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OT - Bird Patterns, how too?

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OT - Bird Patterns, how too?

#1

OT - Bird Patterns, how too?

Don Evans

Hi All:

I don't have any experience using professional patterns for carving. I decided I wanted to carve and paint some of the birds that come to our backyard feeders and bird baths.

So, I purchased a pattern from Woodcarvers supply and am puzzled because the pattern has a full view from the side but only left side views of the front and top down view is also half. Both of those are left side of the bird.

My confusion is not only why it's done this way but what is the best way to make the missing sides so the pattern can be used to mark the wood for band sawing?

Unfortunately I don't have a software program that will let me copy the left and then flip or reverse it making a duplicate for the right side.

I do have an area dedicated to drawing with a light table etc but that isn't the best answer to this problem. Manually copying the outside for band sawing is feasible but I'm think there has to be a better way.

Anyone been there and done this? How did you do it?

I do have one program on computer called "DrawPlus X8" but I cannot find anything in the downloaded manual about reversing or flipping. It does of course like lots of programs rotate an image.

Don

Re: OT - Bird Patterns, how too?

#2

Re: OT - Bird Patterns, how too?

Barry Irby

I don't know a thing about this, but how about using carbon paper. Put a piece under your pattern facing the wrong way and trace over the pattern and the carbon paper will trace it one the back. Then you will have a left and a right on the same piece and you can use the carbon paper to trace the pattern onto your work, either way.

Re: OT - Bird Patterns, how too?

#3

Re: OT - Bird Carving Patterns, how too?

Don Evans

That's a good idea Barry. I use Transfer paper which doesn't smug as bad and it will make a nice image in the black. If no better ways come up I'll use it.

I'll do a copy of the pattern and use that as the pattern I purchased is a blue print. Thanks

Don

Re: OT - Bird Patterns, how too?

#4

Re: OT - Bird Patterns, how too?

John K Jordan

For bandsawing I'd probably trace or photocopy one side on a piece of paper, fold the paper down the centerline, then cut out the pattern so it unfolds to give the full pattern to glue to the wood block. That's the way I usually make patterns of my own drawings so I don't have to carefully draw a mirror image for the second side.

If drawing freehand from scratch I might draw one half on a piece of white paper, fold, then trace the second side on a light box (or held against a window with light behind).

JKJ

Re: OT - Bird Patterns, how too?

#5

Re: OT - Bird Patterns, how too?

Hugh

There is Mylar that is 8.5" x 11" that one can run through a copier.

The Mylar is transparent enough that you could just flip it over and still see the pattern on the other side.

Maybe cut it out and then flip it.

I have only tried carving a duck decoy.....

There are lots of bird carving books out there. You might want to take a look at a couple of them.

Hugh

Re: OT - Bird Patterns, how too?

#6

Re: OT - Bird Patterns, how too?

Don Evans

Gally John, That is the trick I learned many many years ago and just could not bring it to the frontal lobe.

Thanks much and that's the way I'll go, I have done that but not for long time.

Don

Re: OT - Bird Patterns, how too?

#7

Re: OT - Bird Patterns, how too?

Don Evans

Thanks Hugh,

I've been carving for about 20 years off and on. Only started getting more serious about it last couple years.

Regarding the books I've purchased tons of them over time but as far as I can remember none of them addressed the use of patterns (how to use them). They may have but don't remember.

Appreciate you input

Don

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