The same friend I had made the Gavel for, dropped by the other day.
He asked me if I would carve Old Rusty’s name on this cross for him.
Old Rusty had passed away one year ago on this very day, & he was missing his old buddy.
It was quite a coincidence, Rusty died on my birthday in 2008.
After I got started on it, I thought it would be nice to do a relief carving of Rusty.
He was a Golden Retriever, so I asked my friend if he had any good pictures of Rusty.
He didn’t have a picture of the pose I liked, so I searched Google, found this one.
You’ll notice in the first images of the cross, it was nailed together.
So I ended up taking it apart, changing to screws, & plugging the holes.
I also rounded all of the edges with 1/8” round-over bit.
Laying out the spacing for letters, before transferring them.
Transferring the dates.
Rusty lettering partially done.
Here is Rusty completed, I added Mahogany oil stain for color, “Good Guess” It looks like a Golden Retriever. 
Completed! with several coats of BLO.
-- -** You are never to old to set another goal or to dream a new dream ****************** Dick, & Barb Cain, Hibbing, MN. http://www.woodcarvingillustrated.com/gallery/member.php?uid=3627&protype=1
12 comments so far
CharlieM1958
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7684 posts in 1117 days
posted 260 days ago
Great job, Dick!
Our dog when I was growing up was named Rusty. This fellow even reminds me of him.
-- Charlie M. "Woodworking - patience = firewood"
TraumaJacques
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383 posts in 400 days
posted 260 days ago
May Rusty rest in Peace!
-- All bleeding will eventually stop.
spanky46
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737 posts in 290 days
posted 260 days ago
“Mans Best Friend” Thanks for sharing.
Dick, you also are a mans best friend for your skill and thoughtfulness.
-- spanky46 -- Never enough clamps...Never enough tools...Never enough time.
Karson
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25870 posts in 1300 days
posted 260 days ago
Great memory for Rusty. Great job Dick.
-- What happens in the workshop stays in the workshop. No wait that doesn't sound right. Karson Southern Delaware karson_morrison@bigfoot.com †
Grumpy
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14932 posts in 750 days
posted 260 days ago
Great effort Dick. You are a champ.
-- Grumpy - "Always look on the bright side of life"- Monty Python
mtnwild
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2026 posts in 426 days
posted 260 days ago
Really special, great design. I had to make one once and designed it to look like the front of a dog house. Put the name on it and all.
-- mtnwild (Jack), It's not what you see, it's how you see it.
Betsy
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2386 posts in 795 days
posted 260 days ago
That’s a great job. I’m sure your friend will appreciate it for a very long time.
-- You can't get a hug from Facebook.
jockmike2
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7356 posts in 1146 days
posted 259 days ago
You are one great guy Dick. Your friend is a lucky man to have you as a friend. That’s a ripe old age for a dog. Nice job on the cross, and Rusty. I got a Black Lab, I know how attached you can get to them.
-- Mike. mwurm13@yahoo.com
Todd Thomas
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4831 posts in 348 days
posted 259 days ago
great project for a trusty companion …very nice
-- Todd, Oak Ridge, TN, Hello my name is Todd and I'm a Toolholic, I bought my last tool 10 days, no 4 days, oh heck I bought a tool on the way here! †
Dick, & Barb Cain
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7046 posts in 1199 days
posted 259 days ago
Thanks all!
My friend Bill just stopped by to pick up the cross.
He already paid us with a nice batch of homemade soup for Barb, & me.
We’ll eat good tonight.<(:O}#
-- -** You are never to old to set another goal or to dream a new dream ****************** Dick, & Barb Cain, Hibbing, MN. http://www.woodcarvingillustrated.com/gallery/member.php?uid=3627&protype=1
MsDebbieP
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14181 posts in 1060 days
posted 250 days ago
great job.
-- ~ Debbie, Canada (http://www.execulink.com/~yohan)
Dick, & Barb Cain
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7046 posts in 1199 days
posted 250 days ago
Thank you Debbie!
One thing good happened about this project, it got me off of my butt,
& I’ve been spending more time in my shop again.
I’ll have to thank my friend Bill, the next time I see him.
-- -** You are never to old to set another goal or to dream a new dream ****************** Dick, & Barb Cain, Hibbing, MN. http://www.woodcarvingillustrated.com/gallery/member.php?uid=3627&protype=1