The New Carver Files
- So you want to be a carver . . .
- Your First Tools . . .
- Three Important Things to Learn – Sharpening, Sharpening, Sharpening
- Painting and Finishes
- Projects for the New Carver (And Not So New Carver)
- Carving Woods and Such
- In the Shop . . . Safety; Tool Reviews; Tips and Hints
- Advance Topics
Cautionary Statement: Wood carving is a potentially hazardous activity and should be undertaken only with safety a constant and primary consideration. To avoid injury thoroughly understand the use of all tools and techniques and review all projects before starting. The projects and all other material on this site are presented as is, with no warranty or guarantee of any kind expressed or implied. The owner and authors disclaim any liability for injury, damage or loss that may occur when using any of the content of this web site. Seek professional instruction and advice before undertaking any project.
Please use the form at the bottom of this page to submit suggestions for additional resources.
So You Want To Be A Carver . . . .
Advice For New Carvers by Richard Absher – click => WOM Help Files
Advice To The New Woodcarver by Ken Bingham – click =>WOM Vol 1 Issue 2
Rec.crafts.carving Newsgroup FAQ – see in particular Types of Carving; Carving Woods; Tools – Hand and Power – click => WOM Help Files
The Nuts and Bolts of Carving – A Short Course in Carving Basics by Will Sharp
Day 1 – Selecting Wood For Carving Day 2 – Types of Carving Day 3 – Choose Your Poison Day 4 – Selecting Your Carving Tools Day 4 – Comments… Day 5 – The Basic Tool Kit Day 6 – Caring For Your Tools Day 7 – Patterns Day 8 – Short Course In Anatomy For Carvers Day 9 – Finish Your Carving Day 10 – The Many Cuts For Carvers Day 11 – The Practice Stick Day 12 – Must Books (Days 1-12 at the same location – click HERE)
Day 13 – Bad Hair Day – click HERE
Day 14 – Winkles, Wrinkles, Wrinkles – click HERE
Day 15 – Transfer Please! – click HERE
Day 16 – Of Course You Can Draw . . – click HERE
Woodcarving Basis by L.S. Irish at LSIrish.com – click HERE
General carving considerations by Tony Wispinski – click => WOM Vol 1 Issue 1
Stages in learning how to create chip carving designs by Jeff Fleisher – click => WOM Vol 1 Issue 1
Failure by Graeme Vaughn – click => WOM Vol 3 Issue 1
Dancing in the Wood – Composition for Woodcarvers by Caril Chasens – click =>WOM Vol 3 Issue 3
Woodcarving Class Etiquette by Vic Kirkman – click =>WOM Vol 2 Issue 6
Beginner Wildfowl Carver Advice by Vic Kirkman click =>WOM Vol 3 Issue 3
Chip Carving Pattern Stamps and Keep On Turning by Jeff Fleisher – click =>WOM Vol 3 Issue 4
Carving Tips and Techniques – click => The Carving Bench
More Tips and Techniques – click => The Carving Bench Archives
Carving Tips at The Southeast Carver site – click HERE
Simple Exercises for Hands that Craft (downloadable PDF at The Carving Bench) – click => The 5-5-5 Workout
Chris Pye – Woodcarving Newsletter archive – click HERE
NFTN – Carving faces – click =>WOM Vol 1 Issue 5
NFTN – Tips for carving large figures – click =>WOM Vol 2 Issue 3
NFTN – Learning to carve faces, Love spoons, Retainig prospective in relief carving – =>WOM Vol 3 Issue 2
NFTN – Cutting with the grain – click =>WOM Vol 3 Issue 3
NFTN – Copyright Information – click =>WOM Vol 3 Issue 4
NFTN – Trouble with crushing wood – click =>WOM Vol 4 Issue 4
Topics in Relief Carving – Stop Cuts, Low Relief, High Relief, Smoothing the Background, Laminating, Using a Depth Gauge and much more – by L.S. Irish – on Fundamentals and Techniques page under Relief Wood Carving – click HERE
Your First Carving Pattern by L.S. Irish – techniques, tools, etc for relief – read online or download e-book – click HERE
Incised Carving, Wood Block Prints, Intaglio Carving – by L.S. Irish on Specialized Techniques page – click HERE
Let’s Carve Eyes by Gene Graham at Tree To Treasure Wood Carving – click HERE
Your First Tools . . .
Safety First! Wear a glove, learn to work safely, learn to sharpen, and learn the Woodcarver ‘s Mantra! – click HERE
Basic Beginner Tools, The Beginner’s Tool Kit, and Carving Tool Closeup by L.S. Irish – click HERE
Buffing, Honing or Stropping? What is the difference anyway? Read Vic Hamburger’s comments – click HERE
NFTN – Selecting your first knife; Making cuts by hand; Protecting your carving tools; Gloves – click =>WOM Vol 1 Issue 2
NFTN – Tool length – click => WOM Vol 3 Issue 5
NFTN – Power carvers – click => WOM Vol 3 Issue 4
NFTN – Taking care of cuts (on the carver), Cut-resistant gloves – click => WOM Vol 2 Issue 5
About Tools at Smoky Mountain Woodcarvers – click HERE
Tool Roll Pattern at The Carving Bench – click HERE
For more information see also Retail Supply Houses and Tool Manufacturers and Distributors – click HERE
Three Important Things To Learn: Sharpening, Sharpening, Sharpening
Tool Sharpening Tips and Techniques click =>WOM Help Files
Sharpening – terms and items used in carving by Ken Bingham – click =>WOM Vol 1 Issue 3
Sharpening by Mac Proffit – from the Smoky Mountain Woodcarvers – click HERE
Sharpening Carving Tools by L.S. Irish – click HERE
Sharpening Of The Tupelo Knife at Vic Kirkman Originals – click HERE
Basic Strokes Of The Tupelo Knife at Vic Kirkman Originals – click HERE
How To Make A Strop at Vic Kirkman Originals – click HERE
NFTN – Home-made strops; “Pinching” the edge – click =>WOM Vol 1 Issue 3
NFTN – Sharpening; Sharpening V-gouges – click =>WOM Vol 1 Issue 5
NFTN – Tool care tip; Advice on gouges; Sharpening – click =>WOM Vol 2 Issue 5
NFTN – Tool Sharpening, including R. Gallandt’s 5 wheel sharpening rig – click =>WOM Vol 3 Issue 1
NFTN – V-Tool Sharpening – WOM Vol 4 Issue 3
Buffing, Honing or Stropping? By Vic Hamburger – click HERE
Painting and Finishes
Some Random Thoughts About Painting Your Bird Carving by Jo Craemer – =>WOM Vol 1 Issue 2
Chip Carving – In Search of the Perfect Finish by Jeff Fleisher – click =>WOM Vol 2 Issue 3
Shellac – The Versatile Finish by Vic Hamburger – click =>WOM Vol 4 Issue 6
Painting Characters and Caricatures by Fred Key at The Southeast Carvers – click HERE
Painting Santa Claus at The Carving Bench – click HERE
NFTN – Painting with acrylics – click =>WOM Vol 1 Issue 5
NFTN – Brush tip; Wax finish for driftwood; Finishes for bark carving; Painting grass – =>WOM Vol 1 Issue 6
NFTN – Getting flesh tones on carvings; Using dyes in lieu of oil stains; Trying to get “old” finishes – WOM Vol 2 Issue 1
NFTN – Painting with colored pencils; Antique finishes; Stains – click =>WOM Vol 2 Issue 2
NFTN – Painting technique; Wet sanding; Natural stains – click =>WOM Vol 2 Issue 3
NFTN – Hide glue as a sealer; Sealing fish carving; Cleaning air brushes; Hints for storing paint – =>WOM Vol 2 Issue 4
NFTN – Gold leaf for gilding signs – click =>WOM Vol 2 Issue 5
NFTN – Paste wax finishes, Ebony stain tip, Spoon finish, Paper sack rubdown, Gesso – =>WOM Vol 2 Issue 6
NFTN – Painting tutorial from Susan Irish, click =>WOM Vol 3 Issue 2
NFTN – Painting, Wood dies and other finishes, Painting “old” eyes – =>WOM Vol 3 Issue 5
NFTN – Antiquing. Oil finishes for chip carvings, Finishing a realistic carved eye – =>WOM Vol 4 Issue 1
NFTN – Painting fish – click =>WOM Vol 4 Issue 2
NFTN – Fishy paint problems – click =>WOM Vol 4 Issue 4
How-to Air Brush Lessons – click HERE
Coloring Your Project by L.S. Irish – topics include: Watercolors and Wood Burning; Adding Skin Colors with Watercolors; The Color Wheel, Who Is R. G. Biv?; Painting Eyes; Dry Brush Color Application and much more. Click HERE
Basics to Painting by L.S. Irish – topics include: Wood Carving and Burning Painting Supplies; Paint Kit Supplies; Steps to Success; General Techniques used in Wood Carving Painting and much more. Click HERE
Finishing Your Projects by L.S. Irish – topics include: Preparing for Finishing, Stains, Oils, and Washes, Oil, Wax, and Urethane Finishes. Click HERE
Projects and Tutorials For The New Carver (And Not So New Carver)
Tips On Bark Carving by Tony Wispinski – click =>WOM Vol 1 Issue 2
Pencil Carving by Tony Wispinski – click =>WOM Vol 1 Issue 5
Carving “The Cow Plaque“ by Tina Toney – click =>WOM Vol 2 Issue 2
Bottle Santa by Tina Toney – click =>WOM Vol 2 Issue 3
101 Things to Carve on a Rainy Day – by Grahme Vaughan – click =>WOM Vol 2 Issue 4
The Hunchback Santa by Tina Toney – click =>WOM Vol 2 Issue 4
Santa on a Pear by Tina Toney – click =>WOM Vol 2 Issue 5
Pals – 2 Santas by Tina Toney – WOM Vol 2 Issue 6
Projects by Pete LeClair – all WOM issues beginning with => WOM Vol 4 Issue 2
Carve An Old World Santa with Ron Correia (may not work with some browsers)
Patterns – An assortment of patterns by “Ol’ Don” Burgdorf – all WOM issues beginning with =>WOM Vol 3 Issue 5
Patterns at The Southeast Carver site – click HERE
Wood Spirits Tutorial by L.Sl Irish – click HERE
Transferring Patterns, Pounce Patterns, Enlarging and Reducing, Simplifying Patterns by L.S. Irish – click HERE
Welch Love Spoon Tutorial by L.S. Irish – click HERE
Beginner Projects – a wide variety of free beginner projects by L.S. Irish – click HERE
Fundamentals and Techniques of Pyrography – free tutorial by L.S. Irish – click HERE
Chip Carving Seminar by L.S. Irish – click HERE
Art Styles of Pyrography Tutorial – free ebook by L.S. Irish – click HERE
Carving Woods And Such
What is Diamond Willow by Bob Gander – click =>WOM Vol 2 Issue 2
Creating Ridges in Diamond Willow by Bob Gander – click =>WOM Vol 2 Issue 5
Making Diamond Willow Walking Sticks by Ken Laninga – click =>WOM Vol 4 Issue 2
Vaccuming Kiln for Drying Wood by Lynn Diel – click =>WOM Vol 2 Issue 4
All About Tupelo Wood at Vic Kirkman Originals – click HERE
How To Square A Block of Wood at Vic Kirkman Originals – click HERE
NFTN – Cleaning Cypress Knees; Softening end grain with an alcohol/water mix; Bark for carving, Repairing worm holes – click =>WOM Vol 2 Isssue 4
NFTN – Cracks in logs from drying; sealing logs while drying – click =>WOM Vol 2 Issue 5
NFTN – Cleaning up the fuzzies in basswood, Drying basswood – click =>WOM Vol 2 Issue 6
NFTN – Wood types, Gathering carving woods, air-drying wood – WOM Vol 3 Issue 1
NFTN – Diamond willow, Cleaning carvings, Cracks in carvings, Carving “punky” wood – click =>WOM Vol 3 Issue 5
NFTN – Different carving woods – click =>WOM Vol 3 Issue 4
NFTN – Carving sticks: collecting and drying, dealing with soft wood – click =>WOM Vol 4 Issue 3
NFTN – Creating a Bandsawn blank, Types of carving wood – click =>WOM Vol 4 Issue 4
About Wood from Smoky Mountain Woodcarvers – click HERE
Carving Woods Tutorial by L.S. Irish – click HERE
Basic Wood Glossary by L.S. Irish – click HERE
In the Shop . . . Safety First; Tool Reviews; Tips and Hints
Safety
Because of the inherent risks associated with working with wood and the resultant dust, always seek professional instruction and advice before undertaking any project.
NFTN – Taking care of cuts (on the carver), Cut-resistant gloves – click =>WOM Vol 2 Issue 5
Thoughts About Dust Collection – click =>WOM Help Files
Dust collection in the workshop by Tony Moore – click =>WOM Vol 2 Issue 1
NFTN – Dust control – click =>WOM Vol 1 Issue 2
Air Curtain Portable Power Carving Station by Thierry Varem-Sanders – click =>WOM Vol 3 Issue 3
Tips and How-to’s
Drawing an Ellipse by Bill Judt – click =>WOM Vol 2 Issue 4
Adapt a TV Table for Carving In The Den by Bill Aker – click =>WOM Vol 2 Issue 5
Driven Pulley Speeds Chart by Joe Brott – click =>WOM Vol 3 Issue 1
Golf Ball Cover Cutter by Captn Dave LaVoie – click =>WOM Vol 3 Issue 3
Tool Reviews
Record Carvers Vice by Don Leners – click =>WOM Vol 2 Issue 2
Delta Band Saw by Don Leners – click =>WOM Vol 2 Issue 3
The Endura Engraving System by Cathy Krumrei – click =>WOM Vol 4 Issue 6
Workholders of various sorts
Bracing Table for Relief Carving by L.S. Irish – click HERE
Multi-position work holder by Danny Fultz – click =>WOM Vol 2 Issue 2
Carving Arm Primer by Greg Wilkerson, with downloadable patterns by Lynn Diel – click HERE
NFTN – Simple holding methods for relief carving – click =>WOM Vol 1 Issue 3
NFTN – A Carving Vice by Bill Dentzel – click =>WOM Vol 1 Issue 5
Shaving Horses, Mules and Ponys
John Alexander’s English style shaving horse page at Greenwoodworking, including history and detailed construction information. – click HERE
Drew Langsner’s Continental (dumbhead) styleshaving horse plans at Country Workshops – click HERE
Hybrid Shaving Mule plans and finished Mule at Country Workshops – click HERE
Tom Rettie’s Continental (dumbhead) style shaving horse – click HERE
Matthews and Young Bench-top shave pony information page – click HERE
Richard Rombold’s Double-headed shaving horse – dumbhead style at one end and a stick holding vice at the other – click HERE
Other Neat Stuff . . .
Build-it-yourself carving duplicator plans at Copycarver.com – click HERE
Advanced Topics
Undertaking Commissioned Carvings, including Commission Sales Checklist, Contract to Commission An Artwork, Copyright Agreement by Susan and Michael Irish – click =>WOM Vol 3 Issue 1
Pricing Woodcarvings by Joe Dillett – click =>WOM Vol 3 Issue 2
NFTN – Joe Dillett on Written Contracts For Friends – =>WOM Vol 4 Issue 5
NFTN – Ivan Whillock on Comissions, Bargaining down prices, Showing your work at a show – =>WOM Vol 4 Issue 5
The Prodigal Son by Bill Judt – click =>WOM Vol 3 Issue 2
Pyrography (wood burning) Gallery – see the articles by Kathleen Menendez in WOM back issues – click HERE
Diamond Willow Jewelry by Bob Gander – click =>WOM Vol 3 Issue 3
Portrait Carving in Relief or “Portraits by the Inch” by Steve Schoolar – click =>WOM Vol 3 Issue 3
NFTN – Carving A Female Face – click =>WOM Vol 4 Issue 1
The Art of the Automobile: Vintage Vehicle Carvings by W.W. Fayette – click =>WOM Vol 4 Issue 3
Carving a Custom Walking Stick by Vern Robinson – click =>WOM Vol 4 Issue 4
Making a Brown Trout Stick (with a Ram’s Horn Head and a Hazel Shank) by Wilf Laidler – click =>WOM Vol 4 Issue 5
Fish carving instruction (power carving) at FishCarver.com – click HERE
Magazines and Books
There are several good magazines and many books available for the new carver. Click HERE to visit the Vendor Files – scroll down to the Magazine and Book Publishers, Book Sellers. There you will find links to Chip Chats magazine (included an index to articles and patterns,) Carving Magazine, and to Wood Carving Illustrated (including an article index.) Also included are links to the major carving book publishers.
Questions, queries, posers? Please use the Contact form on the About page – click the link in the menu bar at the top of the page. Broken links may also be reported using the same form.
Last update – 3-12-14
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