Celtic Khuk

Federico

Federico

Joined
Sep 5, 2000
Messages
1,522
Just wanted to share a pic of a some carving Ive been doin to my Khuk. For some reason the handle just screamed at me to put in celtic knots. So heres my pitiful attempts at doing so. Still gotta clean it up, and finish it, but well you get the idea.
celtickhuk.jpg
 
Federico that is gonna be absolutely beautiful when you get it done.
You most certainly qualify for a Woodchuck Award!!!! just wish I had one to give you.:cool: :D :D :D :D

Please let us see the final results when you get it finished!!!!:D

It should be fairly comfortable and add traction to the grip as well.
Dayum I like that!!!!:cool:
 
Thank you both for the compliments. I must confess the picture doesnt really show the sloppiness of the carving ;):D. Im still trying to clean it up, but Im hittng a tough spot in within the gap between some of the knots. I was able to clean up alot with needle files, but those little gaps are hard to get into, and the wood is likes to splinter. Any tips on cleaning up within the gaps?

Anyways this is my first adventure into power carving, still trying to get used to it.
 
Hate to say it, but this is kinda the best resolution my camera has. Ill try and work out the kinks in my computer and get my scanner working again to try and get some better resolution, but well dunno how successful that will be.

Ill definitely try and get more picture up though. I still have to do something with the karda and chakma.
 
Hey Bruise its never to late to try and learn. I cant say that I have any real training on what to do, besides the obligatory shop class in Jr. High School, but have always learnt from trying and making mistakes. This is actually my second attempt at this particular khuk.
 
Fed, if I sent you four or five of mine, could you make them as pitiful and sloppy? Or, if you are really busy, just pitiful on some and sloppy on the others? PITIFUL AND SLOPPY my Great Aunt Agnes - that is beautiful work, and if you keep talking like that I hope you get a splinter!! :eek:

You mentioned "power carving" - Are you using a Dremel, and if so, what bits/burrs? I'm short on carving/long on finishing experience, but what little I've done in wood, I usually "rough out" with the Dremel and fine tune with Xacto blades. The "squares" between the laces of your knot would be where I would suspect splintering, and a very sharp Xacto would be what I'd use to clean up the corners. Then, in the bottom where you want it flat, compress it with the point of a small flat punch. Bhimsen has done this in the "bottoms" between the leaves/vines on my UBE, compressing what had to be roughed-up wood. He also used one with a design (like a leather stamping tool) to add a pattern in the wider areas. I can't tell if he waxed or oiled the wood to help the stamping/compression or not, but it is a thought. Not sure, but a thought. He also left signs (not many, but just a few) that he had used the flat of a blade to rub/polish the edges of the leaves which are cut in deep relief. I used a folded corner of a piece of 600 grit paper to smooth a couple of these before I noticed this. The light sanding tended to break up what he had done with the blade, so I repaired my goof by rubbing the places I'd sanded with an old spoon handle I'd reshaped with the Dremel. If you need a special tool, just make it, but don't let the Mrs. catch you in the silverware drawer. :p
 
Thanks for the tips Walosi. Ill try the compression idea. Its cleaning up much nicer now.

As for the dremel bits I used, I used the ones that came with it :D
Actually I got the 4 bits that came with it, and bought one more. I ended up using a stone bit that was somewhat conical to deepen and clean up the carving bits marks. Sorry I have no idea what their actual names are. I also used a sharp knife that I use for cleaning up stuff (not a xacto but Im used to it) along with the karda that came with it. The needle files though really helped clean the lines, but I wasnt careful and put a scratch into one of the knots. Ill try and sand it out but I dont know if I can since its kinda deep.

Still compared to the work the kamis do the carving is sloppy, and yes I did get splinter ;):D:D:D:cool:
 
Talkin' about good work like that, and after your Khuk woke me up at 0-dark-thirty, crying out. Actually, it was onions on a pizza that got me up, and it was the Cairn crying out (now you know where he sleeps :barf: {there is no smiley for "PHEEEW}) I got out the glass and looked at the Bhimsen handle again - he MAY have compressed the flat spaces when they were damp. I just can't tell. I might try it on my own handle, but I'm afraid to suggest it to someone else. That is really pretty work - keep the pics coming as you progress.

BTW - one of the most useful clean-up files is one I have from my Dad's stuff. it is on a six-inch shaft, with a turned-up "duck bill" on each end. The bottoms of the "bills" are burred in a super fine diamond pattern. The shaft is stamped with a running rabbit, and "Grobet Swiss Valorbe", with a #4 on one flat of the shaft and a #7 on another. The set is over 40 years old, or more, but it wouldn't surprise me if the company is still around. I've never seen another like it, and my search engines aren't much help so far.

Amazing what a little caffeine can do :)
Just do a search for "Grobet Files" and take your pick. The co. is 130 years old, and going stronger than ever.
 
Fed, I have been thinking of doing that to my Bob Kenny Bolo. I like your work. I woodcarve myself, but no power carving, just knives and an sometimes a gouge. Great job, I am inspired. Bruise, I only started woodcarving about 2 years ago and I just turned 30. It is never to late to start. I have a great book I can send you if you are interested.
 
I might have to try my hand at wood carving. What's a good type of wood to use? For me trying on a khuk is too risky for now :p
 
Basswood or white pine is best to start with. It is relatively soft and easy to cut. I like using harder woods like walnut, butternut and mahogany. Cherry and other fruit woods are nice but very hard. Oak and maple are too hard for knife carving really. Whatever wood you use, pick a piece with straight , even grain. Wavy grain and figuring in the wood looks cool, but is harder to carve. Keep your blades shaving sharp. You WILL get cut eventually. The only questions are, Do you need stiches and how often will I do this. I used to get cut once per prject, and got stiches regulaly. I am much better now. You learn from mistakes. I don't power carve so I can't comment on that, but this info is true for hand carving.
 
(MY way, hardly the only way) hand-carving should be learned and practiced before you get too involved with the power tools. Once you know what you want to get from a piece of wood, or metal, or whatever medium, you can learn to rough out your figure(s) with a Dremel and burs/files, and the settle in on the fine detail by hand. Most of the "set-up" is just removal of excess material, but to learn what, where and how much, to take off you must do it first with a blade. Like haircuts, it's hard to put some back. Many disdain the use of power tools as bastardizing the art, but I see nothing lost in cutting down the time on the "scut work". Many custom stockmakers use a pantograph to cut out blanks, using one of their own as a model. This is still art, as the finishing must be done by hand, and the original was theirs to begin with. There are those who disagree, but their stocks take months longer, and they are finding themselves priced out of the market. New stuff isn't bad unless it is misused.
 
Just to let you all know I finished putting knots into the chakma, and will start on the karda soon. Ill get more pics up once Im done with the karda.

Buy a dremel, if not for power carving there are just so many other uses for it, not to mention that they are relatively cheap for the basic models (you can always upgrade with more bits and accesories later). My first choice was to buy a woodburning unit, but for the price and the variety of uses I couldnt resist the dremel. Ive actually used mine for more non-woodchuckery related projects than for chucking wood :p:D:D
 
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