How to Carve a Flower Into Wood With a Chisel

Flowers make great designs for carving into wood and other textured surfaces.

Wood carving is a popular form of sculpting objects out of wood by using a chisel or similar cutting tool. The process is both time-consuming and rewarding, on account of the detail required. Many people choose to carve flowers and other common objects because of their simplicity and decorative appeal. While wood carvings are often left so the wood grain is exposed, due to its natural elegance, they can be painted or stained to give added definition to the finished product.

Things You'll Need

• Wood
• Chisel
• Compass
• Clamps
• Sandpaper

Instructions

1. Clamp down your work.

2. Use a compass to draw two circles, with the outer circle bigger than the inner circle, so your design resembles the shape of a flower.

3. Cut downward around the edges of the center circle with a chisel. Make your cuts so they resemble petals circling a flower. Continue cutting downward and inward until the center circle sticks up about 1/4 inch.

4. Repeat Step 3 on the outside circle, using a chisel gauge that matches the circle's curvature.

5. Smooth the area between the two circles.

6. Divide the area between the two circles into the number of petals you want on your flower. Mark your measurements and draw a line from your marks to the center circle. Using a chisel, cut along the lines toward the center circle. Go over the cuts several times so your petals have the proper depth.

7. Round the petals by making gentle cuts on the corners.

8. Smooth the surface of the center circle.

9. Crosshatch the center dome by cutting lines in opposing directions. This adds texture to your flower and creates more interest.

10. Sand down the petals to remove any obvious tool markings.

11. Remove any extra shavings from between the petals.

12. Add decorative lines to your flower to enhance its appeal.

References

• Mike's Woodwork: Carving a Simple Flower