Articles by: admin

Shopmade Work Positioner

Work Positioner By Mike Pounders Using a work positioner allows you to carve with both hands, which provides greater control and power. This positioner is simple to make with a few pieces of plywood and some hardware. To start, face-glue two pieces of 1/2″ (13mm)-thick plywood together or use 3/4″ […]

by October 7, 2011 Shop Tips
Whittling Little Folk – Pattern Correction

Whittling Little Folk – Pattern Correction

Harley Refsal’s new book, Whittling Little Folk, is receiving a lot of positive feedback from Woodcarving Illustrated readers. In addition to the compliments, readers shared that the pattern for Kristian on page 23 is incorrect, and the pattern for Lawrence on page 123 needs a few minor alterations. For Lawrence, […]

by August 15, 2011 News, Patterns & Projects
Durable Wooden Honing Tools

Durable Wooden Honing Tools

From Ed Livingston, Pinellas Park, Fla.  Wooden honing tools, whether they are commercial products or shopmade hones matched to the exact profile of your tools, can quickly hone the inside and outside of gouges and V-tools. Over time, the wood can weaken and deform depending on the amount of pressure […]

by May 11, 2011 Product Reviews
Finding and Marking Centerlines

Finding and Marking Centerlines

From Doug Storment, San Antonio, Tex. Most carvers struggle to sketch an accurate centerline on an irregularly shaped band-saw cutout. I use a laser level—the type used to establish straight lines on walls. Mark the center in a few spots on the carving and aim the laser level so it […]

by April 29, 2011 Techniques

Charity Quilt to Benefit Japan Relief

Members of three of Fox Chapel Publishing’s message boards, Woodcarving Illustrated, PyrographyOnline, and Scroll Saw Woodworking & Crafts, are joining together as a group to create charity quilts. Members are burning, carving, or scrolling designs onto 4″ x 4″ squares that will be joined together to create a beautiful and eclectic quilt. […]

by March 17, 2011 Features

Pyrography Special Issue – Now Available

The new Pyrography Special Issue is now available for $9.95 from Fox Chapel Publishing. The magazine hit newstands (Borders, Barnes & Noble, Chapters) in late November 2010. Be sure to scroll down and view the table of contents in the FREE PREVIEW to see how you can take your carved projects […]

by February 10, 2011 Features

Best Carving Design Contest 2011

The Entry Deadline has passed. Check back soon to vote for the People’s Choice Awards. Contest Rules: Projects must be your original design and cannot be altered versions of existing patterns by another designer. Projects can be hand or power carved and can be finished naturally or with paint. Projects […]

by January 31, 2011 Best Carving Design Contest Archive

Pinewood Derby Special Issue

Pinewood Derby-style Race Cars is the go-to guide for building a winning racer! Scroll down for a FREE preview of this special issue! Since the first car rolled down the track in 1953, Pinewood Derby’s popularity has grown into a yearly event that promotes craftsmanship, healthy competition and strengthens the […]

by January 20, 2011 Features
Keeping Tools Organized

Keeping Tools Organized

Organizing Sharp Tools Whenever you are working with sharp tools, it is important to be organized. I start by color coding my tool handles. For example, I paint a purple stripe on all of my #5 gouges. Then I woodburn my initials or a symbol (I use a sun) on […]

by November 23, 2010 Shop Tips

The Work of Chris Hammack

The holiday 2010 issue of Woodcarving Illustrated includes an article on Chris Hammack. Chris started out carving wood, and then explored a career in the giftware industry before returning to his roots. Influenced by great carvers such as Andy Anderson, Harold Enlow, and Claude Bolton, Chris knew early on that […]

by November 9, 2010 Features