Bull Skull

by **johnwalkeasy** » Fri Apr 08, 2011 8:45 pm

One of the interesting things I,ve like all my life are skulls. My favorite ofcourse is the human skull. But 2nd to that has always been a Bull Skull.
I,ve always wanted one. I guess people who live in Texas seen a few of them out on the flat lands. But in Georgia the deep woods keep these kind of things out of sight.
So my next work will be a Bull Skull. I will try to make most of it, If not all of it out of steel nails. I think I'll make it a little less than life size. Not really sure what life size is. And ofcourse will use the silicon
onze welding rods.
The main reason I do these build logs. Are not to showcase my skills.
More important to me than that. Is to give to others the things that took me years to learn.

by **johnwalkeasy** » Sat Apr 09, 2011 10:16 pm

Will be useing Silicon Bronze welding rods. And steel nails. Will use flat steel masonry nails for teeth.

by **johnwalkeasy** » Sat Apr 09, 2011 10:23 pm

Will use a concave surface and hammer to bend and shape nails. Will cut nails with welding tip. All of this is pretty easy stuff. Not many tools are needed.

by **johnwalkeasy** » Sat Apr 09, 2011 10:32 pm

It,s always a good thing to have some kind of a model. Also some pictures you can see while your working. I found some pretty good ones over the internet.

by **johnwalkeasy** » Sat Apr 09, 2011 10:46 pm

This is going to be a work I will try to put on the market. So size is an issue. Now ofcourse nobody going to want a life size bull skull. It will be somthing to set on a coffee table, sheft or end table. So I,m thinking somthing like 12 to 14 inchs long about 6 inchs wide and 10 inchs tall.
I think that will be a good sellable size. Also shop owners really don,t want large bucky things in thier shop. It will be fairly lightweight and easy to move about.

by **ehoeveler** » Sun Apr 10, 2011 4:23 am

Like this piece - good idea on the selling considerations.
Good Luck!

by **johnwalkeasy** » Sun Apr 10, 2011 7:05 pm

Will use eye sockets as a starting point. Will make them about 3" in dim.

by **johnwalkeasy** » Sun Apr 10, 2011 7:11 pm

Will round nails for the depth of sockets.

by **johnwalkeasy** » Sun Apr 10, 2011 7:21 pm

Hello Elis,
For the most part I don,t think much about the market. But I would like to retire in about 2 years. When I reach 65. And ofcourse SS will not be enought to live on. So I,m going to try and do work that will sell. And perhaps over the next 2 years I can get a little something going. And I think a little good luck will be something I could use. LOL.
Thank You.

by **ehoeveler** » Sun Apr 10, 2011 8:18 pm

John, I know exactly what you mean!
Thank God my husband works, so I can
'Play Around' but I'd like to improve and
start painting for a (crazy-thinking) market!

by **Riaan Marais** » Mon Apr 11, 2011 3:16 am

This is utter torture!!! Man, you should have finished the thing first and then showed us the progress!!!

I like your idea and I will be biting my fingernails in frustration till you are finished!!!

by **johnwalkeasy** » Sat Apr 16, 2011 7:06 pm

Eye sockets are ready to
onze.

by **johnwalkeasy** » Sat Apr 16, 2011 7:13 pm

I welded the outside of the eye sockets. Which will be on the inside of the skull. This is so the nails will be plainly seen on completed work. An inch of the outside will standout from the skull. As seen on the model. I will
onze this with the rest of skull. When it is ready to
onze. It is difficut the weld new
onze to
onze that has already been welded. It should avoided as much as possible.

by **johnwalkeasy** » Sat Apr 16, 2011 7:27 pm

Riaan,
As long of a time as my build logs are. And with the number of photos and comments I post. It would be impractical For me to wait and post a WIP after the work is done. However, I agree that following along as I slowly add more post can be a bit trying. LOL. Thanks for being interested.

by **BYart** » Sun Apr 17, 2011 11:55 am

John,
Your work is so phenomenal, and will have no problem finding a market!
I cannot wait to watch the progress on this bull skull.

Yes, they are plentiful here in the SW. I used to have quite a few that I had painted American Indian scenes on,, and accented with turkey feathers... but have long ago given as gifts.

We would hang them on the walls as wall art, along with old farrier tools, various bull whips,
idles, etc. Made for an interesting vinette.
Will be watching this one with great pleasure!

by **johnwalkeasy** » Sun Apr 17, 2011 7:58 pm

Thank you Barb. And if you come across a complete one, with the horns and bottom jaw. Let me know.

by **johnwalkeasy** » Sun Apr 17, 2011 8:17 pm

Will start adding the frame. 1st will set the eye sockets. Then useing the 16 penny nails. Will build the rest of the frame work. This wiil give the skull it,s general shape. And I will say another word or two about the nails.
Most of my work has been done with 16 ga. metal strips. They are much easier than nails to work with. And cheap. I cut them out at work. And they weld up well.
I have 2 reasons for useing nails. The time will come when I won,t be working at a job anymore. Also everyone I talk with about my work. Will ask me what I use in my work. I always answer that I use 16 ga, steel strips. But nobody has any idea what I,m talking about. But if I say steel nails. A five year old would know What I,m talking about.
And When a person knows what somthing is made out of. I think they will have a deeper appreciation of the work.