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I do! A link to my Etsy shop is in my profile. These should be added to the shop in the next few days. Note that some of these were carved for specific people so they won’t appear in the shop.
I do! A link to my Etsy shop is in my profile. These should be added to the shop in the next few days. Note that some of these were carved for specific people so they won’t appear in the shop.
Oh man, I have no idea. That wood is crazy expensive! Both of those are spoken for (and yes, I do get to keep one of them!). I did receive another hunk of Snakewood so I am going to carve some more of them. The price will depend on how many I can carve from the chunk.
Thank you!
A Comfort Bird is like a Worry Stone. It is something that is pleasant to hold and has a calming effect due to the feeling of the surface and feeling of the curves. It is also meant for people that fidget with their hands a lot. It givens them something to hold and constantly keep their hand busy instead of playing with other more distracting things like clicking pens, tapping and other distracting/annoying activities. The different curves give enough tactile feedback to constantly keep busy hands busy.
These types of items are also used frequently in various therapies focusing on trauma and PTSD. They keep people in the moment rather than thinking back to their trauma.
I actually have several people that I made one of these for use it to help them fall asleep. They take it to bed and concentrate on the feeling of the bird to keep their mind from wandering thinking about other things that would normally keep them awake.
Why no detailing on these carvings? Because these are meant to be true Comfort Birds that are handled. Texture and details actually take away from tactile comfort feeling of these pieces. If you are caving one for more presentation, then detail away!!
Very, very quickly. Those Snakewood and ebony ones were ridiculous. Because all those concave curves put a slight lateral friction on the blade, I would hit the strop every minute or so during the more aggressive carving.
I actually got that blank in a trade deal with a guy that specializes in making resin/wood blanks. The previous batch of wood/resin birds I carved were all done from blanks I received from him. I made my own blanks for a while but they were no where near as good as someone that specializes in making them. I still do not know how he manages to have so few, if not no bubbles in his blanks. If anyone is curious, I can link his Etsy shop.
Ya I've worked with resin a few years ago but I just couldn't get it to look good and without so many bubbles, eventually I just couldn't justify the cost but I wouldn't mind buying some blanks if you have the link.
Reminds me of the album artwork for Kishi Bashi’s album [Omoiyari](https://open.spotify.com/album/7efrHmcFVWTB733vfDt9ey?si=d9RJIv0nTG-95Ks2JjfPiQ). Nice work!
I am always willing to help! In fact, I will be recording me carving one of these from “block to finished” in the next project or two I make. Enough people have requested it (and my wife said she would edit it) that I should probably do one.
I’ve tried 4 of these from two different patterns but each pattern lacks symmetry so it’s been frustrating. I have a bunch of scrap cherry laying around wanting to be made into rough birds to mess around with. Do you have a pattern you started with? At this point I feel like I may as well just make one up as it isn’t a difficult shape.
Do you hand sand or use a power tool like a dremel? I haven’t been able to get the smoothness on the few I tried. Do you carve with a knife, gouges, or both? I’ve only tried knife only.
After trying oak for one I will never try some of these woods, lol.
I do have a general pattern I use that I made myself actually. These days I use it about 50% of the time.
You should only use a rotary to sand for the first sanding to get rid of the carving marks and then hand sand from there. No matter which sanding type bit you use, you will end up with either light sanding edges or put down and lift up marks dotting the piece. You can use a sanding mop/bristle/string type sander but you have to be careful or it can wear down the beak and change your final shape a bit.
I have tried these with knives, chisels and even tried power carving one (wouldn’t recommend that one and be prepared for a huge mess). The best method, and most enjoyable, I find is with a knife. Of course I have done so many now that I have a carving routine down which may be why I feel about it that way. I will show how I carve them in the video.
Haha! I bet trying oak was a shock! You have to remember, I started out with the easy to carve woods (basswood, butternut) for a while before going to things like walnut, cherry and oak. Then, after carving those for a while, I went even harder. You do build up some “carving” strength which helps with harder woods. After a while, go back and try oak again, I think you will be surprised. I actually took a few months off from carving and when I came back, I tried carving Purpleheart and couldn’t do it. I had to downshift to softer woods for a while and work my way back up. Even then, I could only carve at it a bit and then had to switch to another carving. I must admit, I do LOVE the way purpleheart looks when it is finished … but it is one of my least favorite woods to carve.
This is a reminder to those commenting on this post (not the person that posted it): Comments not related to woodworking will be removed. Violations to rule 1 including crude jokes, innuendo, sexist remarks, politics, or hate speech may result in an immediate ban *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/woodworking) if you have any questions or concerns.*
I find this difficult to watch after seeing the T.V. Show "Black Bird" with Taron Egerton.
Someone else just mentioned that show. Is it worth checking out?
It’s good
It is fantastic if you enjoy psychological thriller type shows. Also, Ray Liottas final appearance I believe.
Love them. Do you sell?
I'm also curious.
I do! A link to my Etsy shop is in my profile. These should be added to the shop in the next few days. Note that some of these were carved for specific people so they won’t appear in the shop.
Awesome! I'll check it out.
I do! A link to my Etsy shop is in my profile. These should be added to the shop in the next few days. Note that some of these were carved for specific people so they won’t appear in the shop.
So all I want to know is how much you charge for the snake wood ones, given the price of the raw wood?
Oh man, I have no idea. That wood is crazy expensive! Both of those are spoken for (and yes, I do get to keep one of them!). I did receive another hunk of Snakewood so I am going to carve some more of them. The price will depend on how many I can carve from the chunk.
what are they "for" and why did you name them comfort birds? beautiful :)
Thank you! A Comfort Bird is like a Worry Stone. It is something that is pleasant to hold and has a calming effect due to the feeling of the surface and feeling of the curves. It is also meant for people that fidget with their hands a lot. It givens them something to hold and constantly keep their hand busy instead of playing with other more distracting things like clicking pens, tapping and other distracting/annoying activities. The different curves give enough tactile feedback to constantly keep busy hands busy. These types of items are also used frequently in various therapies focusing on trauma and PTSD. They keep people in the moment rather than thinking back to their trauma. I actually have several people that I made one of these for use it to help them fall asleep. They take it to bed and concentrate on the feeling of the bird to keep their mind from wandering thinking about other things that would normally keep them awake. Why no detailing on these carvings? Because these are meant to be true Comfort Birds that are handled. Texture and details actually take away from tactile comfort feeling of these pieces. If you are caving one for more presentation, then detail away!!
That's wonderful thank you for teaching me!
What varnish? Designed by you?
These is no varnish on these. They are sanded to 2000 grit, oiled with Danish, and then buffed with carnauba wax.
Very nice.
How quickly does your knife dull carving those woods?
Very, very quickly. Those Snakewood and ebony ones were ridiculous. Because all those concave curves put a slight lateral friction on the blade, I would hit the strop every minute or so during the more aggressive carving.
They look amazing but what type of wood is that super red one?
The red one is a mix of resin and Burl. It really is awesome looking under bright light.
Super cool! Did you make it did you buy is?
I actually got that blank in a trade deal with a guy that specializes in making resin/wood blanks. The previous batch of wood/resin birds I carved were all done from blanks I received from him. I made my own blanks for a while but they were no where near as good as someone that specializes in making them. I still do not know how he manages to have so few, if not no bubbles in his blanks. If anyone is curious, I can link his Etsy shop.
Ya I've worked with resin a few years ago but I just couldn't get it to look good and without so many bubbles, eventually I just couldn't justify the cost but I wouldn't mind buying some blanks if you have the link.
https://www.etsy.com/shop/Turningadream
Awesome thanks
Reminds me of the album artwork for Kishi Bashi’s album [Omoiyari](https://open.spotify.com/album/7efrHmcFVWTB733vfDt9ey?si=d9RJIv0nTG-95Ks2JjfPiQ). Nice work!
These are so beautiful!
Alternative idea: discomfort birds, made of rosewood and mahogany
I may have to carve one of those just for fun but make it really spiky! I saw that guy post about is reaction to rosewood! Wow
I love it
Is that a comfort bird in your pocket or are you just happy to see me?
Why can’t it be both? 😉
i want a comfort bird!
Did you want to carve your own or just buy one?
ha. i’m likely to just buy one but if you have advice on how to do it i’m open to it
I am always willing to help! In fact, I will be recording me carving one of these from “block to finished” in the next project or two I make. Enough people have requested it (and my wife said she would edit it) that I should probably do one.
I’ve tried 4 of these from two different patterns but each pattern lacks symmetry so it’s been frustrating. I have a bunch of scrap cherry laying around wanting to be made into rough birds to mess around with. Do you have a pattern you started with? At this point I feel like I may as well just make one up as it isn’t a difficult shape. Do you hand sand or use a power tool like a dremel? I haven’t been able to get the smoothness on the few I tried. Do you carve with a knife, gouges, or both? I’ve only tried knife only. After trying oak for one I will never try some of these woods, lol.
I do have a general pattern I use that I made myself actually. These days I use it about 50% of the time. You should only use a rotary to sand for the first sanding to get rid of the carving marks and then hand sand from there. No matter which sanding type bit you use, you will end up with either light sanding edges or put down and lift up marks dotting the piece. You can use a sanding mop/bristle/string type sander but you have to be careful or it can wear down the beak and change your final shape a bit. I have tried these with knives, chisels and even tried power carving one (wouldn’t recommend that one and be prepared for a huge mess). The best method, and most enjoyable, I find is with a knife. Of course I have done so many now that I have a carving routine down which may be why I feel about it that way. I will show how I carve them in the video. Haha! I bet trying oak was a shock! You have to remember, I started out with the easy to carve woods (basswood, butternut) for a while before going to things like walnut, cherry and oak. Then, after carving those for a while, I went even harder. You do build up some “carving” strength which helps with harder woods. After a while, go back and try oak again, I think you will be surprised. I actually took a few months off from carving and when I came back, I tried carving Purpleheart and couldn’t do it. I had to downshift to softer woods for a while and work my way back up. Even then, I could only carve at it a bit and then had to switch to another carving. I must admit, I do LOVE the way purpleheart looks when it is finished … but it is one of my least favorite woods to carve.
Please do! Thanks!
Beautiful