How to Whittle a Wood Chain
Whittling is the process of changing and shaping a piece of wood. As with any hobby, whittling requires practice to become proficient at it, and a good project to start with is the wooden chain. While it is not an easy task, it is doable for the novice and builds confidence in a product that displays the artist's skills.
Things You'll Need
- Wood blank (1-1/4 inch by 1-1/4 inch by 4 for a three link chain)
- Hobby/craft saw
- Sharp Knife
- Hobby/craft knife (optional)
- Pencil
- Ruler
Instructions
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1
Measure and mark the end of the block 1/2 inch from each side. Using the ruler, draw straight lines to form a cross on both of the block ends. The parallel lines will be centered and 1/4 inch apart.
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2
Draw the lines extending down the length of the block on all four sides. You should have two parallel lines 1/4-inch apart down the center of each side.
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3
Cut the corners off of the block lengthwise so you end up with a long octagon.
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4
Run the blade of your knife down the lines on each side, being careful not to cut beyond where the lines will meet in the middle. Remove all of the wood from these areas leaving you with a long cross shape.
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5
Draw the interlocking links on the cross shape. Draw two vertical links that meet in the center of the single horizontal link.
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6
Shade the areas you need to remove to finish forming each link. Use the knife and hobby knife to remove all the shaded areas.
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7
Using a very sharp and thin knife blade, separate the two vertical links from the horizontal link and from each other.
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8
Using careful strokes with the knife, clean up any rough spots.
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1
Tips & Warnings
A longer piece of wood will make a longer chain with more links.
Use a soft wood, such as Basswood or White Pine, to practice on.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit Michael Turek/Digital Vision/Getty Images
