Sir Bruce the Boar

[ScollSaw Slasher]

I have some  friends who are hunters and have a trailer and hunt camp up in north Florida. Their main game of course is wild hogs. Haven’t been able to talk them into going down to south Florida and shoot some python, but that’s another story. It was requested that I make up a boar intarsia for their lodgings. So after searching, came up with a JGR plan. Very few hog patterns out there.

Now this one was an interesting adventure. Never used a wonder wheel and really never used as many shims to achieve the 3d effect in my few intarsia attempts. Even Mrs. Slasher  had me shim out that snout just a little more. The wonder wheel is great for quickly getting some hairy texture, but never seemed to be able to get a sharp enough edge for very fine cuts. And every once in awhile, would singe the wood. The other problem is with all the concavities and convexities of the shaping it was tough to control an even cut. Went over some areas with my trusty  Dremel   with a sharp tipped grinding wheel. 

                                                                                                                     
I used walnut, teak, Spanish cedar and basswood. The teeth and tusks white washed basswood. The lower lip was teak, but wished I used a redder wood like mahogany. The walnut-cedar actually worked better than I thought they would for most of the head. Actually hit the tongue with a little stain (can’t remember which), but really didn’t come out too different than the rest of the cedar in project. Another thing I would have done would be to taper the sides of the face more, say 3/8 or 1/4. But that has always been one of my questions with intarsia, when to say when?

Enough of my  jabbering. Any of you intarsia gurus out there are welcome to comment and suggest because I’m still a greenhorn at this.

[amazingkevin]

I have some  friends who are hunters and have a trailer and hunt camp up in north Florida. Their main game of course is wild hogs. Haven’t been able to talk them into going down to south Florida and shoot some python, but that’s another story. It was requested that I make up a boar intarsia for their lodgings. So after searching, came up with a JGR plan. Very few hog patterns out there.

Now this one was an interesting adventure. Never used a wonder wheel and really never used as many shims to achieve the 3d effect in my few intarsia attempts. Even Mrs. Slasher  had me shim out that snout just a little more. The wonder wheel is great for quickly getting some hairy texture, but never seemed to be able to get a sharp enough edge for very fine cuts. And every once in awhile, would singe the wood. The other problem is with all the concavities and convexities of the shaping it was tough to control an even cut. Went over some areas with my trusty  Dremel   with a sharp tipped grinding wheel. 

                                                                                                                     

I used walnut, teak, Spanish cedar and basswood. The teeth and tusks white washed basswood. The lower lip was teak, but wished I used a redder wood like mahogany. The walnut-cedar actually worked better than I thought they would for most of the head. Actually hit the tongue with a little stain (can’t remember which), but really didn’t come out too different than the rest of the cedar in project. Another thing I would have done would be to taper the sides of the face more, say 3/8 or 1/4. But that has always been one of my questions with intarsia, when to say when?

Enough of my  jabbering. Any of you intarsia gurus out there are welcome to comment and suggest because I’m still a greenhorn at this.

Fantastic job all round.! I'm impressed how you added wrinkles to the little guy. :thumbs: :thumbs: :thumbs: :thumbs: :thumbs:

[meflick]

I think you did a great job and your friends will be excited to get it and hang at their lodgings.

 

I'm still too much a newbie myself to give you much advice.  I will tell you that taking JGR's classes was a great help and insight into seeing how she does it.  Especially in using the wonder wheel.  She is very aggressive with her sanding and uses the shims to give the projects great dimension.  With the Wonder Wheels - she really has the edges to a fine sharp edge by taking it down on both sides.  Using the Wonder Wheel takes practice just like anything else, she usually has you start out with scrap wood in class and use it on the scrap to practice getting a feel for adding the grooves, making different widths, lengths, etc.  She also says not to worry about the burning or singe that might occur, it just adds more depth and character.  If you are ever up in the East TN area where JGR's shop is, its well worth stopping in to see her gallery of work even if you aren't making a class.  While it all looks impressive on her site and in her catalog, those pictures do not do them real justice until you have seen them in person.

 

Thanks for sharing your project and look forward to seeing more. 

[daveww1]

great job

[MTCowpoke22]

Looks great!

[bobscroll]

You did a lovely job there Blake! Really good!

Bob           

[wombatie]

He looks as if he is smiling.     Great looking piece Blake.  Very well done. 

 

Marg

[Bpardue]

Great job