Articles by: BobD

Carving Miniature Welsh Lovespoons

Carving Miniature Welsh Lovespoons

Carve a Valentine’s Day Gift in a weekend By Robert W. Tinsley The Welsh lovespoon is an ancient symbol of romance and commitment. Legend states that a man carved a lovespoon to show interest in a woman. He incorporated a variety of symbols into the spoon, including a heart to […]

by February 7, 2019 eNews: Strop Talk, Spring Carving
Whittling with Chris: Carving an Owl

Whittling with Chris: Carving an Owl

Transform a stick into a classic owl. Master whittler Chris Lubkemann shares his take on this classic carving project.   Many carvers start out by carving a 5-Minute Owl. Chris Lubkemann shows how the bark on a branch is perfect to imply an owl’s feathers. While it might take you a […]

by September 27, 2018 Whittling with Chris
Tools for Removing Wood Quickly

Tools for Removing Wood Quickly

We test-drive the hardiest “toys” on the market By Bob Duncan   While some carvers resort to a chainsaw to remove excess wood quickly, other options exist for carvers who are hesitant to handle one. Automach CH-80 This large reciprocating carver is not just for fans of edged tools. With […]

by July 5, 2018 News, Videos
Carving a Woman’s Mouth

Carving a Woman’s Mouth

Simple techniques to make attractive, feminine lips By Harold Enlow Many carvers add beards and mustaches to avoid carving lips and mouths. If you plan to carve a woman, though, it’s impossible to hide the lips. Learning these few simple steps for carving lips allows you to carve any face. […]

by July 5, 2018 Techniques
Burning a Slot for a Knife Holder

Burning a Slot for a Knife Holder

Transform any stable-base carving into a custom knife holder By Mark Akers You could carefully carve a slot in a piece of wood, glue that piece of wood to another piece of wood, and then carve the two into a custom knife holder. But it’s a lot more fun to […]

by July 5, 2018 Videos
Shop Made Sanding Drums

Shop Made Sanding Drums

Make custom rotary-tool sanders from inexpensive hardware By Bill Kinnear Throughout my woodworking years, I have been continually frustrated with the sanding accessories that are available, so I set out to develop a cheap system that would work under different applications. The sanders I designed are inexpensive and easy to […]

by July 5, 2018 Shop Tips
Carving a Santa Whistle

Carving a Santa Whistle

Capture the sounds of summer all year long with this easy to carve Santa whistle By Roger Beane Whistles are easy to make—you just need a twig, a drill, and a knife. The fun and creativity come in when you start decorating your whistles. I use them to practice carving […]

by April 23, 2018 Holiday Carving, Patterns & Projects
Carving an Eye

Carving an Eye

Define any style of eye with four simple V-cuts By Harold Enlow Photography by Scott Kreiner   Eyes add expression and character to a carving. Many folks struggle with carving eyes, so they paint the eyes on their carvings. But this often requires the entire carving to be painted. Because […]

by April 10, 2018 Techniques, Techniques for Beginners
FREE PATTERN & TUTORIAL: Working Wooden Pliers from a Single Piece of Wood

FREE PATTERN & TUTORIAL: Working Wooden Pliers from a Single Piece of Wood

Make a miniature tool with a sharp knife and a few careful cuts Based on a traditional design made famous by Ernest Warther The ability to make multiple interconnected parts from a single piece of wood is a whittler’s specialty—as evidenced by the popularity of chains and cages. These miniature […]

by February 8, 2018 Patterns & Projects, Whittling
Carving a Rustic Welcome Sign

Carving a Rustic Welcome Sign

The perfect sign project for beginners that looks great embellished with gold leaf By Vernon DePauw The pineapple has long been a symbol of welcome and hospitality. Rather than carving down the entire surface of the sign, carve and attach the pineapple separately. Making the Sign Determine the size you […]