Coming Soon to a Shop Near You

Raph. your newel post project looks fun. You should be able to carve that yourself. I would finish the handrail and remove the sapwood with a drawknife before you decide what to carve. The wood will show you what it wants to be. Just step back and look at it for awhile. Just looking at the picture you posted, I see a Horse looking back at me, but then my daughter is wanting to get horses.
What species of wood is it, pine? That should carve nice. I usually end up having to carve somthing really hard like Osage (lasts really well outside in the garden). Tom

Thanks for starting this thread, Tom.
And for noticing the lack of moderator on this folder.....
I like looking up and seeing " Itinerant Traveller Discussion "
We all wander down the road occaisionally to do our work.

CARE AND FEEDING OF STUMPKINS

Stumpkins have large appetites and will devour joinery off cuts like a wood stove with no door and no damper! They will live much longer if not overfed. They are very well behaved socially and like to be the center of attention at parties. They have also been known to consume hundreds of empty Pabst Blue Ribbon cans. Stumpkin feeding is hot work, keep plenty of cold frosty ones on hand.

Stumpkins love small children, and will play with them for hours. They will also mesmerize them and lure them too close to the fire, so please keep an eye on the little ones.

Stumpkins should drink in moderation, more than a fiew shots of their favorite mix (93 octane and two cycle oil , 50:1 ) and they'll explode!

ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT

Warning: Felling hollow trees to make stumpkins destroys valuable wildlife habitat.

DISCLAIMER

Felling of hollow trees is extremely dangerous! High risk of Kick-Back! The carving of stumpkins involves plunge cutting with a chain saw.
"Stumpkin Floss" is not usually a low-kickback type of saw chain. Wear appropriate safety equipment and USE EXTREME CAUTION.

Work Smart, Be Safe, Have Fun. Tom

Actually the newel post is Red Oak 8.125" square and 12'9" long. It was lot's of fun getting it in there.

Looks like one of your future Stumpkins is having a snack...

That's just my buddy Carl, he must have dropped his beer. How anyone can drink that much Pabst and still be so fit is amazing.

Tom

Any stumpkin consuming more than one Carl is guaranteed to be over the sap/alcohol limit

J.E.B.

I see this forum now has a moderator. I must have made someone nervous. Hi Curtis, I hope I haven't been a bad boy this close to Christmass. I would be happy to moderate, if you need a volunteer. Tom

I do enjoy looking at the pictures in this thread....
Not all who wander are lost, indeed.

Hi Tom,
Another interesting thread indeed.
One must remember that the pen is mightier than the chainsaw, and perhaps more dangerous.

I had Joel add me as moderator for the time being, I have enough itinerant hours on my ticket to qualify.

Hollow stuff can be very dangerous as noted. I like a nice safety chain built for boring and a hard nose bar. This is not work for the easily distracted.

Best to the family and Carl,

Curtis