General Carving Questions from a Beginner

[makmlost]

How do I know what direction to lay the pattern out on the wood? Seems like there is always a part that does not want to carve nicely. Also when I get to those strange parts it is very hard to make the wood cut smoothly. When I get finished the whole thing looks pretty rough because there are little scratch marks, partial cuts, and the terrible saw marks left over from band sawing. Does not seem to matter how much I scrape those saw marks they show and many times if I try carving deeper it makes it look worse because it is cutting against the grain in a strange way. Also the wood ends up looking different colors depending on which way I carve it. (I am using basswood) I must be missing something. All you guys that know what your doing work is so smooth looking.

[TreeWizard]

Sounds like you have a cross grain issue. I make sure the longest part of the pattern always runs with the grain to minimize the cross grain issue. Some of the carving will always be cross grain and when you have that situation use a mix of 1/2 water and 1/2 alcohol, spray it on the end grain and let it sit for a few minutes then go to it.

[AlArchie]

You can also make sure to do your bandsaw cut slightly OUTSIDE your pattern lines, then you can whittle down through them to eliminate the saw marks.

When you look for the grain, do like Treewizard suggested andf put the long side of the pattern along the grain. There is also a second "grain line" to consider. Look at the end of the piece and see which way the "cross grain" is oriented. If you are carving a human or animal figure, make sure the cross grain runs INTO the nose area, not across it. This will make the nose less likely to break off.

Al

[chip]

Couple more suggestions…

I eliminate band saw marks with a $2.98 fixed blade utility knife from Lowes before my good knife touches the wood.

When in a tight spot, grain wise, I eliminate frayed raggedy knife cuts by first making a stop-cut then pull a paring-cut to that stop then a push-cut to the same stop and the chip pops out clean. In most cases the smaller the chip the prettier the work.

A trick suggested to me years ago on how to learn to deal with wood grain …
whittle a chain. Walnut 1973.

[doris]

more than the grain direction, your problem seems that your tools are dull. they seem to cut somewhat, but when you say the whole piece looks rough when finished that shows your tools are dull...try learn to sharppen them better, once you can that, a properly sharpened tool will cut clean in almost every direction, even against the grain with short cuts...

[Claude]

One way to tell if your tools are really sharp: Hold your knife flat under a light bulb so that the light reflects off the flat area into your eyes. Slowly rotate the knife until the edge of the blade is pointing up. If you can see any light reflected off the edge at all, the knife is not sharp.

Claude

[Just Carving]

Another good way to compare whether your knife is sharp is take a knife that uses disposable blades, put in a brand new, never before used blade, and make few practice cuts in piece of scrap wood. Then do the same with your knife and/or tools. If the cuts made by the knife with disposable blade are cleaner and smoother than the ones made with your knife or tools, then your knife and/or tools need to be sharpened. A particularly good way to determine sharpness is to carve on the end of the piece of scrap wood, i.e. slice the end grain. If you can do that, your knife/tool is sharp.

Bob L

[Dan S]

I think everyone else was right about your problem with sharpening. As far as grain for a figure, lay out the pattern so that the grain runs along the leignth of the face. I've tried it the other way and it's not easy. For other figures remember that the long grain is the strongest so use it to your advantage. Think along the legs of a hores or dog etc.

Dan

[makmlost]

Originally Posted by TreeWizard

Sounds like you have a cross grain issue. I make sure the longest part of the pattern always runs with the grain to minimize the cross grain issue. Some of the carving will always be cross grain and when you have that situation use a mix of 1/2 water and 1/2 alcohol, spray it on the end grain and let it sit for a few minutes then go to it.

Do you use just regular rubbing alcohol?

[TreeWizard]

Regular rubbing alcohol work well.