebony are both very hard and somewhat brittle. You would have to be very careful carving Celtic designs like the pendants with these woods. You could use power, but with such small items I never use power for shaping- sanding maybe. I feel I have more control with hand tools.
I think I will finish some of my pendants without extensive sanding. I have to charge a lot for them sanded- ergo, don't sell many. Maybe without sanding I could lower the price and sell more and ultimately be happier. After all- then I can justify making more.

Donna Menke
http://www.woodworks-by-donna.com 
Author: The Ultimate Band Saw Box Book

----- Original Message ----
From: Merrilee Johnson <merrihat at hotmail.com>
To: woodcarver at six.pairlist.net
Sent: Tuesday, May 15, 2007 7:36:05 PM
Subject: Re: [Woodcarver] Donna's website(chat)

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Hi Donna!
    I think I like the rustic look better!  Especially if I have to sand 
them.  I did cut out my own blanks but drilling the holes was a little testy 
at first.  I slipped and got it too close to the edge. That one is in the 
burn barrel.  The second one was better.  Then I made Becky (my 19 year old) 
do hers.  She doesnt' like the scroll saw either.  But she has started trade 
school for furniture making and she wants to carve on it so I told her its 
time she did it!!)
   Gosh purple heart would be beautiful to have one done it.  Isn't that 
kind of hard to carve?  And what about Ebony?  Hard or not?  We have a new 
carver in our group that is doing some cool stuff in strange woods but he is 
a power carver so he says its easy but not so with a knife.  Maybe I should 
give power a try??
Merrilee




>

>Merrilee,

>Yes- that was issue #5 of Carving Magazine. They are difficult and 

>incredibly time consuming to sand- that is why I have a dozen or so that 

>are completely carved but not sanded. I was even thinking about leaving 

>them like that and finishing them- some people like a more rustic look. I 

>like to carve them on trips because they take a long time and do not 

>generate many chips. Carving is more fun than sanding.

>I'd enjoy seeing your finished product. What wood did you use? Can you cut 

>your own blanks? I charge an arm and a leg for the blanks because I dislike 

>using the scroll saw to cut out the holes. I have some new blanks in 

>mahogany and butternut that I haven't even made yet, but I think they will 

>look nice in those woods. I'd like to try one in ebony someday too. 

>Purpleheart would look nice- and zebra- heck, I have trouble thinking of a 

>wood I don't like!

>

>Donna Menke

>http://www.woodworks-by-donna.com

>Author: The Ultimate Band Saw Box Book

>

>----- Original Message ----

>From: Merrilee Johnson <merrihat at hotmail.com>

>To: woodcarver at six.pairlist.net

>Sent: Saturday, May 12, 2007 10:20:53 PM

>Subject: Re: [Woodcarver] Donna's website

>

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>

>

>Hi Donna!

>    Didn't you do one of your celtic pins in one of the magazines?  If so 

>my

>young friend and I did it also!  It was very intricate to do.  And I must

>confess I am a non sander so I think mine is alittle rougher than yours 

>was!

>   But I still like the design.  Thank you!

>Merrilee

>

>

>

> >Someday soon I'll be posting directions and plans for my small carvings-

> >the pins and Celtic designs.

>

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