Wood carving is a craft that offers satisfaction and allows for creativity, and it does not demand excessive equipment unless one enjoys collecting tools. To begin, all that is necessary is a piece of wood and a carving knife. Whether you have a desire to learn wood carving or are already experienced, the following woodcarving tips are crucial for individuals of any skill level and should be saved for future reference.
The team at Woodcarving Illustrated Magazine offers the following tips. This magazine is published every quarter and is available to both subscribers and newsstand readers. The magazine includes articles about creative carvers, detailed projects with pullout patterns, inspiring galleries, and expert-level techniques. The magazine also provides reviews of the latest and most helpful tools.
What is wood carving
The process of wood carving includes the use of sharp cutting tools to create a desired object, shape, or design. Despite the existence of various forms, they all adhere to this fundamental definition. The tools for wood carving encompass knives, chisels, gouges, and occasionally even chainsaws.
Wood carving and woodturning, while both involving the removal of wood using sharp-edged tools, should not be confused as they are distinct processes. The creation of woodturning pieces necessitates the use of a motorized device called a lathe, so if a lathe is utilized, it can be classified as woodturning. On the other hand, if no lathe is involved, it can be classified as wood carving.
Whittling, which is sometimes confused as a distinct form of woodworking, is actually a basic form of wood carving.
Types of wood carving
There are different types of wood carving methods that vary greatly, depending on the type of carving you wish to pursue and the tools you choose to use. The variety of wood carving types include:
1. Whittling
Whittling, the most basic form of wood carving, involves removing thin slices of wood using a straight-blade knife. The technique is simple to grasp and can be practiced using any type of sharp knife, even a common pocket knife.
While it is possible to shape wood into desired forms through whittling, some individuals engage in this activity purely as a hobby. Whittling knives, designed specifically for carving, offer greater ease and mastery and are recommended when aiming to create aesthetically pleasing pieces. An advantage of whittling is its versatility, as it can be performed using almost any type of wood.
2. Chip carving
By exerting downward pressure, one can remove small pieces from a flat wooden surface using a chip carving knife or chisel. It is particularly effective for engraving intricate lines or details onto a piece of work. While chip carving can be done on various types of wood, beginners are advised to use basswood, knot-free pine, or poplar for better results.
3. Relief carving
Carving a picture into a flat piece of wood involves creating a subtly three-dimensional effect, where the image seems to project out of the wood’s surface, in traditional wooden relief carving.
The typical tools for relief carving are gouges and chisels, and a mallet is often used to drive the tools into the wood. Additionally, clamps or a bench-top vise are necessary to securely hold the flat wooden workpiece in place.
4. Flat-plane carving
Flat-plane carving is a particular technique of carving figures and objects in which wood is shaped into clean, flat facets that are intentionally left visible, without any sanding or rounding.
The preferred choice of wood art collectors worldwide, flat-plane carving is typically executed with a single carving knife. Basswood, known for its ideal blend of hardness and softness, is the most suitable wood for this type of carving, similar to other carving techniques.
5. Chain saw carving
Using a chainsaw, an object or figure is created from wood, as indicated by its name. This process typically utilizes a single tall log, sometimes even one that is still attached to the ground.
Even though chain saws are rough and aggressive tools, talented chain saw carvers from all over the world have managed to produce remarkably detailed works of art. It is advisable not to attempt this style of carving unless you already possess expertise in handling chain saws. Additionally, it is crucial to always have proper hearing, face, and leg protection.
Wood carving terms and techniques
In the realm of wood carving, there are some terms that you will frequently encounter.
- Carving knife: Different from a whittling knife, these feature large handles and small blades, often with a gentle curve in their edge.
- Chisel: A straight-blade, beveled-edge wood carving tool.
- Gouge: A type of carving chisel with a curved-edge blade.
- Mallet: A cylindrical handled tool, often made of wood or rubber, for driving the butt-end of a chisel or gouge into wood.
- Roughing: Removal of large amounts of wood early in the process, often with a roughing gouge, to get the workpiece closer to the desired shape.
- Detail work: Generally refers to the fine, intricate work toward the end of a wood carving project. When carving a wooden duck, inscribing lines to suggest wings and feathers is detail work.
Wood carving tips for beginners
- Keep your wood carving tools sharp: Dull carving tools don’t work well. Learn to sharpen yours to a razor’s edge. Keep them sharp and your wood carving will be much more enjoyable.
- Carve away from yourself: It sounds obvious, but many beginners carve towards their hand instead of away from it. Don’t. Carve down and away from your hands and fingers for safety.
- Wear safety glasses: Though carving doesn’t involve power tools (except chain saw carving), lots of chips still fly. Protecting your eyes with goggles is always smart.
- Start simple: Don’t try to carve intricate projects at first. Start by whittling a walking stick, then go from there as your skills develop.
- Use the right wood: Regardless of the style of carving, basswood is a great material for beginner carvers. It’s smooth and fine-grained with an ideal carving density.
Wood carving techniques
1. Whittling
For centuries, people have used whittling as a hobby or for artistic purposes, considering it as one of the easiest ways to carve wood. When whittling, you have the option to carve shapes directly from the wood or utilize your cutting tool to remove thin strips, thus creating a different form.
There are tools that you can use while whittling.
- Small bladed knife (pocket knife)
- Specialized whittling knifes
- Leather thimble
- Cut-resistant glove
Using specialized whittling knives is excellent due to the provision of a singular fixed blade, allowing for effective work. For the protection of your hands, the leather thimble and cut-resistant gloves prove crucial in preventing injuries.
Wood whittling is frequently employed in the creation of small trinkets. Additionally, this technique can be utilized for the crafting of kitchen utensils, pipes, personalized clothespins, and various other items! Once you have finished whittling your project, you may want to contemplate applying a layer of paint or varnish to add some final touches.
2. Chip carving
Chip carving involves using various knives and chisels to gradually remove wood from a single, flat piece until achieving the desired end product. It is a cost-effective and relaxing hobby that many individuals enjoy starting out with.
To practice chip carving, the following materials will be required:
- Chip carving knives
- Chisels
- Pencil
- Ruler
- Sharpening compound
To create a guide for your design on the piece of wood, use your pencil and ruler. Begin chipping away at the wood by holding the sharpened knife at a 45-degree angle. Use the same knife to remove the chips of wood. Repeat this process until your design is finished.
The woodcarving technique known as chip carving is typically found in folk art or wood designs featuring geometric patterns. It can be employed to craft unconventional tables, furniture items, panels, or sculptures.
3. Relief carving
In this approach to wood carving, a flat piece of wood is utilized. The act of carving pictures into the wood is known as relief carving. By employing your wood carving tools, you will eliminate sections of wood in order to fashion a picture that appears to emerge from the wood. These depictions are projections of the wood rather than existing independently.
To perform relief carving, the tools required are as follows:
- Mallet
- Gouges: u-shaped, v-shaped, spoon and fishtail gouge
- Chisels: beveled and skewed chisels
To drive the various gouges and chisels into your wood, you utilize your mallet. Usually, you will adhere to a pattern or design that you have transferred onto your wood piece. There exist four types of relief carving, with each style varying according to the projection of the images within the wood. These styles encompass:
- High relief
- Bas or low relief
- Deep relief
- Pierced relief
The carving technique known as high relief has the least depth of carving, whereas pierced relief carvings may have sections that go all the way through the wood. This method of carving can be employed to create artistic pieces that closely resemble three-dimensional photographs. Utilize this captivating wood carving technique to add life to any cabinet, door, or table.
4. Scandinavian flat-plane
To perform Scandinavian flat-plane wood carving, you will require the following tools: Scandinavian flat-plane is a wood carving technique that derives from figure carving and is characterized by minimal sanding or rounding, resulting in sculptures or figurines with rough edges.
- Carving knife
- Cut-resistant gloves
The Dalecarlian horse or the Swedish horse is a well-known example of this technique in wood carving. When employing this method, you will be crafting figurines or small sculptures, akin to the ones depicted in the images provided. Adding paint or varnish to your wooden piece will provide the finishing touch to achieve the desired appearance.
5. Lovespoon
The wood carving technique focuses exclusively on decorative spoons, which were originally exchanged as romantic presents but now serve as ornamental crafts. These spoons have a long history of production dating back centuries and can be traced back to Germany.
In order to carve a lovespoon, the following items are necessary.
- Chisel
- Detail knife
- Small bowl gouge
- Sandpaper or other abrasive
- Wood finish
The lovespoon involves applying a particular method of wood carving, resulting in the creation of a single item – a spoon with a distinct design. The ornamentation implemented in the handle may differ. Commence with a basic motif and then progress towards more intricate patterns and imagery.
6. Chainsaw carving
Chainsaw wood carving originated in the 1950s as a result of combining the chainsaw with the traditional art of wood carving. In present times, chainsaw carving has gained immense popularity, to the extent that there are even competitions centered around this craft. To undertake a chainsaw carving project, the following tools will be required:
- Chainsaw
- Wood coating
- Protective gear
- Sketching/patterns
You will need a bigger chainsaw to cut through large pieces of wood, whereas a smaller saw will come in handy for refining your project. Chainsaw carving allows you to make various items such as lawn ornaments, statues, sculptures, and more!
