Techniques

Toxic Woods

Toxic Woods

Most woods are safe, but a few common woods can cause some serious health problems. Print out this quick reference chart to keep yourself safe. By Charlie Self Dust masks and air cleaners are on the list of necessary tools in most shops, but research shows that some woods are […]

by January 23, 2018 Materials for Beginners, Techniques
Gorgeous Grown-up Color “Wheel”

Gorgeous Grown-up Color “Wheel”

Learn color theory—and make a beautiful project—with just five paints By Lora S. Irish   Overwhelmed by the paint aisle? Not sure of the difference between yellow-orange and orange-yellow? Completely confused when people talk about primary and secondary colors? This project will answer those questions by helping you create a […]

Cut Your Own Carving Blanks

Cut Your Own Carving Blanks

Simple technique reduces the time you spend roughing out a carving by Mark Duginske This article was first published in issue 42 of Woodcarving Illustrated. Band saws tend to be one of the first power tools a new carver invests in. Carvers of all skill levels use the band saw to […]

by November 29, 2017 Techniques
Pattern Making Made Easy

Pattern Making Made Easy

Use an app to find a pose, then add clothes By Dylan Goodson   I have two methods for designing new carvings. When I need to work out the pose, clothing, and details, I sculpt a clay model. (Click here for one method of creating a model.) But for a […]

by November 14, 2017 Techniques
Using a Grid to Enlarge a Pattern

Using a Grid to Enlarge a Pattern

Classic technique allows you to scale a pattern without using a photocopier or computer By Jon Deck and Bob Duncan Before photocopiers were widespread, woodworkers and crafters enlarged patterns by hand. While there are hosts of drafting tools that make this possible, the easiest way to enlarge a pattern is […]

by October 24, 2017 Techniques
The Right Wood for Walking Sticks

The Right Wood for Walking Sticks

Tips for choosing the best branch to carve into a beautiful, personal walking stick from Hand Carving Your Own Walking Stick by David Stehly   If you just need help hiking up a tough hill, pretty much any reasonably sturdy branch in woods will do the job. But if you […]

by July 27, 2017 Materials for Beginners, Techniques
Carving an Ear

Carving an Ear

Essential techniques to carve this distinctive facial feature By Harold Enlow   Aside from a few specific design choices, everyone has ears, and each person’s ear is as unique as his or her footprint. That means as long as you get the major components and the ears somewhat resemble each […]

by June 14, 2017 Techniques
Comfortable Carving

Comfortable Carving

Simple changes and stretches make it comfortable to carve for long periods of time By Don Swartz When you are carving, do your arms and shoulders get tired? Do you feel pain in your neck, back, or extremities? Most carvers feel fatigue during or after a carving session. Here are […]

by May 3, 2017 Techniques
Carving Hair

Carving Hair

Use these basic techniques to add hair to a carving  By Harold Enlow Most carvings of people will include some sort of hair, whether it is hair on the head, a mustache, or a beard. Hair is one place where you can introduce a bit of realism to make the […]

by March 31, 2017 Techniques
Carving a Nose

Carving a Nose

Once you learn the basic technique, you can modify it for any face By Harold Enlow The nose is the most prominent feature of the face, and there are many different ways to carve one. You can increase the length, reduce the width, or change the shapes of the tip […]

by January 13, 2017 Techniques