Use wood molding to practice sharpening techniques, before you work on your tools by Andre Breau For beginners, sharpening a carving tool usually means one of two things: taking the tool to a professional to sharpen, or risking the expensive tool practicing their sharpening technique. The National Woodcarving School […]
Improve your carving efficiency with an understanding of wood grain by Everett Ellenwood The way the wood grain lays in a piece of wood will affect every cut you make in every carving you do. The direction of the cut in a piece of wood will determine if you […]
An overview of commonly available protective gloves by Bob Duncan The safest way to carve is to use a holding device and keep both hands on the tool. However, many carvers hold their work in their hands. Proper hand positioning keeps the holding hand safely out of the tool’s […]
A carver needs more than sharp tools; a workspace, bench, and lighting are equally important by Chris Pye Carving, just like everything else, happens in a context. In other words, there are prior and surrounding circumstances that directly affect what you are doing. Indeed, they affect what you can […]
Organize your finishing area for maximum efficiency by Vicki Rhodes This article was first published in issue 44 of Woodcarving Illustrated. Having a dedicated area set up to paint is as important as having an area set up for carving. It could be an extension of your carving area, but make […]
Properly prepare your knife for safe and enjoyable whittling by Bob Duncan Although it may seem contradictory, a sharp knife is a safe knife. When a knife is dull, or not shaped properly, it requires more force to push the blade through the wood. The more force required to make […]
Members of the Woodcarving Illustrated Message Board choose their top carving woods Carvers today can choose from a variety of woods, but it can be difficult to know which wood to choose for a specific project. We surveyed the members of the Woodcarving Illustrated Message Board to find their […]
A stress-free beginner’s guide to choosing tools by Bob Duncan Beginning carvers often buy a set of carving tools and end up with an assortment of tools they will never use. Instead of paying for tools that don’t fit your needs, buy tools à la carte and create your own […]
Tips for choosing the best branch to carve into a beautiful, personal walking stick from Hand Carving Your Own Walking Stick by David Stehly If you just need help hiking up a tough hill, pretty much any reasonably sturdy branch in woods will do the job. But if you […]
Quick and easy steps keep your knife ready to carve By Mac Proffitt A sharp carving tool is the first requirement for successful and happy carving. A dull tool will not produce clean cuts and creates a greater risk of injury. Fortunately, there is a simple method to sharpen […]
