Learn how to shape your knife’s blade for whittling To carve small twigs and tight spaces, Chris Lubkemann recommends reshaping the blade of your knife to give it more of a point. In order to make the curls that decorate Chris’s roosters, flowers, trees, and other designs, you’ll also […]
Learn what makes the perfect pocketknife You can whittle with almost any knife, but some will make it more fun and comfortable than others. Get advice on picking the perfect pocketknife from the expert whittler Chris Lubkemann. He’ll tell you which blades you need (and which ones you don’t) […]
These versatile tools have a wide range of carving uses by Roger Schroeder This article was first published in issue 42 of Woodcarving Illustrated. While purists will argue that files, rasps and rifflers, not to mention sandpaper, should never touch a wood carving, don’t sell these tools short. Many projects need […]
Easy-to-apply finish is great for chip carvings By David Stewart This article was first published in issue 59 of Woodcarving Illustrated. All chip carvers seek a strong, clear finish that does not interfere with the reflection of light in the clean facets of their cuts. Many achieve this with spray lacquer, […]
Design your own carvings with the aid of armatures and clay models by Marv Kaisersatt Photography by Chipping Away Inc. This article was first published in issue 47 of Woodcarving Illustrated. Clay figures can serve as models for those choosing to carve their own creations in wood. Wire skeletons, called armatures, […]
Intricate details and interesting poses add life to these realistic Santa carvings By Dylan Goodson With any carving, it’s important to get the overall anatomy correct. But for me, the fun comes when it’s time to add details. I prefer realistic carvings because I can really add as much detail […]
Classic technique allows you to scale a pattern without using a photocopier or computer By Jon Deck and Bob Duncan Before photocopiers were widespread, woodworkers and crafters enlarged patterns by hand. While there are hosts of drafting tools that make this possible, the easiest way to enlarge a pattern is […]
Make smart purchases with a basic understanding of the cutters available by Chuck Solomon and Dave Hamilton Photos of bits in use courtesy of Foredom This article was first published in issue 48 of Woodcarving Illustrated. In power carving, the bur or bit is the part of the tool that does […]
Taking a caricature from concept to completion by Marv Kaisersatt This article was first published in issue 38 of Woodcarving Illustrated. By relying on commercially available patterns, your scope of subjects is very limited. It’s actually quite simple to design your own caricature by determining proportions and positions with models before beginning the […]
Your new chance to carve our very first Santa By David Sabol In many ways, it’s the iconic carving we compare all Santa projects to—the cover project of Woodcarving Illustrated Issue 1. This piece captures the whimsy and fun of carving, and the finishing technique leaves no question that it’s […]
