One day I decided to create a small bear for a shelf ornament. I emailed it to one of my customers – the next day he sent me a great deal of money to design and enlarge this bear for outdoor use. Wood was not my choice – too much laminating, too much time to carve and a lot of work to reproduce. Within a few more days I had four more requests for bears. Nowadays I use this method when I can’t get a hold of a large log or am installing in a particularly wet area (like BC!)
While I understand this is a wood working site and my passion is for wood, I also think that there are some applications helpful in certain circumstances so as some of you have asked, I am sharing a pictorial process of how the BBears were born.
Since I couldn’t figure out how to add photos to this blog entry, I have dedicated a page on my website that you may access from this link only. http://www.jordanstraker.com/training.html
Please feel free to ask anything that I haven’t explained clearly as now that I’ve done it myself, I may assume y’all understand it. Enjoy.
-- http://www.jordanstraker.com
10 comments so far
a1Jim
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16474 posts in 468 days
posted 12 days ago
Hey Jordon
This was an amazing process very unique approach,but a unbelievable results, Bruce is a real winner thanks for this great blog.
Here’s a link about how to input photos.
http://lumberjocks.com/GaryK/blog/8899
-- Jim from Heirloom Woodshop Southern Oregon
scrappy
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1567 posts in 321 days
posted 12 days ago
Fantastic process. Thank you for the step by step to show just how involved something like this is.
Fantastic design and carving also.
Keep it up.
Scrappy
-- Scrap Wood's the best...the projects are smaller, and so is the mess!
nmkidd
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368 posts in 63 days
posted 12 days ago
Bruce is cool! Thanks for the insight on your process.
-- Doug, New Mexico.......the only stupid question is one that is never asked!........don't fix it, if it ain't broke!
Scott Bryan
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20516 posts in 712 days
posted 12 days ago
Jordan, that is a pretty interesting process. I am not sure I would have the patience and perseverence to work through a process like this but it is interesting to see how it is done.
-- With God's help all things are possible- even woodworking. Woodworking is not just a hobby, it is an (expletive deleted) expensive hobby.
roman
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1106 posts in 784 days
posted 12 days ago
I just love Bruce the bear. ...................very nice carving no matter what the medium. If I put that on the roofof a clients cottage my guess is that it would have a 12 gauge hole in it, in minutes.
-- http://www.furnituremann.ca/
huff
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1608 posts in 176 days
posted 12 days ago
Jordan, I’ll have to say, Bruce is pretty awesome. I’m amazed at the detail you’re able to achieve carving with the blue foam. That’s an interesting process and thanks for sharing.
-- John @ Myrtle Beach
Bob #2
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3031 posts in 912 days
posted 12 days ago
I am really impressed!
It’s the kind of a project usually done in a large shop with several people involved.
To do this on you own is just amazing!
What a great talent!
Bob
-- A mind, like a home, is furnished by its owner
stefang
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1635 posts in 225 days
posted 12 days ago
Really interesting to see how you made this fantastic sculpture/casting. Unfortunately you have have talent to do the sculpturing, so I won’t be trying this anytime soon. I’m sure that some of our members will though, with that great blog and work process documentation.
-- Mike, American in Norway
woodchic
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272 posts in 248 days
posted 11 days ago
Hi Jordan! That is one cool little bear. You did a great job!
Robiin Renee’
AKA…..........Woodchic
-- Robin Renee'
Karson
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25786 posts in 1291 days
posted 11 days ago
Jordon: A truley amazing job. ANd nice idea to let a customer see it because now it’s a money maker. And hopefiully with a profit.
-- What happens in the workshop stays in the workshop. No wait that doesn't sound right. Karson Southern Delaware karson_morrison@bigfoot.com †