Welcome to the seventh issue of Strop Talk! We are dedicated to bringing you new, fun, and informative content in each of our Strop Talk e-newsletters. Combined with our magazine, website, and online forum, Strop Talk is another way to help keep the creativity flowing and the carving knives sharp […]
Welcome to the sixth issue of Strop Talk! We are dedicated to bringing you new, fun, and informative content in each of our Strop Talk e-newsletters. Combined with our magazine, website, and online forum, Strop Talk is another way to help keep the creativity flowing and the carving knives sharp […]
An overview of commonly available protective gloves by Bob Duncan The safest way to carve is to use a holding device and keep both hands on the tool. However, many carvers hold their work in their hands. Proper hand positioning keeps the holding hand safely out of the tool’s […]
A carver needs more than sharp tools; a workspace, bench, and lighting are equally important by Chris Pye Carving, just like everything else, happens in a context. In other words, there are prior and surrounding circumstances that directly affect what you are doing. Indeed, they affect what you can […]
Organize your finishing area for maximum efficiency by Vicki Rhodes This article was first published in issue 44 of Woodcarving Illustrated. Having a dedicated area set up to paint is as important as having an area set up for carving. It could be an extension of your carving area, but make […]
Properly prepare your knife for safe and enjoyable whittling by Bob Duncan Although it may seem contradictory, a sharp knife is a safe knife. When a knife is dull, or not shaped properly, it requires more force to push the blade through the wood. The more force required to make […]
Simple cuts add texture to this happy fellow by Jim Villars When I started getting requests for handcarved bears, I carved them using models and patterns. Those first attempts were so bad that the fireplace rejected them. I decided to create my own version, depicting a bear how I thought […]
Members of the Woodcarving Illustrated Message Board choose their top carving woods Carvers today can choose from a variety of woods, but it can be difficult to know which wood to choose for a specific project. We surveyed the members of the Woodcarving Illustrated Message Board to find their […]
A stress-free beginner’s guide to choosing tools by Bob Duncan Beginning carvers often buy a set of carving tools and end up with an assortment of tools they will never use. Instead of paying for tools that don’t fit your needs, buy tools à la carte and create your own […]
Facial expressions and body language let you tell a story with this carving by Arnold Smith Most of my carvings begin with a story in my head. “This hunter, who happens to be a really poor shot, finally killed himself a duck and was really excited about it. He […]
