My problem.

[Howie]

A few failed projects are under my belt, and as I read more and more tutorials (including my brand new Spring 2011 Woodcarving Illustrated mag), the only thing I can see that I'm doing wrong is the second step.

Cutting out the shape.

I'm in an apartment with no actual work area. It's a small coffee table with a bucket for wood chips, a small coping saw and two knives. I don't know anyone or have any opportunitty to go use a bandsaw. As I've started all my projects, I'm mostly doing an extremely rough shape - a kind of octagon or triangle with uneven sides. From there I try roughing and end up breaking pieces off (my knives are sharp to the point that I sliced my foot open when one fell 6 inches onto it).

Please help. I'm growing more and more frustrated, especially as I've found I really enjoy this. I just have no idea how to move forward with it when almost all the instructionals, tutorials and advice show to start with a 'blank.'

-Howie

[BeaverDon]

I don't like using knives for that part of roughing out. I prefer a 3/4" to 1' gouge, short handle to help with control. It should have a fairly deep sweep , maybe #5 or #7. It will let you get rid of a lot of wood fairly fast, but don't rush, don't cut toward your own hand and wear a carving glove. You'll get other opinions I'm sure. Try them all to see what works for you.

[carvingbarn]

That is about what I had when I started. I had an X-acto kit and a coping saw. The X-acto carving kit is low coast and worked for me for a number of years. While I have many more tools now I still have that kit. It may help if you can get a vise that will hole your work while you are cutting it out and working on the carving. I found an old Black and Decker workmate at a pawnshop. I still have it after 20 years. I still use it.
Xacto carving kit.jpg

[wayne(mj)]

I don't know the size of project you are doing , if it is something large maybe try something smaller. I think if you really take your time you will get the hang of it, it will come. If you are in an area where you can get a blank already cut out that might help. If there is a club in your area , seek help. Every carver I have ever met is more than willing to help. Don't be afraid to ask questions, hands on is the best way with some one helping out a bit. It took me a long time to learn to slow down but after few boxes of band aids it finally sunk in. I am just a beginner myself ( about a yr.) but these are some of the things that helped me out. I first tried carving bass wood and I was all thumbs and dam near quit. One of the guys gave me an armfull of cotton wood bark and life became a lot easier. For me it was a good learning experience, the wood is a lot easier to carve and after awhile I tried a couple of simple Santa carving in bass wood and progressed form there, it's starting to come but I still have a long way to go. Don't get frustrated and quit , take your time. Good luck.

Wayne (mj)

[Dan S]

I've been in your position. It's frustrating to try to do a job for which you just don't have the tools. The gentlman above is right. First you need a place to work and a way to hold your project. A workmate would work well for this as you can fold it when you are done. Have a look on Craigslist as well as at local fleamarkets. You should be able to find one for about 20.00. I have a jawhorse that I found at a thrift store. It also holds wood like a rock. I paid 80.00
Once you have a way to secure your wood, the coping saw will get easier to use. You may also find that you don't need a coping saw once you have a way to secure your wood. Like Don says, a good sized sharp gouge will remove a lot of wood in a hurry. If funds are tight, here again start hunting arround fleamarkets and antique shops. A tool with a broken handle can often be found for pennies. The handle is really quite easy to replace. A quick search for the names of antique tools will give you some ideas on what to look for. These old tools are often as good as anything made today if not better!
Another option is to find a vise that would clamp to your table. There have been a number of these made over the years. There was a swiss made one, Zliss or something like that. that might suit you very well if you can find one.
Hope that helps,
Dan

[Claude]

Howie:
With just a coping saw, you can, with a little time, create roughouts. In the accompanying drawing, you can see that if you make the vertical cuts as shown, then use a mallet and gouge (or hammer and carpenter's chisel) to knock off the wood between the saw cuts, you can quickly create a roughout without a band saw... Here's a post about this from last year: What to do when you don't own a bandsaw.

Claude

[Dagwood]

another good idea might be to get a Tom Wolf book... alot of his carvings start with a block of wood and a band saw is not needed... another idea might be to buy a rough out and see if you like it.... hope this helps as we have all been in your shoes

[Jim Arnold]

I've been there too. Like Carvingbarn suggested, pawnshops can be a great place to shop for tools and equipment. You can pick up bench chisels (albeit dull ones) for pennies. My first bandsaw was an old table top Sears relic (from the days when tools weren't 99% plastic and resin), I'm guessing I've used it for about 17 years now and counting, bought it from a pawn shop for $60. You can work around not having one for sure, but if I prioritized my tools by matter of importance, the bandsaw would be no.2 right after the chisels, the bandsaw footprint is something like6" deep by 20" wide.

As you already figured out, working in really constrained places sometimes requires special attention to safety concerns. Your learning and enjoyment will increased dramatically once you come up with a way to secure your piece whether its a vise or some fashion of holder. A carving glove will also save you some down time (and some blood). I'd also say WEAR SHOES, but in the summer I don't so I'll refrain from commenting there.

Its inspiring to me to see your passion for carving, welcome to the forum! I look forward to seeing pics of your work.

Thanks,

Jim

[davidinsarasota]

Common problems for a lot of us, me too. Sounds like three problems really:

1. Finding ways to rough out a piece close enough to the final form that one does not lose enthusiasm before getting to the actual carving. While I'm an advocate of working as large as possible so that you can see what you are doing clearly, and are able to get the tools in there to do it, perhaps it would help to stay small until you are able to get what you need to remove larger masses.

Stay with 2"X2" or 3"X3" dimension Basswood that is at least 9" or 12" long (sorry I don't know the metric equivalents but I assume Canadians are smarter than Americans in this.) You can compensate for the lack of bandsaws and stuff by being smart in your project selection and design. Stick with figures like wizards or Santas. There are lots of tutorials about these and the human face will force you to learn a lot of skills.

2. Breaking pieces off. You must use Basswood for these small projects. Plan your cuts so that removal cuts end in stop cuts. Make a stop cut and remove to it. Then make another stop cut and remove to that. Go with or across the grain as much as possible. Avoid going against the grain.

3. Avoid dropping the knife on your foot if possible.

Have fun!

[Dicky]

I was talking to a carving instructor once who was having his students use a Warren 3/4" fishtail gouge to remove excess wood quickly. I tied it and found it worked quite well. I recently got a used one for 9 bucks but they are only around $18.00 new.