Wood thickness -thinner is better

[savethebeer]

This is a pattern by Jim Blume. My sister wants a French Bulldog to go with her 4 Chihuahua dogs. Except she had a fall recently and smashed hip and femur  so no new dog for at least 12 months. I decided to do Jim's pattern to cheer her up for Christmas.

I did the right one in quarter inch ordinary ply that I had lying around but I didn't like the way it looked due to the inner surface of each cut showing, and also the way I could not stain most of these inner surfaces. When looked at from an angle it was hard to tell what it was. It took about 5 hours over 3 days to do this one.

Decided to do it again in 4mm BBP. I just happened to print the pattern in a smaller size so I went with that. Much happier with this result. This one took about 2 hours. I used a Pegas #3 spiral on both but I used a Pegas # 3 super skip on the eyes of the smaller one before I started doing all the rest of the cuts, just in case I messed up the eyes, in which case the patterns would go into the fire wood bin.

I'm going to frame the smaller one for her and I think she'll be happy, that is until I give her her next pressie. I'll wrap an old wooden brush handle along with a Swiss army knife and a booklet on Whittling, with a suggestion she whittles her own walking stick

 

[savethebeer]

Thanks to Jim and all the pattern makers out there. 

[meflick]

Your sister will love it. A great gesture on your part to try and give her the “dog” she wants. I hope she heals well and quickly. Those can be hard recovery from. Prayers for her.

[kmmcrafts]

Great pattern and cutting!!

I agree with you on the thinner wood. I make most everything using 3mm BBply.. and honestly think even thinner than that for portrait type work would look better.. especially if you mount it to a backer board anyway.. I started out doing them in the 6mm? 1/4 inch ply but quickly switched to the 1/8 inch.. 

[daveww1]

excellent job