Large sculpture?

There don't seem to be blocks of wood available that are much bigger
than several inches across. If I want to make a large sculpture, should
I glue together smaller pieces of wood? What kind of glue should I use?
Is epoxy OK? Should I try to make the core hollow to avoid cracking?

On 30 Dec 2004 16:33:14 -0800, wrote:

There don't seem to be blocks of wood available that are much bigger
than several inches across. If I want to make a large sculpture, should
I glue together smaller pieces of wood? What kind of glue should I use?
Is epoxy OK? Should I try to make the core hollow to avoid cracking?

Hi Wizzzer:
Several years ago I carved a rocking horse for my grandson that was
made of nine laminations of 3/4 in. kiln-dried pine. I left some voids
in the center to reduce the weight. It was very easy to carve, but I
had to be very careful carving from one layer to another because of
grain changes, as I alternated the grain for strength (very sharp
tools are necessary for these transitions).

I used the standard "yellow" carpenters glue, and was very careful to
clamp the layers very tightly as I built up the "blank".

It really helped to have Tom Wolfe's book on carving rocking horses to
guide me through this. A couple of years later I carved a rocking
swan for my granddaughter using what I learned from the first project.

Hope this helps.

Bob Weiske
(change x to b to reply)

wrote in news:1104453194.919054.11940
@z14g2000cwz.googlegroups.com:

There don't seem to be blocks of wood available that are much bigger
than several inches across. If I want to make a large sculpture, should
I glue together smaller pieces of wood? What kind of glue should I use?
Is epoxy OK? Should I try to make the core hollow to avoid cracking?


Agreed...I made a small rocking horse and laminated with a number of
pieces. Carved pieces as much as possible and then glued them up. With
finish work to smooth and fit...Kerry

Here in Michigan it is municipal tree trimming time from now though late
winter. In our little town they trim or remove trees of many sizes and
varieties. The wood is free for the taking if the adjacent property owner
doesn't want it. I have been able to obtain some interesting chunks of wood
up to two feet in diameter in varying lengths. The challenge is drying this
wood without splitting.
wrote in message
ups.com...
There don't seem to be blocks of wood available that are much bigger
than several inches across. If I want to make a large sculpture, should
I glue together smaller pieces of wood? What kind of glue should I use?
Is epoxy OK? Should I try to make the core hollow to avoid cracking?

Yes, laminating several boards or blocks together is a common practice for
making a larger carving block. This is done with plaster, foam, and various
other carving media, also.

I'd use white glue, or you can use a product called Gorilla Glue, which will
bond anything. You can find it on the web at http://www.gorillaglue.com/

The core doesn't need to be hollow. You can carve a solid block without
checking or cracking, depending upon the wood being used, as well as the
tools you're using.

Gary


wrote in message
ups.com...
There don't seem to be blocks of wood available that are much bigger
than several inches across. If I want to make a large sculpture, should
I glue together smaller pieces of wood? What kind of glue should I use?
Is epoxy OK? Should I try to make the core hollow to avoid cracking?