How to Carve or Whittle Wood

Try working on small objects before moving on to larger ones.

Wood carving, or whittling, involves shaping a piece of wood with a knife. You can make almost anything with the right piece of wood, a sharp knife and a lot of free time. The art of carving requires a lot of practice and a good eye for three-dimensional objects, but with the right techniques, you can be well on your way to becoming a wood carving master. Above all else, be careful when carving not to injure yourself.

Things You'll Need

• Small, sharp pocket knife
• Piece of soft wood
• Pencil
• Sandpaper

Instructions

1. Select a suitably sized piece of wood for your carving project. Soft woods are far easier to carve than hardwoods. Look for a piece of wood that is free of knots, cracks or other deficiencies that could negatively affect your finished piece. Your selected piece of wood should be free of any bark.

2. Draw a rough outline onto your piece of wood indicating the areas of wood you would like to remove. These pencil marks will act as a guideline as you whittle.

3. Hold your knife in your dominant hand and firmly grasp the piece of wood in your other hand. Hold the knife with your thumb along the spine of the blade to add leverage when you cut into the wood.

4. Make slow and controlled cuts into the wood, removing as little as possible to avoid cutting too deeply into the wood.

5. Examine your work periodically, marking with your pencil where you want to remove more wood, and then shaving off the wood. Remember that it is easier to work with the grain than against it.

6. Use 200- to 400-grit sandpaper to smooth your finished product once you have carved away enough wood.

Tips & Warnings

• Try using different parts of the knife blade as well as different types of knives to carve different effects into your wood.

• Always be aware of where the blade of your knife will travel. Cut away from your body, never toward it.

References

• Paper Tiger: How to Whittle