How to Carve Shells or Wood
Carving is a great way for artists to express themselves and create interesting objects or to add detail to other projects. Many mediums can be used for carving, including wood and shell. Eggshells are the most common kind of shell used in carving and will keep indefinitely. Wood is even more flexible as carvers can choose different types of wood and virtually unlimited patterns.
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Things You'll Need
- Transfer paper and sharp pencil
- Soft wood like aspen
- Carving knife
- Furniture oil
- Egg
- Pin
- Hammer
- Dremel with carving bit
- Fine sandpaper
- Protective sealant
Instructions
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Carving Wood
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1
Use the transfer paper to transfer your pattern onto the piece of wood. If this is your first carving, use a pattern that is simple and does not need a lot of detail.
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2
Rough out the basic shape of your piece using a band saw. This will get rid of the excess wood and allow you to do more exact carving with your carving knife.
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3
Figure out which way the grain is running. You should always cut with the grain. Use rounded scooping motions with your carving knife to cut out the shape of your piece. Be careful and go slowly. You want your chips to come off naturally as you move the blade back up and out of the cut. If you see frayed ends, you are not making complete cuts.
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4
Hold the wood still in your left hand (if you are right-handed) and hold the carving knife in your right hand. Make careful cuts, bracing the wood with your right thumb. Keep carving until your piece is smooth and looks the way you want it to.
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5
Dust off your carving and finish it by rubbing in furniture oil.
Carving Shell
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6
Clean a raw egg by using a pin and hammer to prick a hole in the bottom of the egg. Suck the yolk and white out of the shell with your mouth or prick another hole in the top of the egg and blow the contents out the bottom hole. If the yolk won't come out, you can insert a pin or needle and use it to break up the yolk. Wash the egg in hot soapy water and leave it to dry thoroughly.
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7
Pick a pattern to carve out of the egg. The pattern should be made of smaller pieces, as larger chunks may cause the egg to crack. Use the transfer paper to trace the stencil onto the egg.
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8
Cut the pattern out of the egg using a wood-carving disc on the Dremel. This tool works like a little saw blade and cuts the egg shells out. Use caution when working with this tool as it is very sharp and moves quickly.
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9
Sand the egg using fine sandpaper when you are finished. This will get rid of any rough edges. Seal it with a protective sealant spray found at craft or hardware stores.
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Tips & Warnings
Use protective eyewear to keep chips from flying into your eyes.
Keep a first aid kit handy in case you hurt yourself.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit tree trunk carving image by Warren Millar from Fotolia.com
