Beginner Mistakes for Chip Carving

[Veen]

Hi
I figure its time to chime in here.
I am a beginner chip carver and am wondering if you experienced CC could list off the most common mistakes beginners make (and how to avoid them). I believe mine is I try to go to deep and take out to much wood.

Also I would like some instruction on how to make lines look good. By lines I mean like on a leaf where there is not a chip to be taken out but just the lines in the center of the leaves that give it the vein looking detail. I have just been trying to make 2 small cuts to form a v grove where the line is. Not sure what is the best techinque???
Appreciate this forum.

[Dan C]

My best advice would be to buy a Wayne Barton chip carving DVD for beginners. I'm sure there are a lot of other chip carving DVDs that are excellent as well, but Wayne is the one I am familiar with.

Just a couple of thoughts on your "line" question. Vary the width of the cut in a smooth manner from one end to the other. This will make the overall line look a lot better. Also, narrow the width down and make the cut more shallow as you approach the end of the line.

REALLY - get a DVD - there is so much to be said about making your chip carving look good that can't be said here. You don't want to practice bad habits.

Did I say PRACTICE? Yeah, I'm sure you know, but once you understand the proper techniques, you just need to practice, practice, practice.

Dan C.

[RUssL.]

Until you can get DVD instructions you can also take a look at the ever-so-helpful lessons (free) at mychipcarving.com.

You may have to look through the video clips to find one specific to you question, but I think there might be one that addresses it. If not, you at least have another resource to go to for other chip carving issues.

Try this: take a dark pencil and draw a thick line down (with the grain) a piece of wood. Now, take your knife (in correct "position one" hand posture) and run it down one side of your line at an angle forming one side of a "V" meeting at the center, under the dark line. Turn the wood around and now on the opposite side run your cut down the line & meeting the previous cut at the bottom with a mirror cut forming the opposite "V' side and freeing your dark pencil line from the wood.

I am still an early chip carver but I can tell you that Dan C. is correct: practice, practice, practice is the answer to all chip carving obstacles once you have a sharp, well shaped knife.

Good luck and keep trying.
It will come.
It really is all about practice and lots of it.
Enjoy the journey and you'll get where you want in time...and a pile of kindling! ;-)

Russ

[Gulf Coast Handyman]

Like Russ said, I have learned so much from My Chip Carving. There are free videos on the site and you can sign up for a free newsletter / videos. He also sells chip knives and supplies. Add to this lots of practice !

Dave

[Veen]

Thanks for the suggestions I ordered the Barton Video a while ago hoping it will arrive today.

[Dan C]

Veen - that's great! You can't go wrong with one of Wayne's DVDs. He will give you a good set of fundamentals and you will be on your way.

Dan C.

[Veen]

Thanks Dan for your advice "Vary the width of the cut in a smooth manner from one end to the other". It has been a great help. It really does gives it more character.
I have a couple questions..

1. How important is it to always work in the same position? I find myself working flat on my lap sometimes. Then lifting one side up. Then laying it on top of my desk.....
2.Which 2 or 3 books have the most patterns and info in them. I have read some are quite repetitive??

[papasar]

Veen,
Can only speak for myself. I carve close to my chest due to old eyes. This is fine for me on small pieces like plates etc. It does put a strain on my non-carving hand with bigger pieces. I then rest on my knee of sometimes on a table. The important thing is to maintain the same angle. With free form chipcarving I don't worry so much about the angle.
Bill K.

[CarverRog]

Veen, the best book on the market that I have found is Dennis Moor's book Chip Carver's Workbook. He does a great job with designs and adding little chip tips throughout the book. Wayne Barton's book Chip Carving Techniques and Patterns is also a good book for beginners. Good Luck!

[Dan C]

Veen - I'm not an experienced chip carver by any means, so, hopefully, some more experienced chip carvers will chime in and help you with good design sources, etc. Some have already. I just felt that I could offer some helpful advice on your initial question about carving a nice line. I took a class from Wayne a few years back and have one of his CC tapes. I learned a lot from both the class and tape but haven't done a lot of chip carving.

I do have Wayne's book Chip Carving Patterns, and it contains a lot of really nice patterns.

When you get Wayne's DVD and get a chance to watch it, what you will see is that he sits in a straight back chair, leaning forward slightly, with the carving resting on his lap. This isn't the only position you could use of course, but this is the one he recommends for much CC. Watching the DVD will be very enlightening to you and will get you off to a good start.

One thought I have on good beginner projects would be Christmas tree ornaments. This is because the project is small and you can make the design simple and easy until you gain some experience. Also, the pressure on you won't be as great, because a large project won't be ruined if you make a serious mistake. (Great gifts for next Christmas!)

Wood Carving Illustrated (WCI) came out with an excellent holiday issue this past holiday season called Handcarved Holiday Gifts - 39 Projects that has an excellent Christmas ornament article on p. 92 by Roger Strautman that you might want to look at.

Hope that helps! (Also, sorry for the really long answer!)

Dan C.