DickMira

Thank you, Dick, for you super comments. I don't know if you saw the post "Wildlife Montage" in Works in Progress. That might give you a better idea of what I am doing. Appreciate your interest. Dick Mira

Thanks, David Place the board horizontally across the saw table and cut with spiral saw blades. The most physically difficult project I have ever cut was posted in Works in Progress on Nov 23 [Wildlife Montage] Check that one out!

Yes Dave, I would like to get together. It is always better to see projects in person rather than in pictures,

This beautiful mountain inhabitant was cut with a scroll saw using Pegas Spiral Blades #5 and then power carved from a piece of Sapele that was 19" x 15" x1". It was then stained with MinWax Color Wash in Weathered Wood and some light touches of burnt umber oils and blue/green oils for the eyes.. A final finish of Clear Matte Polycrylic was then applied.

This 30" tall giraffe was completed using a resin inlay material called Inlace Liquid Inlay. The fretwork holes of the giraffe were cut on the scrollsaw. A thin plywood backer board was glued to the back of the piece with construction adhesive. The cut holes were filled with Inlace and allowed to dry. The project was sanded and then a polyurethane finish was applied. The finish was also applied to the natural edge of this cherry board. There are multiple colors of this material available and I recommend the darker brown choices. This material is available at Wood Acrylic Supply on Etsy. OPTION 2 Another method to do this project is to just reduce the wood in each spot with a rotary power tool instead of cutting the frets out with a scroll saw. Only about 1/8" deep is necessary. Then fill the spots with the Inlace and proceed in the same fashion with sanding smooth and applying finish.

Done on Black Walnut piece 20" x 13"

Well done, Larry Great cutting of a terrific pattern on a beautiful piece of cherry. I especially like how you utilized the wood grain for the full effect on the final project. Excellent. Dick Mira

Thank you, Marg Both my scrollsawing and woodcarving were started at the same time, around 2005, new hobbies in retirement. The scrollsaw was a gift from my children and the hand carving tools were a gift from my wife. A Dremel power carving tool quickly replaced the hand carving tools. I burned out three of the earliest models with all of the power carving especially because I preferred to work with hardwoods. These were replaced with Foredom equipment and the more powerful carving features. Dick

The framework for this project is made of black walnut. The size is 41" x 16" and features wolf footprints that are filled with a mixture of blue/green gemstone powder embedded in clear acrylic gel. At first glance, it might appear that the wolf plaques are made from vertical slices of wood from a log. However, slices cut like that would be very unstable especially with all the fret holes that were required to be cut with these scrollsaw patterns. The animal plaques were made from 9" diameter circles cut from a curly maple board that was 1 1/2" thick. The edges were carved to simulate a raw bark edge. The wolves eyes were inlaid similar to the paw prints. The faces were stained with a dry brush technique utilizing a mixture of oil paints in polyurethane in multiple light coats. Everything is finished with Wipe-on-Poly.

Thank you, Frank. It is not a simple question to answer how long these projects take. If it is just a fretwork piece, even with hundreds of pilot holes, it can usually be completed in 7 days. The carved fretwork projects usually average about 6 to 7 weeks depending on the complexity of the pattern and the project. I usually will work about 6 hours a day, 3 hours in the morning and 3 hours in the afternoon. Since I am retired and most of these projects are for my personal collection, the time it takes is not important. Woodcarving is always done in stages-rough carving and then multiple refinement stages. It is never a process from start to finish in one step. For painting, I use a dry brush technique using a mixture of Wipe-on-Poly mixed with artist oil paints in multiple layers. This requires drying time between coats. If your hobby in enjoyable, the time it takes is not significant.

A piece of hard maple, 27" x 13 1/2", was used to create this collection of giraffes. Each one has a unique personality.

This project represents some of America's finest avian wildlife. It was cut and carved from a large piece, 21" x 17", of chestnut. Minimal staining was used.

Munzieb, your craftsmanship in this project is phenomenal. Kudos to you for a spectacular job. Regards, Dick Mira

Kevin asked about whether he should purchase some used woodcarving bits from a friend. There are hundreds of different woodcarving bits available in the market by many different manufacturers. This tells us that each woodcarver has his own favorites. Each project has unique features. The woodworker needs to be skilled in woodcarving before trying carved fretwork because of the delicate nature of the fretwork. He or she should have experienced how a particular bit cuts on a piece of hardwood before attempting to use it on his fretwork. The cutting bits come in a huge selection of sizes, sharpness, aggressiveness, and shapes and unless you have tried them, it is impossible to know how they will behave in your project. Start with the general selections found in starter woodcarving kits and try all of them to find your favorites rather than choosing those another woodworker uses. Just as your scrolling skills improved with practice, so too will your carving skills. Finally, not all scrollsaw patterns are good for carving. Experience will help you make these decisions.

Kevin, the carving is done with a selection of carving bits in a rotating power carving handle. Using a chisel could result in a dramatic shattering of the delicate fretwork. A lot of powdery and fine dust, sawdust, shavings, and chips are created in this procedure---much more than is created with a scroll saw. It is not something that should be attempted on the kitchen table!!!!!! Dust collection equipment is mandatory and masks are too. Dick

This piece, 18' X 15" X 1", was designed to evoke that feeling one gets when observing puppies, kittens, and the littlest ones of all of natures creatures. Hope you get that kind of joy and a smile on your face. Dick

This piece was cut and carved from a highly figured maple board, 22" x 16" x 3/4" The frame is red oak with an oil stain. A beautiful sight to capture one of these raptors in action. Nature provides such beauty.

Most are given to family and the ones that I sell are through an art Gallery. I really only cut patterns that I like for my collection. I usually modify all of them and I rarely cut a pattern twice. Dick

Good Morning, Ralph Thanks for the super comment. Check out my " Wildlife Montage " shown in stepwise fashion in the Works in Progress section. It might provide some explanation of the process for you. Regards, Dick

Hello Gary: Thanks for the super comments. I think this gator went on a summer vacation to Black Bayou. He heard that those Florida folks were planning something. Unfortunately, i do not remember where the pattern came from. I make most of my frames and this molding came from one of the big box stores. Appreciate your interest in my work. Dick

This piece was started on a white oak board, 23" x 15" x 1" thick, routed on all sides with a frame molding bit to cut an incorporated frame. Scrollsawing and then power carving with a Foredom rotary power tool was completed. Sanding was done, light selective staining and multiple coats of Wipe-on-Poly were applied. A backer with black satin paint was attached.

This piece was cut from white mahogany, 18" x 12". It came with instructions for Safe Distancing long before the Covid epidemic even started!!!!!!!!!

These parrots are finished in two different ways. One is completed with a natural finish and one is done with colored oil stains. Which do you prefer?

Thanks for your comments. It tickles me because for all the time I have been scrolling, I was frustrated by the attitude of many "artists" running art shows. They always felt that scrollsawing was a craft and NOT art. A few pieces of different colored fabric stapled to a board, now that was art. I definitely agree with you that seeing woodwork in person is definitely superior to photos which don't do justice to grain patterns on these beautiful woods. Perhaps, another gallery showing in the future???

Small project cut from African Sapele, 13" x 11". The backer board is painted in a random pattern of shades of green.