Blog

Carousel Carving – Preserving the Past

The rise, fall, and rebirth of carved carousel horses Most people have fond childhood memories of riding on a carousel. The bright colors and lively music make the ride difficult to resist. In this article we’ll explore the history of the carousel and take a look at several organizations who […]

by January 29, 2010 Features
Chip Carved Letters

Chip Carved Letters

Simple block style is easy to carve by Barry McKenzie To carve letters, you once had to choose between buying specialized tools or spending a lot of time practicing difficult cuts. These letters are simple to carve. They use standard chip-carving cuts, and they require only one tool. These letters […]

by January 29, 2010 Patterns & Projects
Hand Carving a Simple Reindeer

Hand Carving a Simple Reindeer

Easy-to-carve deer is the perfect complement to your holiday display By Don Swartz Carve this rustic deer as a stand-alone project or size the pattern to create the perfect complement to your favorite carved Santa. Use twigs for the antlers to add to the rustic charm and simplify the carving […]

by January 27, 2010 Holiday Carving, Patterns & Projects
Drilling Clean Holes

Drilling Clean Holes

By Bob Duncan Readers who prefer to store back issues in a three-ring binder may continue to do so by drilling their own holes. You can clamp the magazine tightly between two pieces of wood and drill the holes with a 1/4″ (6mm)- to 5/16″ (8mm)-diameter drill bit, but this […]

by January 27, 2010 Techniques

Top Ten Underrated Uses for Carving Tools

Tongue-in-cheek take on common carving tools and materials By Bob Duncan #1  CA glue: To glue your thumb to the piece of wood you are trying to replace back to the carving. Also serves to glue cut skin back together and glue your thumb to the cut. #2  Bandaids: To […]

by January 25, 2010 Shop Tips
The Wood Sculptures of Darwin Dower

The Wood Sculptures of Darwin Dower

Historic rural life captured in amazing detail A native of Utah, L. Darwin Dower combines wood sculpting and story telling. He brings to life memories of past times specializing in subjects of the Old West. Stories are then drawn from his highly detailed sculptures, reflecting on a more relaxed time […]

by January 25, 2010 Features
Simple Carved Moldings

Simple Carved Moldings

Use basic cuts to create accents for frames and furniture By Chris Pye Most carved molding looks more difficult to carve than it really is. Decorative molding has many uses, such as around the edges of tables or picture frames. The simpler carved moldings offer a good introduction to traditional […]

by January 24, 2010 Techniques
Holiday Memories Santa

Holiday Memories Santa

Quick and easy carving produces a functional display By Shawn Cipa This Santa project provides an ideal way to display your favorite holiday photo. It also makes a great gift for family and friends. The folk-style photo holder is an easy and fun-to-do design that is perfect for beginners, and […]

by January 24, 2010 Holiday Carving, Patterns & Projects
Woodcarving Hollywood-Style

Woodcarving Hollywood-Style

When Hollywood execs descended on the Canadian city of Victoria, BC, they were pleasantly surprised to learn that local artists could provide the support needed to bring their latest film to life. In the made-for-television movie Pictures of Hollis Woods, Sissy Spacek portrays a retired art teacher with a passion […]

by January 24, 2010 Features
Cleaning Your Brushes

Cleaning Your Brushes

When using your brushes, NEVER walk away and leave paint in the brush. It’s a good habit to rinse a brush before you lay it down, even if only for a moment. Brush Care Do not reuse the plastic tube used on new brushes; this may bend the bristles beyond […]

by January 24, 2010 Shop Tips