Educational Carving! =)

[gossy]

Hey,
I am very new here, and am looking for a bit of help. I am currently still in school and taking woodtech as one of my GCSE's. For my final graded piece i would love to do some carving, but i dont have much experience or any tools! Any helpful tips as to what tools i should get and what things to carve? Help would be much appreciated! =)

Thanks

[William]

Hi gossy,
If you want to try woodcarving to see if it may be something you would like to do I would suggest a simple project and a tool that could be useful for other things.

As far as a tool you could use a fixed blade utility tool or box cutter (the blades are sharp!) and the tool could be used for other things if you move to carving tools (Rick has a beginner kit that can't be beat as far as price and quality).

As far as wood I would suggest buying a small block of basswood from Michale's craft store or walmart. You will pay more for the wood than we pay when we buy in volume but you will save on shipping and you can buy only what you need to complete your project.

Rick is a member here and he has a very good information page for a new carver and a few patterns for first projects. For Beginning Carvers from Little Shavers

Welcome to the forum and good lick with your project

Bill
^v^

[Ashbys]

Hi Glossy ,
Welcome to the boards. You asked a tough question, although there are thousands of ideas for carving they really are broken down into a few simple fields . Chip , relief and 3-d . Although the simple nature of 3 types leaves nothing to the style or level of carving achievable in any of the three types. By today's standards the tools are simple the results are not.

Chip carving is done using knives, usually following geometric patterns and usually considered a surface style carving. But many of the techniques in chip carving is used to enhance many other styles of carving.

Relief carving is the formation of the picture in flat plain to look 3 D. Relief carving it is the most widely used style of carving in the world. Most architectural carving would fall into this category. This is the type of carving you see on buildings from the most ancient times.

3-D carving is carving that is considered in the round. This is your characters and freestanding figures. This usually considered more technical because of the alignment the four planes to give a balanced proportionate piece.

The basic tools are knives and chisels. The work presented from the simple tools comes from the skill of individual using the tools. Although it's simple to start takes a lifetime master. This is not saying that it's not possible to achieve which are looking for, but to achieve it will take time.

To give you direction, to have an idea of what you want to do , is necessary , do you wish to add cavring to a box you have made, then we would most likely direct you to chip carving. If you want to do a landscape picture than we would direct you to relief carving . If you want to do a free standing eagle than the direction would be to the tools that would help you in this.

Since you are thinking about it for a grade the choice has to be yours, and we would direct you towards that end. No one carving style is eaiser than another , they all take time and practice, to learn how to handle the tools. We can help , but need an idea of what you wish to do .

Ash

[kev.b]

hi gossy im guessing you are from the UK, with your reference to GCSE's, unless they have GCSE grades in the USA. anyway it doesn't really matter my advice would be the same find out if there is a woodcarving club or group in your area, use internet sites or community centers to find out. call the person in charge and ask them if it would be OK to come along next meeting. The reason for this is that you'll get the chance to see different types of carving and be able to decide for yourself which you'd like to try. A good club will also give you the chance to see and try the various tools needed. They'll even help you design and advise you along the way.
In the club i've joined the youngest "carver" is about 9 years old, the great grand son of one of the oldest in the group, ( he uses a plastic knife and clay just to clear any concerns).
If you are in the UK contact the British woodcarvers association (BWA) for local club details, or the American equivilent.
Please don't feel aprehensive about asking for help in person, as i assure you, you will never meet a woodcarver who hasn't asked for advice or one who hasn't given advice freely.
good luck and please keep us informed about what you have decided.....and show us the PHOTO'S of your work when finished. Good luck on your grades, we're all behind you

[chuckbolton]

rick at little shavers sells a kit that includes several tools-- a glove-- a beginners book and some band saw blanks to carve-- book has instructions for this-- i think there is a dog- a boot and a small 3 piece nativity set-- id think that would answer most of your questions--

I didnt pick up on the reference to UK-- it would really help us on this side of the pond if everyone was to put in their profile where they are from-- that shows up when you post. i think the advice is about the same-- but its not real practical for you to order from little shavers if u are in the UK.

[kev.b]

gossy while i remember, if you do buy yourself tools seek advice first. some of the wood carving chisels you'll see on places like ebay seem good value but are very often of poor quality and as most carvers will tell you a blunt chisel/gouge will cut you more often than a sharp one will.
I'd try and get some help from a club or group first.
Might be easier to start with a love spoon first, a lot of the work can be done with a scroll or jig saw then a little carving and sanding, as opposed to trying a 3D carving (called in the round).
There are plenty of love spoon photo's on here to check out.

[gossy]

Firstly, thank you for all the help and advice you guys have given me, it is much appreciated! Kev.b i am surprised you mentioned a love spoon for something i could possibly make, as it is one that i have considered before, i will probably, for my final piece attempt a basic loves spoon with a few link and vines. As for everyone else who has given me advice and tools you have changed my plan completely! which is a good thing! for one i was contemplating just going onto ebay and perchasing a basic tool kit there, but form your experiences i will probably look up a local woodcarving club in my area and a shop too and get my tools there. Also i think i will go with the basswood that quite alot of people have mentioned, and see if i can get some locally. Iwill definately be uploading some pics of my final project when it is done!

Thanks all, and good luck with your carving!