Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Around the Campfire => Topic started by: Gus on April 12, 2012, 03:22:02 pm

Title: Finished up my First Bald Eagle Feather!
Post by: Gus on April 12, 2012, 03:22:02 pm

Sorry for the Hook Y'all... but I couldn't help it.
Specially with all the talk of Protected Feathers lately.

  :)

This one is a Life Size Bald Eagle left wing secondary, got the spec's off the web.
Carved from a piece of a downed Mesquite I picked up at Dove Camp last year.
Used a little powdered Kingman Turquoise to fill some voids.
Finished with 12 coats of CA Glue, sanded to 800, then polished out with Lindseed Oil and Rottenstone.
Then waxed with Carnuba Wax

Thanks for looking.

-gus

(http://i1251.photobucket.com/albums/hh547/augustus1967/P4120001.jpg)
(http://i1251.photobucket.com/albums/hh547/augustus1967/P4120002.jpg)
(http://i1251.photobucket.com/albums/hh547/augustus1967/P4120004.jpg)
(http://i1251.photobucket.com/albums/hh547/augustus1967/P4120005.jpg)

Title: Re: Finished up my First Bald Eagle Feather!
Post by: Adam on April 12, 2012, 03:37:26 pm

Wow! That looks amazing!

Title: Re: Finished up my First Bald Eagle Feather!
Post by: JW_Halverson on April 12, 2012, 05:07:06 pm

Gus, that just takes my breath away.  The grain of the wood is hypnotic.  This kind of freestyle carving just blows me away.  Wow, thanks for sharing!

Title: Re: Finished up my First Bald Eagle Feather!
Post by: ErictheViking on April 12, 2012, 05:10:35 pm

Ha! I thought you had made an imitation eagle feather from a white goose feather. (yours is way way way nicer) Very cool stuff!

Title: Re: Finished up my First Bald Eagle Feather!
Post by: Lee Slikkers on April 12, 2012, 05:49:21 pm

Gus...what a piece!!!  I've often thought I should try something like this (given I am a falconer and x-decoy carver) but somehow I never get around to it, seeing that piece makes me really regret not having done so.  Very nice!

Title: Re: Finished up my First Bald Eagle Feather!
Post by: Pappy on April 13, 2012, 07:06:05 am

Thats beautiful,very fine work. :)
   Pappy

Title: Re: Finished up my First Bald Eagle Feather!
Post by: bowtarist on April 13, 2012, 11:13:32 am

yes sir

that is one sweet feather carving.

 8), dpg

Title: Re: Finished up my First Bald Eagle Feather!
Post by: coaster500 on April 13, 2012, 11:30:59 am

Beautiful!!!

Title: Re: Finished up my First Bald Eagle Feather!
Post by: Gus on April 13, 2012, 01:29:19 pm

Thank You Fellas,

I do love the way Mesquite works and smells, even with a dust mask on... :)
And the Golden Iridescence in Sun light can be mesmerising.

Have some staves of this stuff aging, looking forward to giving it a try as bow wood.

-gus

Title: Re: Finished up my First Bald Eagle Feather!
Post by: Stoker on April 13, 2012, 02:57:37 pm

Amazing work..It's beautiful in a picture can't imagine how nice it would be in the sun..
Thanks leroy

Title: Re: Finished up my First Bald Eagle Feather!
Post by: gstoneberg on April 13, 2012, 03:02:49 pm

I like it.  That mesquite heartwood is some pretty stuff.  I wasn't sure what to expect from the subject, but it was worth it.

George

Title: Re: Finished up my First Bald Eagle Feather!
Post by: criveraville on April 14, 2012, 02:25:31 am

I told y'all Gus is a master craftsman ;)

Gus that's the prettiest feather I have ever seen. Just amazing.

Cipriano

Title: Re: Finished up my First Bald Eagle Feather!
Post by: soy on April 14, 2012, 03:58:17 am

Wow :o

Title: Re: Finished up my First Bald Eagle Feather!
Post by: Carson (CMB) on April 14, 2012, 05:20:59 am

Gus, that is really cool. 8) Not what I expected!  I bet that thing looks amazing in person in the sunlight! Do you think you could carve a bat in flight out of wood.  I always thought that would be cool, but impossible to get thin life-like wings, then I saw this feather...

Lee, I wonder, is that where carving birds from wood originated? Some good old utilitarian hunting roots in those colorful carving books I see at the woodworkers store.

Title: Re: Finished up my First Bald Eagle Feather!
Post by: Lee Slikkers on April 14, 2012, 11:22:39 am

Quote from: CMB on April 14, 2012, 05:20:59 am

Lee, I wonder, is that where carving birds from wood originated? Some good old utilitarian hunting roots in those colorful carving books I see at the woodworkers store.

I think is possible but the utilitarian can before the "art" in almost all cases of waterfowl, shorebird or other carvings.  Fun to think about for sure!

Title: Re: Finished up my First Bald Eagle Feather!
Post by: MWirwicki on April 14, 2012, 12:24:37 pm

Holy Sh--!  Gus, that is really cool.

Title: Re: Finished up my First Bald Eagle Feather!
Post by: Adam on April 14, 2012, 01:09:54 pm

I've lloked at your pictures several times now, and I'm more impressed each time I see your carving.

Title: Re: Finished up my First Bald Eagle Feather!
Post by: Gus on April 15, 2012, 03:31:08 pm

Thank you guys...

Thank you CMB, I do love Bats, but I haven't worked up the mustard to try carving one yet.

But I have been carving Humming Birds in flight.
And with them, I carve the wings cupped, and as you see them in life, the blur makes the wings look thicker.
So I add that apparent thickness to the wings making it easier to carve... and a little more durable. :)

Thank You for your kind words Cipriano, but I'm no master... I'm only a student of wood.

Thank You coaster500, bowtarist, soy, MWirwicki, Adam, Lee and stoker... encouragement coming from you guys means A LOT!  :)

Thank You George, I have to admit I was being a little mischievous when I wrote the title.

-gus

Title: Re: Finished up my First Bald Eagle Feather!
Post by: gstoneberg on April 15, 2012, 09:06:25 pm

Hey Gus, if you want more mesquite make sure you save room in the truck on the way home next weekend.  There's more mesquite there than you can shake a stick at.  Also, lots of walking stick sized cedar and oak.

George

Title: Re: Finished up my First Bald Eagle Feather!
Post by: Gus on April 16, 2012, 01:24:39 pm

Thank You George!

Gotta find some time to sit down this week and hone my chainsaw.
Cut a Big Ole Mulberry this past weekend and got into a bit of Steel in the process...

Looking forward to Friday!

:)

-gus