Bench for the Diamond C ranch

[steve_g]

Here’s the latest bench we carved… We don’t often get to do 3D due to the up charge. The wood is Spalted Hackberry and was the worst wood I’ve ever carved! The fuzzies were horrible! To salvage the job, we varnished the bench on the bot, let it sit overnight, and re-cut it the next day. Nice clean cuts the second time!
The iron work was not ours, we use square tubing rather than angle iron.
SG

[dmidkiff]

Nice trick for the fuzzies. Turned out great. I really like the spalted wood.

[joe]

Geeeees Steve, that's down right beautiful. This kind of carving looks even better as mother nature goes to work. Congratulations.

[scottp55]

Really NICE job Steve!!
Never used Varnish and cut next day, But do use a hardware store brush(stiff bristle meant for Muriatic acid on chimney work) and give fussies a good stiff brush and almost all come off. HAVE used a 50/50 lacquer/lacquer thinner on tough ones, and in half hour done an RR...seems to stiffen fuzzies Just enough to cut clean, and does not seem to affect a linseed/tung finish.
I LIKE it:)
scott

[willmorgan]

Very nice job Steve!

[cowboy1296]

Beautiful work. I have stayed away from 3-d in soft wood. I have enough fuzzies in hardwood to deal with. But great idea on the recutting

[James M]

Steve,

Great job! Good ideas on how to deal with the fuzzies in softwood here. I've tried the wood hardener prior to cutting with limited success.

[steve_g]

James…
I have used wood hardeners in the past… Best results for me were with western red cedar (not aromatic) and used between the rough and finish cut. Also, I found that the entire project has to be coated to avoid “water marks” in the finish. By water marks I mean a visible transition from treated to untreated areas in the finished product. My first choice for this purpose would have been spray shellac, but we were out of it, it was the end of the day and the gun was loaded with Helmsmen spar varnish!
SG

[cowboy1296]

Question for you Steve. When you did your second cut, did you lower your z down any at all or did you stay with the same z-0.

[steve_g]

Typically I drop the Z down .004" before I run a file a second time.
SG

[cowboy1296]

thanks. The reason i asked i might be doing a 3-d in western red cedar in the near future. I dont have any experience with 3-d in cedar and am expecting fuzzies. Anyone else care to chime in.

[danhamm]

Most of the stuff I do is cedar, make sure its dry...if there is minute surface cracks I mix 50/50 water and wood glue and coat thick and leave for a couple of days.

[cowboy1296]

thanks dan, this was a left over piece from perfect plank that i have had for about 4 years.