How to Clean Up Your Wood Carving Projects

 Beginner Wood Carving Information, Wood Carving Tips  1 Response »
Jul 292011
 

There are several opinions when it comes to cleaning a wood carving to prepare it to be finished.  Some wood carvers use hand soap and actually wash the wood carving in the sink just as you would a child’s toy that got dirty.  Others are absolutely against using soap and water on their wood carvings.  The general consensus though is that sandpaper can be one of the best ways to clean up the surfaces of wood carvings whether you washed it or not.

If you decided to wash the carving, you will need soap, water and a clean toothbrush.  Wet the wood carving and then use the toothbrush to apply soap and scrub the carving.  After soaping, rinse the carving thoroughly and then either use a hairdryer or allow it to dry naturally.  After this process is complete, you will see that the grain of wood is slightly raised and will cause the carving to be rough.  Using some fine grit sandpaper, lightly smooth the rough areas.

Even if you didn’t wash your wood carving, you may still need to use some fine grit sandpaper to smooth the carving and remove any small amounts of dirt or grime that attached to the wood carving during the carving process.

Whether you plan to wash your wood carving or not, it is always a good idea to keep your hands clean during the wood carving process to minimize the amount of oils, dirt and grime that on the wood carving to start with.

July 2011 Deer Cam Pictures

 Other Interests  2 Responses »
Jul 252011
 

Along with wood carving, I enjoy deer hunting.  Most of the content on Ozark Walking Sticks Blog is wood carving related, but from time to time, we will post other things that we find interesting and want to share with others.

Yesterday, I checked my deer cam and found some nice buck pictures.  Here they are for you enjoyment:

Flexcut Pocket Jack Review

 Wood Carving Articles/Reviews  No Responses »
Jul 222011
 

How many times have you been away from your wood carving shop and found yourself with time on your hands and no tools.  It seems like I find myself out with my wife, when I have times of wood carving inspiration and it is very frustrating when you have to wait until you get home and find time to act on those new ideas.  The Flexcut Pocket Jack for Carvin could be your answer in those situations.

The Flexcut Pocket Jack for Carvin is a folding multi-carving tool that can be carried with you in your pocket, jacket, vehicle, tool box, or anything that you carry along.  The Pocket Jack contains locking tools that include: knife, gouge, v-tool and scorp.  All of the tools fold neatly into the handle and are ready for use just like a folding pocket knife.  Select the tool that you want to use and it locks into place when fully extended.

My wife bought me a Flexcut Pocket Jack for Carvin a few weeks ago and I have found it to be a nice addition to my wood carving tools.  My opinion of the Pocket Jack is that it makes a great tool for those times away from your regular wood carving tools, but I still prefer my regular wood carving knife and palm tools when I’m at home. Continue reading »

How to Keep Your Wood Carving Space Clean and Make Your Wife Proud

 Beginner Wood Carving Information, Wood Carving Tips  No Responses »
Jul 152011
 

When it comes to wood carving, I don’t have a dedicated area other than my basement to carve.  Last winter, I found that having to put on extra clothing to brave the chilly basement actually became a deterrent to my wood carving.  My wife gave me a special pass to carve in our living room, which has laminate flooring, as long as I agreed to clean up my wood shaving and return the area to its previous condition when done.

I took her up on it and used a small hand vacuum to suck up the wood shavings.  After she saw that I cleaned up properly. :) I took it upon myself to extend the special pass to any area that had a hard surface that could be cleaned up easily with the hand vacuum.  So far I haven’t gotten any complaints and it is now the middle of summer and I am still carving away from the basement. :)

In preparation for this post, I wanted to find some ways to help others do the same type thing, even if they don’t have a hard, flat floor.  Here are a few ideas if you are attempting to carve on carpet or other non-flat surface and still keep the area clean and livable.  With all of these ideas comes the intent that you the wood carver (or mess maker) will do your best to keep the area clean and not be adding more work for your wife or mother. :)

  • Cut open a plastic trash bag and place on the floor under your wood carving area
  • Lay an old quilt or blanket down under your wood carving area
  • Use a wood carving apron that has a large pocket to catch the wood chips

With all of these ideas, there will still be some wood chips that find their way onto and into the floor.  A good strong vacuum will help to remove the defiant wood chips that remain.  Just remember, keep your wood carving area clean and your wife happy and you will be on your way to being a satisfied wood carver. :)

Improve Your Wood Carving Caricatures – Using Proper Proportions

 Beginner Wood Carving Information, Wood Carving Studies/Tutorials  No Responses »
Jul 112011
 

If you are reading this information, you are more than likely interested in wood carving caricatures and want to know how to improve your wood carving results. The one word key to doing so is “Proportions”. Using general proportions will make your wood carvings appear pleasing and natural to the eye at first glance. When I say “general” proportions, I am saying that using exact to the millimeter measurements is not needed, rather a close approximation to correct human proportions is enough.

Following the basic proportions of the human anatomy will improve the way that your wood carvings look and will please the eye of people that are seeing your wood carvings. There are several sources of information about anatomy that go into extremely detailed information about how long or how wide various parts of the body should be, to be considered ideal. After researching several proportional guidelines, I prefer to follow the basic proportions rules that are described by Don Mertz the “Woodbee Carver”. Mr. Mertz teaches what he calls the “Rule Of Three” that basically divides various areas of the body into thirds to allow for an easy conversion for all sizes of wood carving figures. A picture that I have marked up to show the dividing lines appears below for a visual reference. Continue reading »

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