While you can carve a variety of materials-including soap and stone-carving wood remains a popular choice because it's practical and relatively easy to do. However, to learn this art properly, you must prepare the right equipment and spend a lot of time practicing patiently.
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Part 1 of 3: Part One: Choosing Equipment
Step 1. Know the four types of wood carving
There are four main types of wood carving: whittling (sharpening wood with a knife), relief carving (relief carving, i.e. carving on a flat surface), carving in the round (carving in three dimensions), chip carving (the style of carving by picking small pieces of wood).). Choose the type you like and study it in more detail.
- Whittling is an ancient style of carving that is done primarily using a stiff sharpening knife. The knife will leave sharp, stiff scratches. The resulting work is usually small and three-dimensional.
- Relief carving is the art of carving figures on flat wood panels. The result will appear three-dimensional when viewed from the front, but the back remains flat. You will need a variety of manual tools to make relief carvings.
- Carving in the round is probably the closest technique to reality. You will need a variety of tools to make this type of sculpture. The end result will appear three-dimensional with smoother, more natural lines.
- Chip carving is highly dependent on the use of knives, chisels, and hammers. You'll need to pry the wood a little at a time to create a three-dimensional pattern on the plank, leaving the back of the wood flat.
Step 2. Choose the right wood
As a general rule, the wood you use should be soft. Purchase labeled, high-quality wood from a craft store or wood supplier, rather than from just a pile of wood.
- Basswood, butternut, and white pine are some of the best types of wood to use, especially for beginners. All three are types of soft wood that are easy to carve. Basswood has a fine wood grain, while butternut has a coarse wood grain, and white pine has a medium wood grain. Basswood is best suited for whittling engraving, while butternut and white pine are suitable for almost all carving techniques.
- Mahogany and black walnut are medium grained and a bit difficult to carve as they are both slightly harder.
- Cherry wood, sugar maple, and white oak are very difficult to carve because of their hardness. Cherry wood and sugar maple have a fine grain, but white oak has a medium to hard grain. However, if carved correctly, all three can produce good carvings.
Step 3. Purchase the correct carving knife
The knife you choose should be sharp, comfortable to grip, and sturdy. Folding knives are often unsafe to use because they can break under pressure. So, an ordinary pocket knife may not work properly.
- A chisel knife is the best choice. The blade is approximately 3.5 cm long and the handle is long enough for a comfortable grip. Choose a knife made of high carbon steel to keep it sharp and intact for a long time.
- If you're just starting out and don't want to spend a lot of money yet, consider using a utility knife or a craft knife. Just make sure the blade is sharp and steady. You should also be able to hold the handle for a long time without feeling uncomfortable.
Step 4. Buy some chisels
A chisel is a curved tool used to gouge wood, instead of cutting it. Chisels can be used to carve, shape, and smooth wood surfaces.
- The U-shaped chisel has a curved stem and blade tip. When purchasing a U chisel, be aware that the width of the blade tip varies between 2 mm and 60 mm, and the stem can be straight, curved, backward curved, or spooned.
- V chisels have beveled ends that meet at one point, forming the letter V. The width of the tip of the blade varies between 2 mm and 30 mm. The sides can also meet at a slope of 60° or 90°.
- Bend chisels and spoon chisels are special tools that make it easier to reach specific areas when carving wood. These two tools are not always necessary, but they can be very useful if you want to take this hobby seriously.
Step 5. Prepare the inlay
An engraving is a flat sharp tool usually used with a rubber mallet. A good inlay is very important, especially for practicing prying wood.
- A standard carpenter inlay has a flat blade tip that can pry wood at a sharp angle.
- Slanted inlay also has a flat edge of the blade, but at a 45° angle so you can cut the wood rather bluntly.
- Traditional hammers are usually made of heavy wood, but rubber mallets will produce a quieter sound and generally do less damage to the inlay handle when hit repeatedly.
Part 2 of 3: Part Two: Practicing Carving
Step 1. Practice on scrap wood
It's a good idea to practice making some basic carvings on scrap wood before working on a masterpiece. With practice, you can get used to the equipment. Also, make sure you don't sculpt towards the body. Point the carving tool away from the body, in case the blade slips. That way, you will avoid forced visits to the hospital.
Always use a sharp tool even if it's just for practice. If the tool is sharp, the carvings on the wood will look clean and shiny without leaving any scratches or nicks
Step 2. Hold the tool properly
When you are pressing a knife, chisel, or chisel into the wood, place your hand behind the sharp edge of the blade. Equipment can slip while in use, and if your finger is in front of the blade, the result is injury.
- When working with a knife, hold the wood with your non-dominant hand. Place your hand behind the tool's blade, but gently press your thumb against the blunt side of the tool so you have complete control. When your non-dominant hand is firmly holding the wood, rotate your dominant hand and wrist to make the desired engraving.
- When working with the chisel, hold the handle with the palm of your dominant hand while stabilizing the tool blade by clamping it with the thumb and forefinger of the dominant hand. The tip of the blade should be on the surface of the wood.
- Remember to control the direction of the engraving tool with your wrist, not your elbow. This is the correct way, regardless of which tool you use.
Step 3. Carve along the wood grain
Always carve in the direction of the wood grain, not the opposite direction. Carving in the opposite direction will break the wood.
- Examine the wood and look for long parallel lines. These lines may or may not be parallel to the sides of the wood, and may be wavy or not perfectly straight.
- Always carve in the direction of the wood grain. You can also engrave diagonally across or parallel to the wood grain, but do not never carve in the opposite direction of the wood grain.
- If the wood starts to break while carving even though the carving tool is sharp, you may be working in the wrong direction. Change direction and check the results again.
Step 4. Practice some basic carving techniques
There are many ways to carve that you must learn when working on this one craft. But when starting out, it's a good idea to practice some basic techniques.
- Long straight strokes will produce long channels in the wood. Hold the U chisel or V chisel against the wood surface and push it in the direction of the grain. Keep the pressure as even as possible.
- Prying will produce sharp carvings on the wood surface to create harsh shadows. Press the tip of the chisel straight into the wood, then pull it without pushing it any further.
- The sweep technique is a long, curved cut. Press the chisel in the direction of the wood grain, turning the handle while pushing it continuously to create an arc.
Part 3 of 3: Part Three: Carving Wood
Step 1. Put on safety equipment
Carving can be dangerous if you're not careful. So, consider wearing basic safety gear to protect yourself.
- Wear special engraving gloves on your non-dominant hand, or the hand you use to handle wood.
- Also protect your eyes with safety glasses. The wood chips will start flying. Even if they are small, they can pop into your eyes if you don't protect yourself.
Step 2. Sketch the design
If possible, use a pencil to lightly sketch the design you want to carve and sculpt before you pick up the tool.
- Sketch lines can be a guide that will make it easier for you to carve precisely. You may make mistakes if the engraving tool slips, but you won't be wrong because of a miscalculation.
- If it goes wrong, there is no going back. You will have to change the original design to obscure the error or start over with new wood.
Step 3. Glue the wood
Ideally, you should secure the wood in place by clamping it to a table or vise. That way, both hands will be free and the carving process will be easier.
- Never lay the wood on your lap while you are carving it.
- For small carvings-such as whittling objects-hold the wood with your non-dominant hand while carving. Always place your non-dominant hand behind the tip of the toolbar.
Step 4. Shape the wood into the basic frame
Remove as much wood as possible until you can visualize the basic shape of the work designed on the block.
- For smaller pieces, you can form the basic outline using a knife or chisel. For larger works, you may have to use a band saw or chainsaw.
- Don't be afraid to cut too much. As long as you don't cut past the sketch line guides, the wood won't be damaged. Just cut slowly if that makes you more comfortable. However, it can take a long time to come up with a basic outline if you are too hesitant about using the tool.
Step 5. Create a rough shape
Once the base frame is formed, use the large U chisel to remove as much wood residue as possible until the carved design is roughly formed.
Identify the biggest part of the design and work on the shape first. Once the large shapes appear more tangible, work on the smaller shapes and details gradually
Step 6. Add fine details
Once the general shape is complete, switch to a smaller tool and add detail to the engraving.
- Carving tools must always be kept sharp. This level of sharpness is especially important for this stage. Blunt tools can scratch the surface of the wood and spoil the appearance of the carving.
- Do part of it. Finish with the larger details and the foreground first, then move on to the smaller details and the background.
Step 7. Protect the finished work
If you are satisfied with the result and want to make the carving more durable, apply a finish that can protect the wood surface from moisture, oil, dust, and other impurities.
- Paste wax is relatively clear and will make the natural color of the wood more visible. Paste wax is great for decorative carving, but can fade when applied to an overhand engraved object.
- Danish oil will make the wood slightly colored, but tends to be durable and can be used for carving objects that are often handled.
- Spray urethane and polyurethane are the most durable finishes and generally last long even when the engraving is handled frequently. Apply the finish when the weather is moderate and dry, then allow each coat to dry completely.
