Essential Beginner Wood Carving Tools

 Beginner Wood Carving Information, Wood Carving Tips  5 Responses »
Jun 202011
 

Many people that are interested in wood carving, will ask, “What do I need to get started carving wood?”.  The answer to that simple question can be debated and will probably be different from wood carver to wood carver.  I will tell you what I found to be the answer to that question, when I began wood carving.  I started out with a beginner wood carving set that included a kevlar glove, leather thumb guard, small leather strop, small piece of stropping compound, a Murphy bench knife and 6 palm tools.

I found that obviously, a wood carving knife is the absolute necessity tool and to start out wood carving properly, you have to have a good glove and thumb guard.  The strop is also needed to keep a good edge on your wood carving knife and tools.  The set of 6 palm tools, was comprised of a v-tool, a skew, a flat chisel, and 3 gouges that varied in the degree of sweep or curve of the blade.  Of the palm tools, I found the v-tool and gouges to be the most important. Continue reading »

Safety First When Wood Carving

 Beginner Wood Carving Information, Wood Carving Tips  No Responses »
May 252011
 

To help ensure that your wood carving experience is positive, safety should be a top priority.  When wood carving (especially as a beginner), you should always wear a Kevlar glove and thumb guard.  These will not stop all potential injuries, but they can help to eliminate them or at least lessen the severity if it does happen.  Always try to look where the blade of your wood carving knife or wood carving tool will go if it slips or the wood breaks out.

Another safety tip, is to use only the muscles in the wrist and hand when wood carving.  If you are using your upper arm or shoulder, you are asking for trouble and may even be hampering your wood carving potential.  Controlled cuts are the type of cuts that wood carvers want to use.  If you control your cuts and where the sharp edge of your wood carving tools is going, you will lessen injury and also produce cleaner, more satisfying wood carvings.