Wood Carving Techniques

Wood carving is an art form, where one works on a specific type of wood using special cutting tools, which can be small hand held tools or large power tools, to create wooden figures or figurines. It is similar to sculpture except that, instead of piece of rock or clay, one is working on a block of wood to create ornamental sculptures. Many fine wood carved figures and figurine artwork can be observed from the Middle Ages in countries like France and Italy. Today wood carving is a popular hobby, for which one needs to be able to select the right kind of wood, know at least basic carving techniques, and the necessary tools required for the job. An eye for detail also helps to create a better finished wooden figure. Mentioned below are some advanced and basic wood carving methods, tips on selection of the right wood for carving, and some project ideas for you to get started.

Tips and Techniques

Selection of Wood for Carving
Whenever working on any piece of wood, it is smart to arrange more delicate parts of a design along the grain, instead across the grain. Also, while woodworking remember the more slender stalks or leaf pints should not be too much separated from their adjacent surroundings. Direction in which the wood is strongest is called grain, which can be straight, interlocked fiddle back or wavy in pattern. Most common types of hardwoods used for carving are basswood and tupelo. These are relatively easy to work on. Other types of woods which are good to work on and used for carving are mahogany, chestnut and American walnut. Wood parts which are painted for decorative purpose, should not be very delicate in nature, and hence made using pine wood.

Tools Required for Carving Wood
For making wooden handicrafts you will need tools. A basic wood carving tool set contains a carving knife, gouge, chisel, V-tool, veiner and wood sharpening equipment. You can purchase these tools separately, or buy a good quality kit. Carving knife is a specialized knife used to cut, pare and smooth the wood. Gouge is a tool used for carving hollows, sweeping curves and rounds. V-tool is used for parting, and sometimes for emphasizing lines. Veiner is a type of specialized gouge. A wood lathe is another tool used to create cylindrical shapes and for giving a smooth finish to your carved artifact.

Techniques for Beginners and Serious Hobbyists
There are four basic techniques when it comes to wood carving. Whittling is the most primitive technique for carving wood. You will need a good carving knife and some disposable blades and pieces of basswood or butternut wood for using this technique. With the help of your knife carve away the unwanted pieces of wood, and you can make simple wooden objects like walking sticks or simple wooden toys.

Other technique called chip carving is done by chipping out triangular shaped pieces of wood from a larger block of wood, so that a pattern is left in the block of the wood. With this technique you can make jewelry wood, or a picture. This is a more rougher and abstract looking method of carving wood.

Another method used for carving, is known as carving in the round, which gives a three dimensional wood sculpture, that has depth, which can be observed from all angles. For this technique all tools mentioned above are used.

Relief carving involves chiseling away from one side of a flat wooden board piece, so that you have a raised picture on a flat background. This gives a three dimensional looking picture effect. One needs to work using different kinds of gouges, while using this technique.

Project Ideas

You can find free wood carving and crafts tutorials online. Follow the instructions mentioned in such a tutorial, and refer to the images in the tutorial to learn how to carve different wood crafts. Online you can find some ideas on simple and advanced projects. Simple techniques can be used to make a staff or jewelry box. You can also make some simple picture, picture frames, small animal figurines. Serious hobbyists can go for detailed project which involves making chain designs, wooden vessels with carved designs, detailed pictures, etc.

Mentioned above were the various carving wood techniques, and tips on selecting the wood and some project ideas. So, buy a carving tool kit, and refer to tutorials on simple wood carving projects.