I carved a whale

[Welsh_Whittler]

Carving a whale. It's made of European Lime. It's going to be a gift for a new born in the family. Their first knick-knack.

Might finish it with Danish oil. What do you think?

 

[Cobbs]

Carving a whale. It's made of European Lime. It's going to be a gift for a new born in the family. Their first knick-knack.

Might finish it with Danish oil. What do you think?View attachment 194857

I think the short grain on the tail may become a problem, but show us when it's finished...

 

[Welsh_Whittler]

I think the short grain on the tail may become a problem, but show us when it's finished...

You make a good point. The point between the tail and the body does feel very weak. I am considering cutting it off and carving a separate tale and hiding the joint.
Its for a baby so I don't expect them to notice the mend or think they could have done it better.

 

[Phill05]

Carving a whale. It's made of European Lime. It's going to be a gift for a new born in the family. Their first knick-knack.

Might finish it with Danish oil. What do you think?

As it's for a baby be mindful how smooth and what finish you put on it as the first thing he/she will do is put it in it's mouth.

 

[Steliz]

Is this meant to be a joke?

 

[Welsh_Whittler]

Is this meant to be a joke?

Hi, im not sure what you are referring to sorry.

The projects not a joke, it's a cartoon style whale I carved. Its made of European Lime. I was considering finishing it with Danish oil but am now thinking Bees wax.

When i said in the previous post that I didn't think a baby would be able to spot the mend or say they could do better that was a joke though. Basically I was saying a baby wouldn't be able to tell what it was and that they wouldn't yet have the ability to speak.

I don't think Phill05 is joking saying to be careful of the edges.

Can I ask what you were questioning?

 

[Cobbs]

In fairness, I doubt Grinling Gibbons was born with the ability to carve - it's a learning curve and we're all at different points along that curve...

 

[Steliz]

A babies first reaction to anything is to put it in it's mouth so I'm questioning why you think giving a baby a rough piece of wood with splinters sticking out of it and coated in a non-food safe finish is a good idea.

 

[Welsh_Whittler]

Oh I see. That's a fair question.

The whale will be their first knick knack. Something to go on the shelf in their nursery and hopefully be an ornament they keep for a few years. Its not intended as a toy but I can see how you might of thought that's what I meant.

I was lead to believe Danish oil was food safe? Is this not true? I'm honestly asking since I have finished my spoons and spatulas with it and would hate to be accidentally poisoning people.

 

[Jake]

Danish oil (and BLO, so-called 'boiled' linseed oil, constituent part of a Danish oil) have drying additives in them to catalyse the hardening/polymerisation - these are heavy metal salts - generally cobalt compounds.