Common beginner mistakes

[MelNM]

I was wanting to start a thread on common beginner mistakes and was hoping everyone would share their vast experience or new experiences with beginners.
Hopefully other experience carvers can add to this to help your journey on the road of carving a smooth one.
Mel

Personally I been carving about 14 years and feel I'm still a beginner.

1. Never carve with a dull knife, this can also be dangerous because you force the cut and can use control of it. Keep a leather strop handy and use it every 10-15 minutes to keep it sharp. (Oh yah wear a glove)

2. Use a model if you can they really help.

[Gulf Coast Handyman]

Never buy a set of tools, only buy the tools you need. Join a club or try to borrow tools, that way you could see what you like / need. Always buy the best quality tool that you can afford.

Dave

[SeaLeveler]

Never use a cotton glove while using a rotary tool,only leather.damhikt.Tony

[BobD]

Take the time to learn to sharpen.

[Dicky]

Always leave more than you think you need for details like ears, noses etc.

[Dileon]

Don't quit, learning to carve you make mistakes, even the most experience makes mistakes....be willing to carve to learn. In my house the only objects left are my mistakes...smile...the ones no one will purchase, but I just love them all the same, I tell everyone ...and here is all my junk art, they look at you like you have lost your mind. So if you enjoy carving, stay no matter what, you will learn, with time and lots of carving.

[Mark Dellinger]

1. Don't carve in a hurry or when you are tired it only leads to the ER and a back log of work.
2. Not using paint that is thinned down, causing the carving to look plastic and hides wood grain.

Mark

[Kenny_S]

Cut small chips instea dof large ones. You cna always cut more off but sometimes, you can't put back on. Well, You can glue but,,,,,,,,,,

Good thread Mel

[mbus1]

Always carry a few bandaids in your tool box!

Merryl Bustin

[Mitchell]

Wear a glove on your holding hand
Learn to recognize a sharp tool
Wear a glove
Learn to sharpen
Wear a glove
Practice
Practice
Practice

Practice depends on what you want to carve
Some suggestions: Stop cuts, paring cuts, pull cuts

As for tools - again it depends on what you want to carve. A good roughing knife and a good detail knife are pretty much givens. There are some that could be used for both.

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