How to Carve a Tortoise and The Hare (with Free Template)

Carving children's toys has always been a joy. This is a carving of a Hare (as in rabbit) jumping over a tortoise (as in turtle) like in the Aesop's Fable.

This takes some skill and makes a great gift for a child's dresser or for a rabbit collector.

Difficulty: Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• 2 inch, by 4 inch by 10 inch balsa or soft wood carving block
• 1/4 dowel rod
• 1 inch by 4 inch by 5 inch balsa block or soft wood carving block.
• band, jig or coping saw
• wood carving knives
• sand paper
• tracing paper
• acrylic paints
• small paint brushes
• template
• white wood glue

1. 
    
   Template and graphics by Charles Buchanan

   Draw out your template. Take the template at image one and blow it up to full size and print it. Either cut it out and trace it on your balsa or use tracing paper to transfer it to your wood.
   
   Do this on both the Hare (rabbit) and the tortoise (turtle)

2. 
    
   Carving the Hare (rabbit)

   Carving the Hare (rabbit):
   
   Transfer the template to your 2 x 4 x 10 inch balsa wood. This is a three dimensional carving not just a cut out. Using your band saw, jig saw or coping saw cut out the basic pattern of the Hare side view. Be careful not to cut off the second pair of front and rear legs. You will have to carefully cut out the space between the ears, the front and the rear legs and paws. Once you have a rough cut out, take your carving tools and carve out your Hare. Make certain to hallow out the ears, indent in the dotted areas on the template to give your Hare an athletic running bunny look!

3. 
    

   Carving the Tortoise (turtle): Using the template transfer your image to the 1 x 4 x 5 inch balsa wood. Cut out the tortoise. Now using your carving tools carve a realistic tortoise. Keep the head up and make certain the four feet and bottom stay level to the table top, this is the base for your carving. When you are satisfied drill a 1/4 inch hole 3/4 of the way through the very center of the tortoise top. This is where your support dowel will be glued with wood glue.

4. 
    
   Hare detail

   Hare details. Carve the head so that it has a more rabbit shape and round down the edges, make your Hare sleek and athletic. Separate the ears and give the insides an indent. Take your time and when satisfied sand with fine sandpaper.
   
   Paint with non toxic acrylic paints. Paint the Hair white and give it pink ears, pink eyes with black centers and a pink nose.
   
   Drill a 1/4 inch hole as shown in the template to support your Hair on the back of the tortoise. Find the center of gravity in the chest area. Drill the hole about 1/2 the depth of your carving and glue in a 8 inch long, 1/4 dowel rod.

5. 
    
   Tortoise detail

   Tortoise details: Carve until satisfied your tortoise looks like a tortoise (turtle). Paint it green and brown and make sure you add painted plates to the shell.

6. 
    
   Finished Tortoise and the Hare

   Finishing: Glue the dowel rod into the tortoise shell and the Hair with white wood glue and hold until dry. The tortoise base should support the Hare. If not, you can add a larger base under the tortoise, paint it like a road, this larger base will support the tortoise and the hare. Paint the dowel rod light blue.
   
   Enjoy

Tips & Warnings

• Take your time carving, this is more difficult a carving than it looks.
• Sand well before painting
• Other woods can be substituted for balsa wood.
• Use only non toxic acrylic paint for children's gifts and toys
• Changing the base makes this a great Easter Bunny project
• Children should not be left unattended around carving knives, sharp tools and saws.

Resources

• How to carve a running bunny