New to carving...

[tanj3d]

Hi
My name is Phil and I live in Oldham (near Manchester) in the UK.
I started carving / whittling last summer, have joined a local club (Lancashire and Cheshire Carvers) and have had a go at a few things in basswood.


Although I have reached a point where I consider the wood requires no more cutting I have yet to 'finish' a piece, i.e. I have yet to varnish / paint / oil anything and the more I read and speak to people the more I realize everyone has there own way of finishing.

So my first task in joining this forum is to ask advice about painting a couple of small pieces.

I have decided on acrylic paints, so a couple of questions are -
Suggested cleaning regime prior to painting?
Should I prime the piece prior to painting, if so with what?
After painting should I varnish it?

My other main hobby is stereoscopic (3d) photography, I suspect steroscopy is an ideal way of recording carvings...

Thanks, in advance

Phil

[Gulf Coast Handyman]

Welcome to the forum

[Bob K.]

Welcome to the forum Phil. When you finish a carving you can clean it up by scrubbing it lightly with some mild soap and water. With acrylics there is no need to prime your carving, however a coat of boiled linseed oil or polyurethane will help keep the paint from soaking into the wood unevenly. After painting I like to seal the carving with something like polyurethane. This will protect the carving from people handling the finished piece.

[carvingbarn]

Hi Phil,welcome to the forum. You can find post on painting in search.

[breezly]

Welcome to the forum

[FARMALL RON]

Welcome to the forum................Ron

[idigjars]

Hello and welcome to the forum. Paul

[Riverman]

Hi Phil, welcome to the group!
Bob

[torpidhummer]

Welcome aboard Phil,like Randy mentioned,just scroll down through the past articles
on painting and finishing and you will find anything you want to know about anything you want to know about carving.
Oscar

[Lazy Carver]

Phil your in the right place! You need to look no further! You will find plenty regarding finishing, painting, displaying, and hey... even selling on WCI.... Welcome to the WCI family Phil!