Dale's mule deer class

[Dale]

I went to the local Tandy today and tooled this up. All the stamps came off the rack, and I used their student's Craftool swivel knife. Just to be clear, I'm not talking about tools for production work or tools for folks with a lot of money. These are tools made for the hobbyist. You don't need the big bucks to get a good result (at least I think it's good).

Incidentally, I was not only able to use the foliage tools well, but was actually rather pleased with them. The checked matting tools are also quite good these days.

Dale

[Johanna]

Dale, you could probably get good results tapping on one rusty bolt with your shoe. Could we have a bigger pic, please?

Good point, though. I've seen many carvers get quite proficient with the hobby tools, and some never do bother to buy into the next tier. What's the saying? "If you can't pound a nail, a better hammer won't help!"?

Johanna

[Dale]

How big do you want the pic?

[Mike]

800 x 600 would work for me.

[yaklady]

Dale, I agree with Johanna, you can use ANYTHING and come out with good results! I was trying to help out a new person with some of Tandy's new tools, right off the shelf, and was not impressed. I guess I'm spoiled with all the tools I got 100 years ago. Are the matters really better than they were? Can you carve a yak with Tandy's tools?

Kathy

[Dale]

Larger pic as requested.

Kathy...The matters aren't as good as the originals, but they're better than the first ones I ever had and those I've tried previously. Texture is a little flat, but I think the shape has been refined. Not all the tools on the rack will work as well as you want them to. At least not for what you want to do. In other words, the textbooks may not be accurate any more. Sometimes you have to improvise.

I know I've said this before, but look at the new Craftool modeling tools. If I didn't already have the ones I want, those would be the ones I'd go after.

Dale

Oh yeah...Kathy, send me a pic and I'll see what I can do.

[yaklady]

Dale, it looks like the tree tools work quite well. I have had no trouble with those types of tools from Tandy's, but I hate their matters and I'm not too thrilled with the spoons. So the new spoons are better? Tony Laier showed me those last winter, but I didn't get to play with them.

So you want a yak picture? ClayB wants to have a yak carving contest. Care to join us? I'll get a picture out!

Kathy

[Regis]

So you want a yak picture? ClayB wants to have a yak carving contest. Care to join us? I'll get a picture out!

Kathy

GREAT idea.......especially if there is 2 classes: over and under 2 years carving experience. Could call it the "yak-a-dy yak carving contest"!

Now, if it had to be carved on yak hide, would that be a conflict of interest [lol] :biggrin:

Regis

[ClayB]

Dale,

I think you did a great job on the foliage too, whatever tools you used on it. I have trouble figuring out how to use those tools. So is it possible this could be the pattern for an upcoming class somewhere???

I dont mean to hijack your thread here, but it really is a good lead up to something I have been working on. Last year we talked about doing some carving contests and there seemed to be some interest by the members, but somewhere along the way the idea just petered out. As a staff member here, I'd like to apologize for that. I have been working on getting some kind of contest going and was planning on announcing it this week. I have been waiting on something from Jim Linnell at TLF. Jim has generously agreed to supply prizes for the contest. What I had picked was a few sets of those new modeling tools because I had heard good things about them. I'll try and make the official announcement later this week at the appropriate place here on the forum. I think the yakity yak carving contest would be a lot of fun too. Lets keep that idea going.

Now, back to our regualarly scheduled program. (Dale's mule deer)

[Dale]

So is it possible this could be the pattern for an upcoming class somewhere???

If all goes well, we're planning a class for ClayM's store in Rapid City in January. We'll probably have one in Colorado Springs shortly after that.

[ClayB]

That's great Dale! Make sure you keep us posted as to the dates here on the forum.

[Regis]

Dale,

This looks like a good project (figure & scenary) for some of us newer carvers to make. Just finished products (carved & tooled) with no step-by-step because that would take a long time (via internet). If several of us submit the same project then we can learn from all your comments. If you've taught a class on this, perhaps you could tell us some of the common areas that students had difficulty with.

If you give us an approximate size for this peice, I for one will do it (and most of my tools are TLF).

Thanks for showing (and sorry about earlier contest hiijak)

Regis

[Clay]

I was waiting for Dale to post the dates but I could not wait any longer. The class will start the evening of Friday the 11th of Jan and go all day Saturday the 12th and then half day on Sunday the 13th. The cost is $30 and includes the leather. For more information or a list of required tools please call me at the store 1-877-800-1853.

ClayM.