For the creative person who is looking to use wood carving as a mode of expression for their creative passion, there are a few essential tips that will help you get off on the right foot. Wood carving is not only fun, it is highly accessible, and it does not require expensive equipment or a fancy studio. When you are preparing to begin a wood cutting project, you will need to determine the type wood you will use, because it will be different. For instance, you would not use the same wood for a wooden cutting board as you would for a custom chair.
While wood carving produces an image of a rather straightforward discipline, the truth is that different types of wood will be used for different carving techniques and projects. For instance, if you visit the official site for Wood Cutting Boards you will find a number of hardwoods used to create quality wooden cutting boards. These types of wood are great for cutting boards, but they may not be ideal for something that requires a more solid surface. For instance: Whittling, which is one of the oldest forms of wood carving, requires a softer wood, that will allow the knife to move freely through it Relief Carving is the process of carving images into wood, as opposed to carving wood into an image.
In this case, you would start out with a flat panel of wood Carving in the round would be analogous to clay sculpting, creating round smooth edges Chip Carving uses either a knife or chisel and hammer to chip away at a piece of wood until the desired shape is achieved.
Basswood - is a softwood that is very easy to carve, and it is the best choice for whittling
Butternut - is good for carving with a rough grain, and the unique patterns are great for providing aesthetic appeal
White Pine - is a soft grain that is easy to carve
Mahogany - is slightly more difficult to carve, but its distinct reddish color makes it popular
Cherry - is very hard to carve, but its finish places it in high demand
White Oak - is also difficult to carve.
You can actually be quite creative in choosing your carving tools, but some of the more common carving tools includes: A chip carving knife (the most basic carving tool) Gouges (used to scoop out areas of wood) Chisels (used to chip wood)
There are some tips that will help you transition into your new hobby or craft. For instance, you should definitely invest the time in mastering the tools that you will use. It will not only improve your efficiency, but it will help to reduce the risks. You should also cut along the grain, as well as sketch out your cuts before you make them. Following the tips listed here should help reduce the frustration of wasting material and time by choosing the wrong wood or tools, as well as making poor cuts.
