First Three Projects

[Abbott]

I just wanted to share. I'm beginner and right now I only have a pocket knife, a utility knife and I picked up a mini chip knife. Because I am currently one of the many America's between jobs, I have time and will have to pick up ore knifes and chisels for a time when I regain employment. The following pictures are three projects that I recently finished from scrap wood.

The box was made for my wife, and completed two weeks ago. The wood used was some scrap Oak, with the spline joints made from Purple Heartwood scraps a friend had in his burn pile. I made the hinges from it too. The Chickadee was inspired by a flock of them that has been in the front yard recently.

The wood spirit is just a face I carved in to hiking stick for my grandson (5 years old). He did an 8 mile hike with us and wanted a hiking stick, so I did one last week for him.

The third relief was an learning project, I wanted to try a high relief and found a piece of 2" x 8" floor stud in the scrap pile. Must have been there for 4 or 5 years. I learned a lot and found that it was a project that to turn out well, needed actual carving knives and chisels. The large blade of the pocket knife was too large to get into the small areas, the utility knife was too wide and too short for several areas and the mini chip knife was useful in those applications that it was designed for. So, lesson learned, only do the projects that the equipment will do. Second lesson, the grain of the pine stud, made it impossible to get smooth cut contours. So, base material selection to match the projects intended outcome is a great lesson for me. But, great learning for my first three project attempts.

[SlowMover]

I haven't done relief carving, but that third one looks really good to me for a beginner..I doubt that I could do as well, and I have a lot of tools. Congratulations on your skill. please continue to develop it as I see great potential in your work. Hope you find that great job soon, and get things back to normal in your life.

[carver33]

Very nice work for a beginner. As to the tools, "there ain't no such thing as too many", but it's amazing what you can accomplish with one knife. My first several projects were carved with only a single, home-made knife.

[Abbott]

Thank you Slow Mover and Carver, I appreciate the positive feedback. After the third project I found that the need for a decent set of knives will be important. I have a lot to learn. However I'm hooked ; -). I would love to develop the skills for a wide range of fine carving. Each of the three projects have taught me a lot.