From start to finish, modifying a half hatchet into a carving head, and then polishing it takes about two days of work - very dirty work!
This is what I start out with:
![](https://img.etsystatic.com/isbi/a03b29/1058852292/isbi_fullxfull.1058852292_524u8d6o.jpg?version=0)
This is what it looks like afte it has been shaped and rough sanded:
![](https://img.etsystatic.com/isbi/169d96/1105427295/isbi_fullxfull.1105427295_gcqgei4d.jpg?version=0)
![](https://img.etsystatic.com/isbi/c53fbc/1105427595/isbi_fullxfull.1105427595_ksauzvys.jpg?version=0)
Polishing is just like sanding, starting with coarse wheels and compounds and progressively getting finer, until a brilliant finish is achieved. I use three different buffing compounds and five different buffing wheels in my process, which produces a "nearly flawless" mirror shine.
![](https://img.etsystatic.com/isbi/c9f126/1105428233/isbi_fullxfull.1105428233_qea249md.jpg?version=0)
![](https://img.etsystatic.com/isbi/733d42/1058854234/isbi_fullxfull.1058854234_xd2lizjj.jpg?version=0)
![](https://img.etsystatic.com/isbi/bb87fa/1058854484/isbi_fullxfull.1058854484_th2is6zh.jpg?version=0)
![](https://img.etsystatic.com/isbi/1160ac/1105428961/isbi_fullxfull.1105428961_o10map6x.jpg?version=0)
![](https://img.etsystatic.com/isbi/a9ae55/1105429119/isbi_fullxfull.1105429119_i2bue33d.jpg?version=0)