Tweet
Hi Gang,
I just thought I would share this little idea I picked up one time at a carving show. This gentleman had some really funky looking santa's and spirit faces. I asked him what kind of wood he carved them out of because it was rock hard. He smiled at me and said 'Yams' of course my reply was 'YAMS'? You know sweet potatoes. He explained to me to take all the peal off of the yams and then to carve the faces into them. He then told me to take them and hang them by a nail or hook and let them dry. Make sure that none of the yam touches anything. Leave them dry all summer or until they are hard as rocks. As they dry the faces distort and make for some really interesting carvings. Once they are dry you can paint them and seal them. One word of caution though when you have finished the carving make sure you wipe off your tools and give them a light coat of oil otherwise if you dont they will rust. Give it a try the material is inexpensive and you might be suprised at the result. For any of you trying carving for the first time it is an excellent way to start and you dont need a lot of tools. Since then people have told me you can do the same with apples although I havent tried that as yet. Any how just thought I would share that with you.
Colin
I just thought I would share this little idea I picked up one time at a carving show. This gentleman had some really funky looking santa's and spirit faces. I asked him what kind of wood he carved them out of because it was rock hard. He smiled at me and said 'Yams' of course my reply was 'YAMS'? You know sweet potatoes. He explained to me to take all the peal off of the yams and then to carve the faces into them. He then told me to take them and hang them by a nail or hook and let them dry. Make sure that none of the yam touches anything. Leave them dry all summer or until they are hard as rocks. As they dry the faces distort and make for some really interesting carvings. Once they are dry you can paint them and seal them. One word of caution though when you have finished the carving make sure you wipe off your tools and give them a light coat of oil otherwise if you dont they will rust. Give it a try the material is inexpensive and you might be suprised at the result. For any of you trying carving for the first time it is an excellent way to start and you dont need a lot of tools. Since then people have told me you can do the same with apples although I havent tried that as yet. Any how just thought I would share that with you.
Colin
Comment