[Erick White]

Hello,

My wife and I know nothing about the art of carving, the tools needed, and just about everything else there is to know. We set out a project to make a spice rack. And I know this does not take much carving, however to make special designs on it and such would require some carving.

So here are my questions:


1) What could we do to first practice? Oak?


2) What tools should i get?


3) WHere should I go to get them?


4) what videos/books/tutorials do you recommend and where can I buy them?

[Plain_Ol_Ed]

From you post, I am assuming your are interested in primarily decorative carving.

Your first piece should probably not be Oak, especially the American vaireties. For starters, I think the good old standby, Basswood (European Lime) would be good.

As to the rest of the questions, it is best is you do a bit of reading first. An excellent place to start is this site:

http://www.chrispye-woodcarving.com/

You will get lots of advice here though. All of it good, but much of it will be contradictory. That's just the way it is, carving is one of those things where the old axiom, "There's more than one way to skin a cat." applies. If fits wood, tools, and procedures very well.

One other thing comes to mind. Learn to sharpen. Once again there are many methods, scary sharp is one popular one. I prefer old fashioned Washita and Arkansas stones. One constant seems to be a strop with some form of stropping compound; diamond paste, yellow stone, jewelers rouge, etc. The strop can be made from almost anything, with leather being the most predominent.

[Donna_T]

I would agree that your practice wood should be basswood. However, before you carve on your actual spice rack wood, at least practice on a comparable piece of wood. There is a big difference in how different kinds of woods carve.

Depending on the design you're planning to put on your spice rack, that would determine what kind of carving tools you'll need. Without a doubt, they need to be sharp. But your design will determine whether it can be done with just a knife, or whether a v-tool is needed, or woodburner. So, you see, there's no one answer---except IT DEPENDS on what you're wanting.

What kind of wood are you going to make it out of? How big is it going to be? How detailed is the carved design going to be?

Do you live in an area where there is a carving club or supplier? Both of those will be a big help to you. So, you see, answers are hard to come by--we just have more questions!

Donna T

[papasar]

Hi and welcome.
IMHO basswood is the way to go. Check out chip carving in the gallery. Very little tools needed. Endless geometric and free form patterns. Easy to learn, very little mess, can carve almost anywhere and the results great for decorating whatever.
Bill K.

[Ashbys]

I strongly suggest you go to Susan Irish's website at www.carvingpatterns.com where you can read about carving , materials, and how to carve basic instruction. One of the best if not the best starting place on the web .

Once you get an idea, of what your interested in , other sites www.Littleshavers.com has excellent resources for starter kits with tools and patterns.

Do not waste your time going to a hobby store for tools , you will be disapointed.

Welcome to the fourm and the world of carving.

Ash

[Hi_Ho_Sliver]

agreed, contact Rick and Littleshavers for a starter tool set and get some basswood to practice on.....look up heinecke wood products. You can either carve the item you are wanting or "chip" carve, which would only require two knives....do a search for chip carving.......you might like it!

[woodtrapper]

If you just want to get a feel. Get a basic starter kit of chisels and carve soap or wax.Then try some basswood.