Beginning Carver's Question

[revsparkyg]

Have an idea in my head for a project - maybe too much for a first timer. Have a large piece of wood (aspen) and I want to chisel out the negative space, and leave my family's names in relief. What is/are the best tool(s) to use? Dont own any tools yet, and dont want to buy stuff I dont need.

[markken5889]

Hi rev,

sounds to me like much of your work will be done by drilling out a few holes in the piece, and then using a coping saw to cut the lettering. you can finish off the surfaces with a #3 sweep (or Chris Pye #2 1/2 Ashley Isles tool) maybe 1/2-3/4". Perhaps a 1/2" #5 or #7 sweep to round things off. Hope that helps. Show us your results once you're done!

Good luck, and welcome!

Mark

[GFBentz]

I have a copy of Chris Pyes Lettercarving in wood, and he shows examples of different lettercaving and the specific tools used to do then. I recommend getting that book and see what suits your need, and besides, the techniques he uses in letter carving are transferable to all aspects of wood carving.

Check out youtube, search for Chris Pye, there is a short excertpt from one of his dvd's that shows how he carves a letter R.

Yes, you guessed, I am a big Chris Pye fan. Check his site
Chris Pye: Woodcarving
loads of good beginner info there.

[pallin]

Mark (markken5889) assumes the negative space of your mind's idea goes all the way through the wood, and correctly suggests that you remove the wood by drilling and then using a coping saw or saber saw. But if this is not your vision, and the letters stand in high relief - you could remove the wood around the letters with a router and finish with some light gouge cuts.

[tmstowe]

For a couple similar signs that I did (for my mom and step-dad and also for my daughter's in-laws), I used a power reciprocating gouge (attaches to my dremel) for the background. This made it much easier to take out the wood around the letters and get the background down to a depth that I could then smooth and work with my hand tools. I started to do it with hand tools, but trying to get the depth I wanted was a little too much work by hand.

That also makes it easier to do the finish work on the lettering and the border. The log look letters were easy to do, since you don't have to be precise in the carving. They should look rough. The small branches on one and the knots on the other were fairly easy to carve (the knots were just a v-tool on one side and rounded on the other side.)

Here's a couple photos of the two signs.

These are both carved out of 1" x 10" x 24" basswood.

I'm looking forward to see what you come up with!

;-{)>
Tom

[tmstowe]

OK, my photos did not attach as they should have. I'll try this again!

;-{)>
Tom