I've just finished carving a snake that wraps around my ironwood walking stick. It's turning out pretty well! I plan to even out the color with a controlled burn, but I'm curious about carving the scales. What tools do you recommend for making the scales? I suppose patience and a good blade are essential, but which type of blade would work best and save time?
5 Answers
Carving snakes can be tricky! I totally get it—sometimes they can turn out looking childish. Can't wait to see your finished piece! Hopefully, it turns out better than mine! 😂
Yeah, definitely go with the burning method! Get a wood burner and a scale-shaped tip—I've seen them recommended on Stennet Sticks but couldn't find the link myself. That's what I’d do!
YouTube has some great tutorials—check out the Stinnet Sticks channel for a rattlesnake carving guide!
Thanks for all the advice! I think I'll try carving down a bit, then use a torch and maybe sandblast for texture. Definitely getting a scale burner for my next project!
If you're already planning to burn the scales, I suggest looking for a scale-shaped wood burning tip. It gives a 3D effect and is way faster than carving them out by hand.