By Floyd Rhadigan A friend suggested I carve something on a wooden wine bottle. I’m not a wine drinker, so I made a sketch of a beer bottle and sent it to the guy who makes woodturned carving blanks for me. I carved a woman on a root beer bottle […]
Use inexpensive power tools to get a sharp edge fast By Mac Proffitt The goal in power sharpening is the same as hand sharpening—a sharp tool. But many people find power sharpening quicker and easier. Safety When you sharpen tools with power, you generate heat, sparks, and noise. Always wear […]
A self-help seminar inspired Phil and Vicki Bishop to quit their jobs and carve full time By Kathleen Ryan With distinctive down-home features, peculiarities of figure, and deliberately exaggerated faces, carvings by Phil and Vicki Bishop are designed to evoke smiles and keep us from taking life too seriously. Although […]
Mix your own dyes and stains By Robert Triplett and Bob Duncan It can be difficult to find the perfect dye or stain color for your project. Instead of searching the stores or settling for something other than what you envisioned, create the exact color you want. The Differences Between […]
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″ […]
Faces are quick and easy when you hide the eyes By Don Worley Many people are familiar with the tiny biting insect called the no-see-um. I created a series of carvings I call no-see-ums because the eyes are hidden by hats or hair. Designed to eliminate the task of carving […]
By Lora S. Irish After you finish carving a lure, it can be difficult to display it. While a simple wire ornament stand, which can be found in most craft stores, can be used to display your lure, it’s a simple task to bend your wire of choice into a […]
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 […]
Classic flat-plane design is a great beginner caricature By Harley Refsal Trolls are popular subjects from Scandinavian folklore. These fanciful creatures are ideal for carving in the flat-plane folk-art style, which originated in Scandinavia. This queen is the mate of the troll I carved in Woodcarving Illustrated Summer 2004 (Issue […]
This romantic frame makes a meaningful gift for a loved one By Mike Davies Shapes, symbols, and objects can be brought together to tell stories, and as woodcarvers we have the opportunity to capture these stories in our work. This picture frame in the shape of a heart, bound with […]
