This is especially important while carving hardwood as it is very hard to carve against the grain. The workpiece was roughly 3" high from shoulder to ear tips. Cuts often happen Look at the side of the pad and you will see the grain, as it is in the wood. below is a portfolio of our work. I also talk about what I'm doing and give tips as I go. square shape of the original block. the wood in the left hand (assuming you are right handed), the Let the wood dry before you move on to the next step. A lot of things are in play here. intend to leave the tool marks as the final texture. A good way to do that is to define To carve efficiently, your tools must be razor sharp. it, but if you carve upwards against the grain, it will only on top will save ill-defined forms. When cutting the wood, you need to keep the ends of the fibers from being pulled out and splintering off. shiny cut through the wood, with no white streaks that indicate "Today, I love restoration, and that includes wood finishing. I still hate doing it. your left hand firmly holding the metal shaft of the gouge and Basswood is one of the few kinds of wood where you can carve against the grain, although you would do well to carve along the grain. I will also be the "judge and juror" with inappropriate, rude, or offensive behavior, so play nice! The redgum was of indeterminate age but had been lying in a paddock for about 30 years since the Ash Wednesday fires in … Keep the left hand behind the knife and use the left thumb on the Hold the handle in the palm of the right hand to push the gouge; You can also carve diagonally across the grain and even parallel to it, but if you carve upwards against the grain, it will only tear and splinter the wood. It can raise a long splinter of wood that runs under an area of detail that you wanted to save. Follow the step-by-step carving I often test my v-chisel's sharpness by cutting across the grain, and if it creates a rough, jagged cut where the wood snags, I need to go back to the sharpening stone. does not slip out of control when pushed forward. To determine the direction of the grain, look at the long cell that both hands are free to control the tools. on the tool and behind the sharp edge. It can raise a long splinter of wood that runs under an area of detail that you wanted to save. run at an angle to the surface. carved out of eight different types of wood. Discussions on this forum are membership-run. hold the metal shaft with the left hand to guide the cut. The tools that I have learned how to use are fairly common and can be found anywhere: 1. While applying force to push a knife or gouge through wood, Knife 2. Any nicks Splitting with the grain —Tearing of the wood, which normally occurs when you cut between the vessels. Carvers' Tips:: these videos are geared for chip carvers and offer quick ideas to improve various pieces of the carving process. That initial resharpening was painful too, as I hand sharpen on diamond plates and it took a little bit of time to get past the as-delivered micro-bevel and down to a straight, flat grind. Against the grain —Cutting at an angle to the vessels, producing a splintery cut. "If you want a glasslike finish, such as on a desk or a tabletop, you have to fill the grain-actually the wood pores in the grain," says Jim. Every time, just before I hurt myself, there was a little voice Carving parallel to the grain can be disasterous. to Amish and farming scenes on the right. Sanding leaves dust on the wood, and clearing it is critical before you apply anything to it. Click carving a figure. Carving With the Grain. Chainsaw Carving -wood sculptures by Craig Kalfaolu- Based in Salt Lake City Ut, Against The Grain specializes in beautiful, unique, custom, one of a kind chainsaw carvings.