How to carve wood like a pro

Wood carving is a rewarding, creative craft that doesn’t require a lot of equipment, of course, unless you love to collect tools. All you need is a piece of wood and a carving knife to get started. If you’ve ever wanted to learn how to carve wood or are a seasoned woodcarver, below are 10 essential woodcarving tips for any level to keep bookmarked.

1. LEARN TO SHARPEN.

Even if you plan to power carve, you should at least strop your reciprocating tool gouges, chisels, and V-tools. Even disposable blades, such as X-Acto or Warren blades, cut better if they’ve been stropped.

2. KNOW THE LOCATION OF THE SHARP EDGE.

Know the location of the sharp edge (or spinning bit) and where it could go. Not only do you not want any of your (or anyone else’s) body parts near them, this knowledge will improve your carving. If you’re always aware of the location of the cutting edge of the tool, especially the tip, you’ll make more deliberate cuts, and your carving will turn out better.

3. TAKE AWAY WOOD.

Woodcarving is a take-away medium; it’s difficult to take too much off. As you go in deeper, you can change the shape of the piece even more. It looks better and better until you run out of wood.

4. LEARN PROPORTIONS.

Your face is a right angle. If you center the tip of your nose in the inside corner of a square, the arms of the square will rest on your cheekbones.

5. CARVE EYES.

The inside corners of the eye are the deepest part of the face.

6. ADD HIGHLIGHTS.

Use a toothpick or stylus to make perfectly round dots of paint for buttons, the highlight dots of eyes, or anything else that should be round.

7. WOOD BURN TO ADD TEXTURE.

Use a wood burning tool to add fur texture to speed up your carving.

8. LINE UP YOUR EYES.

If you’re right-handed, complete the carving’s right eye—the left eye as you look at it—first. That way you can see the eye to match it as you carve the left eye. Reverse the order if you’re left-handed.

9. MAKE THE LARGEST CHIP CUT FIRST.

When chip carving, in general, carve the largest chips first. Make the first cut on a new chip away from the last one made (on the previous chip). 

10. HOLD A POWER CARVING TOOL PROPERLY.

Hold small projects in your hand when power carving. Normal breathing causes the hands to independently move uncontrollably. Hold the power carver the same as a pencil and extend a finger from one hand to touch the other. Now, when one hand moves, the other moves with it for coordinated control.

#creation #wood