You may have seen my project post here which explains the background for this design. Several readers expressed their interest in a blog to show how to make one of these, so here it is.
Background
Since this is not a replica of any genuine historic article, but rather a project inspired by the viking ships and their old time bear mugs you should feel free to put your own twist on this. That’s what the Viking carvers did anyway and no two of the inspirational pieces are alike anyway. The main difference here is that this one is turned and constructed rather than just being totally carved from a solid piece. In fact, I used a lot of different machine tools for most of the work and then did a little carving afterward on the handles. I made 3 of these. Two for my sons families and 1 for my wife and I. These are for fun and I did not try to make a prestige project out of them.
Quality concerns
If you look in the local museums around Norway you will find very few similar items that represent highly skilled woodwork. Most are somewhat crudely done, probably by farmers during the long winter months, but what they lack in professionalism they more than make up for it with charm. My work on these is about on parr with the farmers work I’ve seen around. So the message here is to have fun and don’t worry if they aren’t perfect.
Lets get started!
Tips
I hope there is sufficient info above for you to do one of these, but please don’t hesitate to ask if you should have any questions. I found this project very enjoyable and I hope you will like doing it too. Thanks for reading.
PS my computer has been down for almost 2 weeks, otherwise I would have posted this sooner. I tried using my wife’s old computer, but that crashed too! I tried using my mobil phone to keep in touch on LJ, but that didn’t go very well. It’s great to be back in circulation again.
Mike, an American living in Norway
I knew it wasn’t that easy Mike.
Great blog. II envy your picture. Any particular setup or just point and shoot?
Abbas, Castro Valley, CA
Good tutorial Mike. You make it look easy.
The early bird gets the worm but its the second mouse that gets the cheese.
Thanks guys, It is real easy except for the rubbing and sanding after the finish has been applied. That takes some time. I’ll be posting my Dragon bowl on Monday. That one is a little different and a bit more like the beer cups than the bowls. I do hope I can get away from all these dragons soon. It’s not really my thing, but they are kind of fun to make or carve.
Mike, an American living in Norway
Abbas I used to use my regular camera for shop pics were a better quality, but I bought an iPhone about a year ago and I use only that now because it’s so easy to keep in my pocket and it still does a reasonably good photo. I do have very good lighting in my shop and I think that helps a lot regardless of the camera.
Mike, an American living in Norway
I have been wanting to build a light box for a wile.
I will borrow the iphone from my wife see how it goes.
Abbas, Castro Valley, CA
That seems a bit optimistic Abbas. Do you really thing you can get it away from her?, lol
Mike, an American living in Norway
I never thought about it from this angle…
Now you said it, she is always on it. Hmm, I will devise a clever way.
Abbas, Castro Valley, CA