[Buntaro]

Hello,
I just got interested in wood carving about 2 days ago. My sister was making wooden beads for a necklace and the idea of carving wood just hit me. Since then I have read lots of info on the web concerning what seems to be a great and satisfying hobby. I've read up on the basic tools needed but unfortunately I do not have a gouge. Today I purchased a sort of wetstone (with course and fine sides) to try and sharpen up the instruments we already had laying around inluding a razor, 2 chisels, and 2 pocket knifes. Wanting to start carving as soon as possible I helped my neighbour gather some wood (he likes finding wood and chopping it up for his fireplace in the winter) and he helped me cut 2 different pieces of wood from two different species of tree. We cut the trunks into 2 circular blocks. I tried carving my name by first making an inision with the razor (which was very difficult to do) and then trying to chisel out the material to try and move away from the stop cut. I realise this is normally done with a gouge and I'm not even sure this sort of procedure works for a chisel, because it certaintly didnt for me. So enough of my life story, these are my questions.

-I have a large forest close to my house from which I can gather wood. However, I dont have a clue as to which woods that I can find here in Holland are suitable for carving. Also, can wood be carved straight after cutting or does it need to be dried?

-Second, I also realised that information I had read instructed to go with the grain. How is it possible to cut a section from a trunk and then carve on that surface going with the grain? The grain seems to run lengthwise, up and down the trunk.

- Is it much easier to carve away the background with a gouge than chisel? I had to use an extreme amount of pressure with the chisel as well as wiggling it to remove any wood. i was not achieving straight shavings.

These are pretty much my main questions. Any help you can give me along with information and links will be greatly appreciated. And by the way, I am an American living in The Netherlands, or Holland.

Thanks a lot,
Brent Meyers

[Ashbys]

Hi Brent! Welcome to the wonderful world of carving. I am new as well, but I might be able to help some. First I do suggest you look at http://www.carvingpatterns.com/There is a lot of information for someone just starting. NOw for some simple help. Make your patern, and then using your pocket knife follow the out line of the pattern.,
Now from the outside of the pattern using your pocket knife get close to your stop line and use a slight angle cut into your stop line. Contintue following the same operation to remove the wood. Follow your stop cut as often as needed but you can go as deep as you wish to go.
Keep your knife sharp and look to hone the edge it will allow you to keep clean cuts. The thumbnail was my third carving and was done with this method and a small chisel, then sanded for smoothness.

Hope this helps
Ash

[wade clark]

Brent,
Welcome!
I think you've caught the carving bug!
1. You can carve green or dry wood. Green wood is softer and easier to carve, and prone to cracking when it dries. If you wrap it in a wet towel every day when you're done carving, it may not crack. You'll find other options including microwaving the carving, boiling it, deep-frying it, keeping it oiled...everybody has different approaches and different success (and failure) stories. Dry wood shouldn't crack.
2. Going with or against the grain has more to do with strength of the finished carving than anything. Good tools well sharpened will carve either way.
3. There is very little difference between a chisel and a gouge. That difference is a chisel has a strait edge, gouges have curved edges. While the corners of a chisel will dig in to the wood, the corners of a gouge are out of the wood and therefore don't dig in unless you get deep in the wood. That little difference can be big! Gouges come in about 9 different degrees of curve. The standard grading is this: #1 is a chisel (flat or strait squared edge), #2 is a strait edge but not square, at an angle, called a skew, #3 is a very shallow almost flat curve, then #4 through #11 increase curvature as you go higher in number. All of them come in different widths from about 1/16" to 2" aprox.
Do a search under Ashley Iles (or any other brand of gouges/chisels) or Tools For Working Wood and I think you'll find a chart that shows all these.
You might consider getting a "palm set" of tools to get started...they're small, palm-held and easy to use, especially on small carvings. They will also come in handy no matter what you carve, large or small, for as long as you enjoy carving. Small tools are less expensive too.
I'd suggest you start collecting catalogs before you decide what tools you want to buy, because you can spend a fortune on carving tools, but you can get by or get started with just a few.
It might help to get an idea of what types of carving you want to try. In the mean time, a sharp pocket knife will let you explore and learn a lot!
Have fun, good luck, and protect your hands...if you don't get cut sooner or later, your tools aren't sharp enough!
Wade

[Colin_Partridge]

Welcome I cant add anymore than has been said here. Myself I love to carve wet wood but as Wade said it will be more prone to cracking. Carving dry wood in the round (just as it comes off the tree) while the bark is on it, it probably wont crack as soon as you remove the bark and start removing wood it will probably crack almost right away. I have had wood startle me when it lets go when I am carving it, sounds like a gun going off. The only way to stop it cracking is to keep it wet and that is hard to do no matter how much you wet it down.
Colin

[Shane Stock]

Brent,

I am not much of a carver myself, but I can tell you that the first step to carving is to get really sharp tools. This thing you are saying about having to wiggle the tools and force them alot is telling me your tools are not sharp. So find a book with some info on sharpening, or better yet find a person, and spend some time getting your tools razar sharp and with the right angles or you will just be frustrated.
Shane

[Hi_Ho_Sliver]

send them to Rick at little shavers...for 2.00 each, you can't beat it and they will be sharp!

[Hi_Ho_Sliver]

Originally Posted by Buntaro

Hello,
I just got interested in wood carving about 2 days ago.

Thanks a lot,
Brent Meyers

It sounds like you may have to invest in a good carving knife and a couple of chisels/gouges.....your pocketknives may or may not be good for carving as most are stainless and will not take as good an edge nor keep it......talk to Rick at littleshavers...he will get your started out right and not rip you off! Oh...forgot!! get yourself a carving glove!!

[mikeg]

As Hi_Ho said, contact Rick. He has a starter kit which includes the glove, knife gouges and everything for a very reasonable price.

mikeg

[Ron Davidson]

I agree with everyone else. Talk to rick at little shavers. or check out his web site. Ron

[Thor]

As a beginner, you have done the first step right by finding this message board. It will be your best source of information, inspiration and it makes a good cheering squad when you show what you've done.
So, what are you doing in Holland? You know you have a world of historical wood carvings at your disposal in the museums there to look at. The Germanic styles are incredible.
And, don't feel intimidated by Ash's 3rd carving. He was born into this.
Some of us have to work a little longer to get good results, but it is still a lot of fun. Thor