BEGINNER'S
GUIDE TO OUR SITE
WHERE DO I START
If you have never
carved before we would suggest you begin with our tutorial
Your First Carving.
This is a simple floral accent project
that includes step by step instructions, twelve free patterns, and
lots of photos to guide you through your first carving. Each
new step is linked to one of our Primer to
Carving pages that focuses on particular techniques used in wood
carving.
Once you have
tried your hand at our Your First Project carving you may wish to go
to our free Online Tutorials.
Here you will find a huge assortment of teaching pages with a
variety of techniques that you will use over and over again in your
new hobby.
Basics
to Landscapes is an excellent choice for a second work as it will lead
you through all the basics from tracing your pattern to applying a
finishing coat to your wood. This project also includes step-by-step
instructions, photos, and ideas of how to change a pattern to create new
designs. The basic steps
that you learn through these pages can be used with any of our wood
carving pattern packages.
WHAT TOOLS WILL I NEED TO START
To begin relief wood carving you will need a
basic set of tools that include gouges, chisels, and v-gouges plus a bench
knife. Please see
The Beginner's Tool Kit
to learn about the variety of tools available to the craft and their
uses. As your hobby grows you will need to add some sharpening
stones and a hone to your kit. Although most tools are sold
pre-sharpened they will lose their cutting edge over time and use.
Which set of basic tools you chose depends on
your carving needs and what will lay comfortably in your hands.
Those that wish to work on large projects will tend to need the wider
bladed tools. For fine detailing chose a micro tool with their
thinner blades. The chose between long handled tools and palm tools
is individual to each carver.
We do carry basic sets, bench knives, sharpening
stones, and chip carving tools on our site, please visit Basic Carving Tools Sets
WHICH PATTERNS ARE BEST FOR BEGINNERS
It has always been our suggestion that
you chose patterns that interest you for your early carvings. Some
favorites of our patrons are Wood Quilt
Squares, Farm Animal Folk
Art, Simple and Realistic
Flowers, White Tail Deer, Traditional
Designs, Oak and Grape, and Assorted
Patterns. Each of these design packages contain patterns without
extensive detailing or layer work, so are excellent for those just
learning the craft.
Again, you may wish to visit
our Online
Tutorials section as each lesson plan is complimented by a pattern
package that can be used with that project.
WHERE DO I PURCHASE WOOD BLANKS
Carving wood is sold in three forms,
pre-routed blanks, pre-constructed shapes, and as lumber for
those who do their own woodworking. Please visit our links
pages for on-line shops that sell carving woods, Woodworking
Links. Basswood is the dominant carving wood because
of it's fine grain. Also excellent for carving are Sugar
Pine, Butternut, Mahogany, Walnut, and Oak. Soft woods as
basswood and Butternut accept a great deal of detailing where
hard woods as Walnut and Oak usually are carved with a more
general relief.
WHAT OTHER RESOURCE ARE ON THE WEB FOR
BEGINNING CARVERS
Woodworking
Links
Our links page to woodworking suppliers, wood sources, and tool
manufactures on the internet.
Wood Carver's on the Web
Our links page to wood carver's websites. You find great ideas,
photos, techniques offered by wood carvers from beginner's work to master craftsmanship.
Fox Chapel
Publishing
A great place to visit if you are looking for books of carving, scroll
work, and other hobbies and crafts.
Wood
Carving Illustrated
A favorite carving magazine of ours! Issued quarterly you will find
step-by-step instructions, carving techniques, and lots of great ads for
your browsing pleasure.
Wood Carving Illustrated Message Board
An online forum that discusses wood carving,
scroll saw work, and pyrography.
This is a great place to meet other online carvers.
Wood
Carvers Digest
An online e-mail digest where over '600 and counting' wood carver chat and
share their ideas and experiences. We highly recommend your joining!
Highly Recommended!
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