Artist Reply: Annette, Thank You for the great comments, they are very much appreciated! I have never tried a Dremel or Foredom...I would think they would make your hands sore. I use bench chisels and small detail carving tools. My bench chisels have really fat, rubber handles and it seems to transfer some of the force to my arm and shoulder. I may lose a 'little' detail, but they remove so much more wood much faster...the sticks I can do in less than 3 hours each...the Roman Cornice was a project I picked out for my class to do, and they ALL refused to do it until I made one first, lol. That took about 8-10 hours, done in basswood. Driftwood can be hard as a rock too!...have you ever tried basswood? Thanks again for taking a look at my work and your wonderful comments. Jim

Artist Reply: Thanks for your comments...they are much appreciated. With the walking sticks 90% of the work is done with bench chisels...10% a couple different size gouges...all by hand, no Dremels or machinery, no electricity whatsoever. Jim

Artist Reply: Annette, Thank You so very much for your wonderful comments...they are very much appreciated! Jim