Carving a bookcover

[Delxen]

Hi everyone, I'm completely new to wood carving. I'm an illustrator and I've been experimenting with making portfolios and bookmaking. I've been searching a lot online for more information but I'm not sure if I'm looking in the right places or know the proper terms. I want to engrave/carve a relief into a thin sheet of wood that I can use for a bookcover. What kind of tool am i looking for? Gouges? The even bigger question would be where I could get the wood. I do not have any power tools at the moment so I would need pre cut boards. Any suggestions for the type of wood? After looking around it seems like pine or cedar is the way to go? I checked with a few lumber places and they only offer a very small selection of wood at a quarter inch thick and then I'd need to buy like a 4x8 and have them cut it. I guess I just wanted to know if I'm missing something. Oh I'm in the NYC area. Thanks in advance.

[Irish]

I suggest that new carvers begin with a wood that is somewhat soft in nature, basswood. The nature of basswood allows you to learn how to use the knives and gouges, how to make the cuts, and how to develop your depth without having to fight hard wood grain. I purchase my basswood at www.heineckewood.com/ .

Most carvers order their wood either online or through a mail order wood shop. You are looking for solid wood for your project, not plywood and might consider basswood, butternut, soft maple, mahogany or even black walnut. Wood is ordered by the board foot and most shops will custom cut your piece. I would suggest getting several pieces so that you have at least one extra on which you can experiment.

Give the wood shop that you chose a phone call. I have found my wood supplier extremely helpful in their choosing the right piece of wood for my current project.

A beginner can purchase a medium priced, nice quality set of carving tools that will include several styles of chisels, several sizes of round gouge, and a v-gouge. These are the basic tools to our craft. After you have discovered that you truly enjoy carving you can purchase better quality, individual tools.

Add a basic bench knive and a leather strop and honing compound to your kit and you will be ready to go.

While you await the arrival of your wood and tools enjoy poking around the forum here. There are lots of great threads that focus on your first carving or on the beginning carver.

Ssusan
(Lora S. Irish)

If you are only planning on carving one item then you might consider an exacto set with it's interchangeable tool tips and profiles. This is not my favorite option as I am totally committed to carving but I offer it as a possiblity.

[Woody1961]

Something that Lora S. Irish did not touch upon is the possibility that pyrography (woodburning that is taken to a much higher level) may be a wonderful way to enter this area. To carve a relief, you will need some thickness to the board that you are using (probably 3/8 to 1/2" minimum). With pyrography, the board can be very much thinner. Click the link that is at the end of her post, and she even has a free pattern that may suit your needs.

[Delxen]

Thanks for all of the information! I didn't even know about pyrography. Time to do more reading on that tutorial.

[Keoma]

Hey there I have made several wooden bound journals. They are very fun to make. You can buy thinner blanks on ebay if you look around. My tool of choice is an of the shelf Dremel and a few carving bits. I draw out my pattern and then use the Dremel as a sort of pen-I hold it just like one and I start "drawing" or outlining my pattern. I love power carving. If you did a search on Etsy.com and looked up wooden journals you will see quite a few of them-so many awesome artists out there! They even show the beautiful bindings-which is what I am studying now!
But yeah-take a look around-you asked here, keep asking. If you know any woodworkers in your area you may know someone who has the tools to make you your blanks. You could even find some one on line whom you could hire out so to speak.
Pyrography is another super cool idea too!
Don't under estimate a Dremel! If I could advertise for them-I totally would! Best of luck to you! Very fun project!