eNews: Strop Talk

Strop Talk

Strop Talk

Welcome to Strop Talk! As you know, stropping keeps your knife sharp between cuts. This quarterly e-newsletter is our way of staying in touch with you between issues of Woodcarving Illustrated. Here we share projects, features, tips, insider scoop on books and authors, club news, and more. We hope you enjoy reading […]

by October 18, 2016 eNews: Strop Talk
Carving a Big Cat

Carving a Big Cat

Make a black panther or a jaguar using the same pattern By Don Self There’s no specific type of cat called the “black panther.” Instead, the name can refer to any single-color (melanistic) big cat. In Asia and Africa, they are leopards, while those in the Americas are jaguars. I […]

by August 2, 2024 eNews: Strop Talk, News, Patterns & Projects
Stropping Success

Stropping Success

Save your hands with this simple power sharpening hack By Dave Browne I find stropping carving tools rather time-consuming and uncomfortable thanks to a touch of arthritis, not to mention fiddly when I’m trying to get a precise angle. To remedy this, I created my own rotary strop, using odds […]

by August 2, 2024 eNews: Strop Talk, Techniques
Cute Shelf-Sitter Cats

Cute Shelf-Sitter Cats

Folk-art felines make charming pins or decorations By Shawn Cipa I designed these carved dark and orange house cats to be mounted on my version of Noah’s ark. However, you can easily modify the patterns to turn them into shelf-sitters, pins, magnets, or ornaments. Adapt the paint suggestions to represent […]

by May 3, 2024 eNews: Strop Talk
Paintbrush Care for Carvers

Paintbrush Care for Carvers

Learn to select, clean, and store your brushes like a pro By Betty Padden Selecting paintbrushes can be a daunting task given the array of choices, but knowing the basics can make a world of difference! I’m here to break down the different types, shapes and sizes, and their uses. […]

by May 3, 2024 eNews: Strop Talk, Tips for Beginners
Heart-Shaped Bottle Stopper

Heart-Shaped Bottle Stopper

Simple stopper makes a great gift By Greg Young This simple design is quick and easy to carve from a small piece of basswood. Expand the idea to make themed bottle stoppers for all occasions—an Easter egg, pumpkin, clover, football, snowman, and birthday or wedding cake are just a few […]

by January 30, 2024 eNews: Strop Talk, Whittling
Selecting a Carving Knife

Selecting a Carving Knife

It all comes down to fit and steel quality By Lora S. Irish You will notice, as you search for a new carving knife, that there are enough choices on the market to make your head spin. So how do you sort through them all to find the tool that’s […]

by January 30, 2024 eNews: Strop Talk, Tools for Beginners
Happy Santa

Happy Santa

The compact styling of this smiling fellow makes him an ideal project for beginners By Tina Toney This Happy Santa captures the essence of Jolly Old St. Nicholas. He has a straight-forward gaze, symmetrical pose, and his hands are tucked warmly into mittens, which makes this a great project for beginners. I’ve […]

by December 13, 2023 eNews: Strop Talk, Holiday Carving
Using a Carver’s Arm

Using a Carver’s Arm

How—and why—to attach a project to a carving arm By Laverne “Sid” Sidler Using a carving arm has real advantages. You will reduce the risk of cutting yourself; have both hands free to control the tool, resulting in higher-quality results; be able to position the work to make difficult areas […]

by December 13, 2023 eNews: Strop Talk, Shop Tips
Miniature Scarecrow Ornament

Miniature Scarecrow Ornament

Quick and easy carving  adds a whimsical touch to fall décor By Gerald Smith I carve a lot of Christmas ornaments to sell at craft fairs. Recently, a customer requested fall ornaments so she could decorate her feather tree to celebrate autumn. I created a few pumpkins and some leaves in […]

by September 26, 2023 eNews: Strop Talk, Fall Carving
Painting Supplies

Painting Supplies

Accessories to help you paint successfully by Vicki Rhodes Everyone knows that you need paint and paintbrushes to paint. However, there are a variety of other useful items to make the experience more efficient and enjoyable. The following items are the ones I find most beneficial. Once you have have […]

by September 26, 2023 eNews: Strop Talk, Tools for Beginners