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 […]
What to look for when selecting a folding knife By Bob Duncan One of the neat things about whittling is that you can do it anywhere. This means your knife should be portable, and nothing beats the convenience of safely slipping a folded knife into your pocket. Many manufacturers create folding knives […]
Learn the secrets that unlock this striking technique By Rick Wiebe I learned the basic process of making wooden fan birds from books and magazine articles, and then developed my unique style and process by lots of trial, error, and practice. It does take practice to get good at […]
By Kathleen Ryan Photos by Kathi Tynan Fifty years ago Bob Brightbill received a simple set of carving tools as a gift from his wife, Mary, who challenged him to carve something. So Bob bought some carving books and fashioned a wooden fish. Since then the Waitsfield, Vt., resident has […]
Use a few simple cuts to transform a simple blank into a meaningful gift By Wayne Barton This organic inspired design combines stylized leaves with geometric designs. The combination of classic and modern makes it a good choice for almost adults and children. The durable design will allow it to be […]
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 all […]
During a three-day class, animal carver Leah Goddard taught the Charlotte Woodcarvers Club how to carve a panda. The first day was spent carving and texturing, the next day woodburning, and the final day painting and detailing. The class was very organized and moved along at a good pace. Some […]
Keeping up with the old and the new in essential carving tools By Roger Schroeder Whittlers take note: Chisels, gouges, and V-tools are here to stay. While you may feel comfortable with just a knife in your hand, don’t think that these other edge tools can’t perform miracles. […]
Despite hundreds of profiles, sizes, and shapes to choose from, they all remove wood By Roger Schroeder To a carver, chisels, gouges, and V-tools are all chisels. While that simplifies the description, it is not accurate. The cutting edge of a chisel is a rectangular shape, while the cutting […]
The Tehachapi Mountain Carvers carved Betty Padden’s Noah’s Ark featured in Woodcarving Illustrated Spring 2016 (Issue 74). CLICK HERE to see more pictures and to read about their plans for the finished project.
