- 1). Determine what you want to carve. While it seems obvious, deciding what to carve can be one of the harder things when beginning with this type of woodworking. Choosing a design that is too difficult could scare you away from the craft, but something too easy could make you decide it is boring.
- 2). Analyze the grain of the wood. Transfer your design so the grain will enhance the look of your project. If you are carving a tree, for instance, have the grain run up-and-down along the tree rather than horizontally.
- 3). Make sure your carving tools are sharp. Not only will having a sharp tool make the carving process easier but it is safer. Dull tools require you to work harder, which will increase the chances of slipping and putting a gouge in you instead of the wood.
- 4). Start carving. Use either an X-Acto knife with No. 11 blades or specialized wood-carving knives. You gentle strokes and remove a little wood at a time until you get used to working with the tools and understand the feel of the wood and the tools.
previous post
next post