How to Start Carving Wood

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

Sharp Knives,Cutting tools, Rotary tool, Power Saws,sanding materials,Wood Working Equipment and Good Quality Wood. You may need Paints or stains also. and a good amount of imagination!

Step 1

Lil Green Parakeet

Have You ever wondered How people carve wood into some pretty spectacular pieces of Artwork ?

It's not always as easy as one might imagine, but once mastered, It can bring You a tremendous amount of satisfaction.

I've been carving wood ever since I was 11 yrs old. I'd found a piece of Wooden Block left over from My dads lumber pile, and decided to carve it into an old mans head. I knew My goal, and I figured the best way to do it, with the limited tools available to me. A sharp knife, My dads Bench grinder, and some sand paper.
The Head,Turned out not half bad, and I think it really made an impression on My parents, as well as Myself. It really turned out to be quite an accomplishment, and I still have it somewhere.
As for the Lil Parakeet opictured above,So convincing was one of the Wooden Parakeets I shipped out, when I brought it into U.P.S. to ship it, They said, "Sorry, We don't ship live Animals".
Once I approached the counter, We all had a great laugh, especially Me !
Step 2

A Pair of Hummingbirds, all made of wood, even the flowers they feed on.

The point I'm trying to make is... I imagined that I could do it, sought out the tools I'd need to accomplish the task, and I went for it ! Plain and simple. And at the time, I really had no experience whatsoever, I was just a little kid after all, But it sure instilled in Me the point that says, “Nothing ventured, Nothing gained ! “ Sometimes, You just have to take the risk !
That's the hard part. Overcoming Your fears. Here You are, working with very sharp tools, and sometimes dangerous machines, that will rip the flesh from Your body if not properly controlled, and
all the while, keeping Your end goal in mind. Changing This simple ordinary block of wood, into a simple tree ornament, or a complicated form like an Eagle,Hummingbird or a Statue, a Face or a Toy rubber band Gun.
It's pretty much limitless what Yo can carve. But all of these things have to start somewhere, and that “somewhere” is in Your Brain. But Please, Start Slowly, and KNOW HOW TO USE YOUR TOOLS !
Step 3

A Red Cardinal, taking flight, made of wood.

When I start a project like carving a wood block, I must be sure I have the proper, safe tools to work with, in order to bring My project to completion. I should first and foremost know how to use My tools safely, carefully removing small bits at a time, until the object I desire starts to take shape.
There is No HURRY while working with Wood and sharp tools ! It just doesn't wok like that, unless You don't want to play piano anymore, or didn't need all those fingers. People do get hurt, sometimes badly, when they don't know their tools well, and don't follow simple safety guidelines while working.
Step 4

Sometimes people take shortcuts, when they don't even know the direct route to get there. That's how people get lost, right ? Reading Directions, following safety issues and Good Planning, are all integral parts of being successful at most anything, especially when it comes to cutting wood.
Step 5

Don't be in a hurry. Do research, know what Your doing, and above all, always, ALWAYS use every safety precautions You possibly can while working with Sharp Knives, Dangerous equipment and Power tools. This is sometimes a “Pain in the Neck” and sometimes it takes a bit longer.
But if You lose a finger, It'll be a lot longer time waiting for it to grow back, (which it won't) than if You followed the safety instructions in the first place.
Always, follow the directions placed on Your tools, Use Sharp knives and blades ALWAYS, and Always know where Your fingers and limbs are in relation to Your work at all times !
Please, Do Not take Shortcuts, they usually end up becoming the longer way around, without the desired results to show for it.
Step 6

GOOD SHARP KNIVES ARE ESSENTIAL !

I've learned this from over 35 yrs of experience, and still, sometimes I end up with a few Cuts and scratches along the way, as sometimes, it's just inevitable. But usually, following the safety issues and going slowly, returns the best results in the end. So, Please... SAFETY FIRST !
Once You understand how Your tools work, and how to proceed with caution while using them, You will be very pleased with the knowledge that These tools and machines can be put to use and make Your life and project easier to accomplish.
Step 7

Decide what You want to create, then go for it !
Whenever I look at a piece of wood, Somehow, I can tell from it's appearance, what it will allow Me to create from It. I study it, look at the grain, which direction it runs, and how it can help Me later. Cutting the wrong way with or against the grain of wood, can either strengthen Your project, or cause the finished piece to be weak and eventually fall apart.
Step 8

STUDY YOUR MATERIALS WELL !
Know how the material You are cutting will react to a Blade, Saw , power tool or knife You're going to be using.

Look for any defects in the wood that may cause Your blade to slip, or have difficulty cutting.

Always try to use clear, clean, Knot Free Wood, so as not to endure any injuries Yourself, or weaknesses in the finished project. Knots are especially tough things to deal with, and should be avoided always, unless It fits into Your plan.
Step 9

What are Knots ?
No...Trees do not wear shoes, or laces, but they do have “Knots”. Knots are usually present in a tree stump or block of wood, and are the point in the lumber where a branch was growing out of the tree. They are tough connective aspects of any wood, and often are responsible for weakening lumber at the point where they lay on the wood.
For finished moldings, these are usually ignored, as they usually don't take up too much of the board, (Little circles of wood usually) and most moldings are painted or stained, which makes them sometimes look like an attractive piece of the woods character.
But, They can be dangerous to deal with when cutting a board, or carving a piece of wood block.
That's why Most Wood carving is done with lean, clear Basswood. A soft, pliable type of wood that takes fine levels of detail when carved properly. Most Wood carved Birds for instance, are made of Bass Wood. Its grain is uniform, and it cuts rather smoothly and it's softer than say Oak, or Maple, or Ash.
Step 10

Basswood has a very tight, uniform grain, not easy to detect, and it provides a very nice material for intense detailing, where other woods, because of the size of the grain, won't allow. It's very similar to Balsa Wood, but much more dense, and holds a shape like fired clay.
It's easily sanded, finished and painted, and I highly recommend that anyone new at this, first go to a lumber yard, or hobby shop, and purchase a small block of BASSWOOD, and a decent set of Carving Knives, to start carving with.
You will be pleased with the end result, and ease with which You managed to create it.
Step 11

A Wooden Telphone I created, that really works ! ALL encased in Wood.

What to carve first ?
That's a tough question. Start easy.
Don't go gung ho and try being Michelangelo right off the bat.

This takes Patience and lots of practice. As I stated earlier, My first hand carved piece of artwork, was a human head, made form a leftover scrap of 2X4 Lumber. I felt confident that I could do so, after first whittling away at the block, and “Seeing” the face within the wood itself. Visual inspection of the wood You work on, is of paramount importance. Look at the wood, and have a few thoughts in mind.
You'll want to make it simple, easy and recognizable to others, But first, make it recognizable to Yourself. Find the wood that's large enough to suit the size of project You have in mind. Envision the wood becoming what You'd like to carve it into. See it, Feel it, smell it. Taste it. It's all a part of knowing what You are going to create from a simple block of wood.

Start off small, by all means. Don't try building an airplane if You don't know how its formed.

This will all come to You with experience, and Practice makes Perfect ! Really !

Go Slow, take Your time, and Map out what You're going to cut. Use a pencil and mark the area You want to start cutting on, and See it in 3 D ! Imagine the finished product and project it mentally onto the block You're cutting. It may be a mouse, a dog, a bird or a face. It can be anything You want it to be, because YOU are its creator ! Do not be intimidated by the wood or sharp instruments You use. Know them well, and take good care of them always. If You take care of Your tools, they will take care of You!

Whenever I start a new project to carve, I first decide how large it will be. Life sized ? Miniature? Something in between ? It's all fine and good. It's all Up to You !
Step 12

Be sure the size of the finished project is smaller than the Block of wood You start cutting away from. Use Stencils and Carbon paper, to overlay a tracing of a horse-head for instance. Once You can manage to Coax the form of a horse-head from the tracing You made onto the wood, try to envision it as real as You can, and this will help You to see where You need to go next.

Go slowly ! Being in a Hurry and cutting Yourself, only slows You down. Practice on Scrap wood if possible, but Go for it !
Step 13

The Hardest Part
The hardest part is the first cut. It's absolutely normal to have reservations, and to feel that You might Ruin the block and not be able to create what You imagined. But You won't know this for sure, until You try ! It's a scary thing cutting into a perfectly nice block of wood, not wanting to destroy it or harm it, But the first cut is the cut that brings about he last cut. Should You make an error, maybe it can be restarted. Maybe it can be repaired by sanding or resurfacing the block. But if not, just go on to the next block and start over. It is after all, Only Wood !
It's not an easy thing to master, carving wood, and unless You have a good imagination, and can “See” the finished product before You even start cutting it from Your chosen material, You'll have some difficulty along the way.
Your imagination is the key to turning a thought, into a reality.
Step 14

Me in the shop

The skill with which to do this, takes practice to develop, until You're confident enough to just Jump In head first, and start turning wood into real things.
Remember, there is No Hurry in wood carving. It should be relaxing, and pleasurable, not a chore. Once You're tired, and feel You don't want to do it anymore, STOP !
Start again after a break, or the next time You have the time to try again.
Do not be in a hurry to finish, Your results will show many flaws that weren't intended. Always strive for realism, and perfection in whatever You carve.
While no one can obtain “perfection”, You can come darn close if Patience and skill are Your guides.

In time, as I am able, I will provide a Step By Step article, showing You the basics, starting with choice of tools, machines and Wood, and then more advanced techniques useful in Wood carving, will follow.
Step 15

A single Hummingbird feeding on Wooden FLowes and leaves.

In Closing
In closing, I hope this was useful in determining whether You have the desire and ability to carve wood, and I hope You follow up, as I guide You through some simple techniques I used myself, to learn this most rewarding art form.
Until then, always use Quality Tools, Sharp tools, and get some Practice !
Start slowly, and choose a nice piece of Basswood to start on.
You'll be surprised at what You can do with a little Patience, a little skill and good Sharp tools.
Please remember SAFETY FIRST ! Always, use Eye protection, breathing protection when sanding, and above all, know where Your fingers are in relation to the blade, and Keep Your fingers in a safe position always !

I hope this small article was somewhat Useful to You, and Encouraged You to start carving something, anything, so as to see a finished project, an Idea that went from Your Brain, directly translated through Your Eyes, hands and fingers, into the wood. You'll end up with something to be proud to say, "Look what I made" and maybe earn a few bucks too !

It's so satisfying, I can't begin to describe it !

So...Good Luck, and Good Woodworking !

I'll return soon, with more help on carving very soon !
Remember...It all starts with a thought, a plan and a that first cut ! Make it a good one !

You can do it, because I can too !

See ya soon !
Pocono Pat

You can see my complete line of finished artwork here.

http://woodenbirdsinflight.art.officelive.com

I hope You enjoy My work.