Carved Lee Helgeland Winchester Model 70 458 Magnum by Barry Lee Hands

[Barry Lee Hands]

Yes Ed, a small and a large round belly tool.

 

[Barry Lee Hands]

Here is the feltpen layout for the lower area of the floorplate:

 

[matthew.townsley]

Barry, the photos are great, the carving is amazing.
I hope this is not a silly question, but I was wondering how you go about carving?
After cutting the background, do you carve the scrolls with gravers? Or mould them as such with punches?
Hope that makes sense. Thanks for posting the progress!

Matt

 

[ED DELORGE]

Hello Barry, I want to ask. I see that Chris DeCamillis has a video on carving. I don't know if you have seen it, but, I was wondering if
you follow a similar procedure when doing your sculptured scrolls and leaves? I really like the style you execute. I would like to learn the
method and was thinking about buying Chris's video if your 1,2,3 method is the same.

Thanks
Ed

 

[Barry Lee Hands]

Hi Matt,
I cut the scrolls first, with single point, either a square or a Lindsay universal. Then I cut the outsde of the leaves with a flat, then the inside with a round bottom, what I call a "Bullet" or Roundnose"graver. After that is all done, I remove the background, and then recut the edges and punch flat, and stipple the background.
Hi Ed,
I don't know what Chris is doing, although I am sure his video is good.
Here is another pic:

 

[scott99]

Depth of cut

Hi, having no examples on hand to check I was wondering how deep your engraving actualy is. :thinking: A good guess would be good enough unless you know the depth accurately.

scott99

 

[matthew.townsley]

Thanks for the answer Barry. Very nice.

 

[scott99]

Hi, mayby I phrased my question wrong (would not be the first time.) I was wondering how deep your carving goes,not your engraving?
If the depth is a guarded secret I understand,trick of the trade and all. I have not been exposed to deep carving before in person,only pictures. What I am trying not to do is reinvent the wheel. I was hoping with a bit of information I could keep myself from getting way too deep or too shallow.

Thanks scott99

 

[Barry Lee Hands]

Hi Scott,
No secret, hehe.
On the shaft of the bolt knob it is probably about .010 inch.
On the asction it is probably 020-025.
On the floorplate it will end up more than .040 in places.
The bigger the scroll or design, the deeper.

 

[scott99]

Thanks

Thankyou very much for your reply.:clapping:

With the fine photos you have posted and the information on depths made so well it has put the process into scale for me.

Thanks scott99

 

[Barry Lee Hands]

Thanks Scott, here are some more:
ok, here are some more, the scroll layout on the top and bottom:

And the major scroll lines:

 

[Barry Lee Hands]

Next, I apply a resist to the parts I want to stay proud, as I will use acid to etch the relief:

Then I make a dam with modeling clay to hold the acid in place:

 

[Sam]

I can hardly wait! Never seen this done before.

 

[silverchip]

So what are you using to etch with exactly and what precautions should be observed?

 

[Barry Lee Hands]

I can hardly wait! Never seen this done before.

Thanks Sam, I have been etching since my Mother (An Art Teacher) showed me how to etch plates for printing when I was 8 or 9 years old.
In the 80's I admired Ken Hunt's etched work. I started etching backgrounds and other scenery on Guns around 1992. That was when I developed the modeling clay dam, to hold the acid to the work.
Later, when I visited Ken in London in 2003 I was shocked to see he has a big Jar full of nitric acid, which must hold at least 3 gallons, and he told me he dunks entire actions in there to do his magic.
He is much more daring than I.

Silverchip, I use cronite steel acid, and Sands etching ground from Paravano in NJ.
I wear a mist respirator and wear glasses, as you dont want it in your lungs, or eyes.
And I regularly burn the ends of my fingers, but so far, they always grow back.

 

[santos]

Great Tutorial Barry , thank your for sharing your knowledges with us.

I hope you will change your shoes while etching .... Look your last photo above and you will understand

Greetings

Jean

 

[Barry Lee Hands]

Great Tutorial Barry , thank your for sharing your knowledges with us.

I hope you will change your shoes while etching .... Look your last photo above and you will understand

Greetings

Jean

Yes, I wear sandals while I work, a habit I picked up from my knifemaking friends in Bali.

 

[BES]

Hi Barry, It's Just Great!

Thanks for the Show.
Merry Christmas!

 

[Barry Lee Hands]

Hi Barry, It's Just Great!

Thanks for the Show.
Merry Christmas!

Thank you Eric.

Here are some more pics:

First we pour on some acid:

After rinsing,the result:

Then add more ground for the bosses of the ears, and etch and rinse again:

Then paint on the ground for the ears, as you can see, we are proceeding in layers:

And then after etching and rinsing, I paint on some legs and start the sky:

Then I etch again and paint on the belly, and add more sky:

 

[silverchip]

Very cool Barry, How long does it take between steps to create the depth you are after?Can you complete the etching in one day?Does the acid etch at a fairly even rate so the background remains fairly level?