Begginers books/instructions

[Alpha13]

Does anyone have some beginners books or guides they would recommend to a beginner carver? (no prior experience) I don't think I'll be able to go to carving classes so I'll need some good books.

Thanks

[mikeg]

It depends on what you want to carve. I like to carve caricatures. For beginning books, I like Jack Price's "Carving Small Characters", Pete LeClair's "Carving Caricatures From Scratch" or Mary Finn's "Carving Eggheads"

Jack's show's you how to carve small characters with no prior experience from a small block of wood. Pete's is a bit more advanced but also starts from a block of wood. Mary's has a nice tutorial on faces using practice sticks.

mikeg

[Mitchell]

"Shop" to your hearts content......(click on the link first)

http://www.foxchapelpublishing.com/s...p=1&FullCat=32

Really, we need some more information.

What do you want to carve?
Do you have any tools?
Do you know how to care for your tools? - SHARPENING
etc.

Any info will help us "tune" our answers to help you get started correctly.

[squbrigg]

There are two books that I like to recommend to new carvers. I have found both to be very helpful to me in my quest for carving knowledge. "How To Carve Wood" by Richard Butz, and "Elements of Woodcarving" by Chris Pye. Both are available from WCI and both cover a braod range of carving techniques and types.

Bob

[Alpha13]

Originally Posted by Mitchell

"
What do you want to carve?
Do you have any tools?
Do you know how to care for your tools? - SHARPENING
etc.

I want to carve small figurine type things. No tools yet but I sent an email to rick at little shavers about his beginner kit. I don't know how to care for the tools.

Originally Posted by squbrigg

"How To Carve Wood" by Richard Butz, and "Elements of Woodcarving" by Chris Pye. Both are available from WCI and both cover a braod range of carving techniques and types.

Bob

I will definitely pick up those 2, thanks

[Butch_Speer]

I would like to second Mikeg's choice of Jack Price's book. If you want to carve people, especially caricatures, give it a try. It's a very good beginners book. Could help out more advanced carvers also.

[Capn_Crunch]

My first books were from Ron Ransom on carving santas. Take the earlier publishing dates in this series as they were the best. These are good enough that you can self teach to carve. Woodcraft used to sell a beginner's set around this book with a knife and a blank.

[Mitchell]

Here's the link to Jack Price's book. I agree that it is a good book to get you started.

http://www.foxchapelpublishing.com/searchproducts.cfm

I'm not sure if he has sharpening instructions in there. The book in the beginners kit "should", but I am not sure of that either. I can't stress enough my opinion that you need to learn how to keep your tools sharp. It seems like more work, but it will make your carving much more enjoyable.

[strictlyanalog]

After spending a lot of time with books in hand at my local wood working store, I bought First Christmas Projects for Woodcarvers by Larry Green and Mike Altman, published by Schiffer Publishing. Larry Green also has another First Projects book with different items to carve. The book covers everything from safety, tools, wood, how to sharpen, basic carving cuts, and then 3 projects are presented, step-by-step, with large color photos. Even includes painting suggestions and photos of the finished projects from several angles. I carved all 3 projects in the Christmas book and had a great time.

[arbarnhart]

I have an older book, "Complete Guide to Wood Carving" by E.J. Tangerman. Here is an editorial I found:

Hundreds of projects and designs. More than 500 drawings and photographs. Covers a vast range of animals, plants, flowers, model boats, faces and heads, human figures, buildings, more. Discusses every aspect from sizing working drawings to finishing by gilding, roughing and antiquing. "The one must book for woodcarvers at all skill levels."--Int'l Woodworking. 352 pages, 683 b/w illus., 7 x 10.

It appears to be out of print, but you can get a used copy through Amazon:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/off...?condition=all

I always check Amazon for used sellers for hobby/craft books. The savings are significant.