Progress. Soon back to carving

[labrat]

Slow going but making progress. A break from wood carving was much needed.

 

[Norman Brooks]

You have definitely got a master talent on the engraving, and your carving ranks up there too. Really a nice gun!

 

[Brokennock]

Very nice. I take it engraving cones easier to you than carving?

 

[labrat]

I learned to engrave metal many years ago as a hobby and I'm very comfortable and confident doing it. This is my first wood carving with zero experience so I am a little nervous with every cut. I'm probably holding the gouges a little to hard as I'm experiencing alot of hand pain and need to recuperate every now & then. I don't use a mallet but push with my palm using small cuts at a time. Thank you all for your comments.........Labrat

 

[PathfinderNC]

I am in awe of your talent. You certainly are gifted and your skills are so refined. This will be an awesome piece for sure!

 

[PhDBrewer]

Nice work!

 

[erstrauss62]

Can you estimate how much time you will have into that rifle from start to finish?

 

[labrat]

Very hard to give an estimate as I start & stop according to my aches & pains, Ha. I figure I'm 33% complete right now. As of today I guess: 16 hrs on kit assembly & roughing out all parts. 10 hrs on wood carving & 1 inlay. 6 hours on metal engraving. This is actual hands on time. Please understand that I have zero experience on kit building a flintlock & wood working / carving. Because of this there is alot of dead time going back and correcting my mistakes. Hope this helps....Labrat

 

[MAPMFF]

That engraving work is superb!

 

[erstrauss62]

So if that's 33% you’ll have maybe 100 hrs or more into it give or take? I must say it looks incredible at this point!!!

 

[Crow Choker]

Very nice. Tasteful!!!

 

[Norman Brooks]

Very hard to give an estimate as I start & stop according to my aches & pains, Ha. I figure I'm 33% complete right now. As of today I guess: 16 hrs on kit assembly & roughing out all parts. 10 hrs on wood carving & 1 inlay. 6 hours on metal engraving. This is actual hands on time. Please understand that I have zero experience on kit building a flintlock & wood working / carving. Because of this there is alot of dead time going back and correcting my mistakes. Hope this helps....Labrat

I can relate on correction mistakes. I have a question, do you use a transfer template when doing your engraving? That's the only way I can be proficient enough to get it right. I use soft brass sheets to draw and practice on then transfer to the work piece.

 

[labrat]

I draw freehand on the piece. No stencils, computer images or tracing paper just my hands & eyeballs. If I can't draw it freehand I won't use it. This is how I was taught for many years and the more I practiced the better I got. However I am loosing my touch. Can't seem to make a simple straight line or circle anymore. What I have left is good enough for me. I was never a perfectionist and can be seen on my engravings. Close enough is good for me, Ha...........Thank you everyone for your kind remarks, most appreciated............Labrat

 

[labrat]

Norman were you talking about metal engraving on soft brass sheets and then doing a wax transfer to the work piece? That is a good way to transfer images and the engraving on the sheet can be kept for further use on other projects. Hope I answered your question...........Labrat

 

[Norman Brooks]

I draw freehand on the piece. No stencils, computer images or tracing paper just my hands & eyeballs. If I can't draw it freehand I won't use it. This is how I was taught for many years and the more I practiced the better I got. However I am loosing my touch. Can't seem to make a simple straight line or circle anymore. What I have left is good enough for me. I was never a perfectionist and can be seen on my engravings. Close enough is good for me, Ha...........Thank you everyone for your kind remarks, most appreciated............Labrat

If I could do half that good I would be happy. This is about the best I can do, but then the only person I have to impress is me because the guns I build go in my collection. I do save my transfers for other projects... Thanks Labrat

 

[labrat]

Very cool looking inlay and nicely done. I love the contrast and you can't go wrong with flower pedals and leaf designs. Mother nature makes them in all sorts of folds shapes and design. Very attractive.........Labrat

 

[Barry Strickland]

Labrat, You have a unique style to your engraving, I like it!

 

[Hatman/2nd line]

Slow going but making progress. A break from wood carving was much needed.

Your break from wood carving paid off! You do beautiful engraving and I'm sure the wood carving will be just as nice, looking forward to seeing the completed gun!

 

[Brokennock]

If I could do half that good I would be happy. This is about the best I can do, but then the only person I have to impress is me because the guns I build go in my collection. I do save my transfers for other projects... Thanks Labrat

I like that very much.