The great Lumberjocks shoe challenge #1: Introduction

This will be incredible to watch, Jordan! I think we will all learn a lot even if we just watch. It is a wonderful opportunity for everyone to see and expand their horizons. Thank you so much for presenting this to us. :)

Sheila

PS – do you have an approximate time frame it will take to do the ‘course’?

-- Contributing Editor, Creative Woodworks and Crafts, Sheila Landry Designs http://www.sheilalandrydesigns.com "Knowledge is Power"

Great idea Jordan, this should be fun for all. Have you ever tried the saburr burs? I’ve been using them to sculp a few of my turned bowls and so far they are hoggin the wood quite well….they are a bit pricey so I only have a couple of them….but they are supposed to last a while.

I will have to see if I can dig up some basswood to size….great to have someone so talented giving instructions….I am looking forward to giving it a try….and thank you for taking the time to give us newbies some excellent instruction.

-- Woodworking.....My small slice of heaven!

Jordan, Ity is a great idea and I look forward to viewing and using your carving info to hopefully improve my attempts. I have a Foredom flex shaft carver and have used it somewhat in my grinder sculptings. Your tutorial will be of fantastic benefit for many of us. I always look forward to learning and using different techniques to improve my skills.

-- Every step of any project should be considered your masterpiece if you want the finished product to reflect the quality of your work. http://www.FineArtBoxes.com

knucklenut – no gouges necessary or misc other tools, the rotary tools are sufficient. AS you start to carve with a rotary tool, you will decide on your own, which burs and bits you wish to acquire. I’ve thought and thought about how to make this tutorial something for everyone with as few tools as possible.

Greg – the Foredom is fine. I’m not sure of you have the one with the large or small hand shaft but if you’re used to working with it, you should be fine.

Reggie, I have tried sabur burs and to tell you the truth, I actually like the kutzall better – both are quite pricey but I didn’t like the parallel teeth on the saburs. The ones I’ve shown are Kutzall but they sell them in the stores with the Dremel accessories. They are also available on woodcraft and rockler. Any rough type bit will do. I mean, I carved my first carving with a scissors grinding stone so of there’s a will, there’s a way, but I’d like to make it easy on ya.

-- http://www.jordanstraker.com

I’m sorely tempted to try this, even if all I got out of it was only the armpit of one of Jordan’s war shirts. Guess I’ll have to buy another basic Dremel tool- I wore my 5-speed out doing auto repairs and other non-prescribed tasks. That thing saved me literally thousands in repair bills. Like the time a front outer wheel bearing welded itself to the spindle- I notched the race, cracked it, pulled it off and ground and polished the spindle to accept a new outer bearing. One skinny little grinding disk and a sanding drum was all that took. I have done some neckerchief slides (manually) in my “free time” on hikes and so forth with the Boy Scouts. Those were little fun jobs, most of which I gave to boys when they made Eagle Scout.

“be careful what you wish for” they say .. and now, I guess I’ve committed myself to carving a shoe!
I’ll be limited to whatever wood is sitting in the basement (there’s excuse number 1) ha! :)

Good for you Jordan! Not that there was any room at the top but you’ve just gone up another notch in my book :)

-- ~ Debbie, Canada (http://www.execulink.com/~yohan)

Wow, this should be interesting!
I’m glad to see you are using kiwi polish on those boots :)

-- If you can't joint it, bead it!

this looks like a great way to stretch out of my comfort zone…i did look at rockler and didnt see any carving burrs, but did find some of these, Kutzall Carving Burrs…at lee valley…do you think they would be a good purchase…jusr want to make sure i get good ones…this will be fun…thanks jordan

-- GRIZZMAN ...[''''']

ok i read above and saw your comment…thanks…no reply necessary..

-- GRIZZMAN ...[''''']

The most common used rough burs you will possess are like the ones on this link, specifically 18N1N, 18N1P, 18n1Q, 18N1I. Yes, they do cost but they last and last and last and don’t clog. They are 1/8” shank which is the most useful.

-- http://www.jordanstraker.com

Sheila, I can make one in about 1 1/2 days but I should probably space out the tutorials 4 days between. The project will take as long as you like because it will be in print but we should make a deadline at some point just so everyone can show their shoes off together.

-- http://www.jordanstraker.com

I love shoes, so I think I am going to have to try this.
Do you have any suggestions on what type of shoe to pick? I have a closet full of possibilities, lol.

-- ----- www.KNWoodworking.com ----- --

MrsN. a running shoe is probably closest to what I’m going to be doing – laces are good to challenge yourself with.

-- http://www.jordanstraker.com

OK, Imelda (MrsN), you’ll just have to pick between the suede, patent and canvas for the proper black shoe…J/K, I work with a gal who has so many different textures of the same style of shoe, it just cracks me up- thus, the “Imelda” joke. I’m sure you don’t have that many, you aren’t running a country…or are you?

MsDebbieP, how do you know I don’t like armpits? J/K, but looking at Jordan’s work, I’d take an armpit simply because it’d be the best armpit I’ve ever seen made out of wood. Then again, how wood I explain this to my friends when they come to visit, and see it on the wall in the living room? OK, I’ll admit to a foot fetish and ask for a carved foot instead.