The above photograph is a laminated block of Island Beech, to be carved into a figurehead of a woman for the 179 foot, three masted iron barque, the James Craig, owned by the Sydney Heritage Fleet. The planks of Beech were cut into 6 foot lengths from plank sizes ranging from 11 feet to 14 feet. The width varied with this stack from 6inches, 8inches to 11 inches. I would of had this done at the supplier, but his machinery was down. The wood was then laid out and care taken to arrange the planks in such a fashion, that the end grain was not in critical carving places like the face and hands.
End grain is very difficult to carve.
The grain of the wood was arranged in the same direction for carving her drapery. I used Resorcinol Resin for this lamination. This resin is used for marine work and when fully cured is resistant to chemicals, salt water UV etc. The bonding strength is massive. It is in two parts, resin and hardener.