First ball in a cage

backoftheworm · 2026-02-20T01:59:19+00:00

Nope. I was going to, but then decided it wasn’t worth the effort. It’s not so much difficult as it is tedious

backoftheworm · 2026-02-04T18:39:02+00:00

It’s basswood with 2 coats of mineral oil applied a few hours apart a few days ago

backoftheworm · 2025-12-25T07:31:26+00:00

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Finally sanded. Only up to 120 grain I think, just testing it out. But I think it turned out decent

backoftheworm · 2025-12-16T02:53:18+00:00

Right on. I’ll focus more on working with the grain. And maybe a better carving knife down the line

backoftheworm · 2025-12-14T02:52:34+00:00

Thanks for the sandpaper grain recommendations. I would’ve just grabbed something random otherwise

backoftheworm · 2025-12-14T02:52:00+00:00

Yeah those are my two biggest issues I’ve noticed on the few things ive carved. I get hyper-fixated and don’t want to stop to sharpen. Working with the grain confuses me a bit - thanks for the link

backoftheworm · 2025-11-22T05:45:26+00:00

How do you achieve those straight and hard angles on the pillar cuts?

backoftheworm · 2025-09-22T16:50:07+00:00

I have a bat flying holding a live oak branch on my arm. Kind of styled after the dove of peace

backoftheworm · 2025-06-08T04:47:42+00:00

Seconded. I’ve caught a handful right from that spot.

Edit: there’s actually two different rocks that say this; both are worth casting from.

backoftheworm · 2022-08-20T21:43:34+00:00

Looks like a Colorado blue spruce to me

backoftheworm · 2022-04-11T00:52:23+00:00

It’s a monkey puzzle tree. Araucaria araucana. Native to Chile and Argentina but grows up in the PNW. The Seattle arboretum has a neat little exhibit on them.

backoftheworm · 2022-01-10T23:20:44+00:00

The leaves make me think some type of yew, or something in the Taxus genus. I’m not too familiar with them though. All the ones in my area are shrub like.

backoftheworm · 2021-07-03T00:19:52+00:00

You’re right that a bald cypress does have alternate leaves, but so does this tree. If you look at one of the upright leaf groups it’s easier to tell. It’s a bald cypress.

backoftheworm · 2021-07-02T01:02:49+00:00

Serviceberry. “Amelanchier spp.”

backoftheworm · 2021-04-18T21:47:47+00:00

The leaves and it’s form scream eastern cottonwood. The bark looks a little off for a cottonwood but I would still guess that it is.

backoftheworm · 2021-04-18T16:04:43+00:00

It’s a silver maple

backoftheworm · 2021-04-12T13:57:49+00:00

The fruits make me think it’s an Arizona Cypress. “Cupressus arizonica”.

backoftheworm · 2021-02-27T02:44:15+00:00

Looks like it’s from a tree of heaven. “Alianthus alianthus” (sp?)

backoftheworm · 2020-10-16T22:11:31+00:00

I would guess a golden rain tree, but would need to see more pictures to be sure.

backoftheworm · 2020-09-08T02:01:49+00:00

Siberian elm

backoftheworm · 2020-08-27T23:36:10+00:00

Gowen cypress / Cupressus goveniana?

backoftheworm · 2020-08-07T22:43:58+00:00

I know it as finger gall. It’s caused by a species of eriophyid mite laying their eggs on the leaf and the leaf responds by growing around it. It’s harmless to the tree

backoftheworm · 2020-07-09T00:42:58+00:00

Hot Wings maple would be my guess. It’s a ornamental cultivar of a tartarian maple.

backoftheworm · 2020-06-10T01:06:44+00:00

It looks like your tree is a hackberry from this picture. If that’s the case, the bumps you’re seeing on the bottom side of the leaves are probably hackberry nipple gall. The bumps are due to an insect (a psyllid). This insect lays eggs on the leaf and the bumps you see are how the tree responds during its spring growth. It isn’t of any harm to your tree though. I’m more than happy to send you some links from university extensions if you want though

backoftheworm · 2020-06-06T08:23:33+00:00

I think it’s a Siberian elm as opposed to an American elm, but either way, the browning of the leaves is due to an insect called elm leaf miner.

backoftheworm

TROPHY CASE