Tools for Wood Carving

Wood carving is a very old art form still popular among carvers of all ages. Carving wood is a fun and productive hobby, but it can be dangerous and difficult if you don’t have the right tools. One thing to remember when choosing a wood carving knife is that there are different types for different jobs. If you buy a large whittling knife, for example, it might be too heavy to use on small carving projects. So having a few types of knives is the best way to go.

In this article we will discuss different wood carving knives and what they are used for so you can find the perfect knife for your needs.

I don’t think that there is anyone who has ever held some nice wood carvings in their hands that doesn’t wonder how I can get such thin shavings and smooth surfaces with just a pocket knife. If you have thought about it yourself, or just want to learn a bit more about this fascinating hobby, then I will try to explain the process that I use and hopefully answer some of your questions as well.

Many tools can be used for carving wooden objects. Why? Well because some tools are perfect for getting into tight spots and trimming excess material, and others provide greater control over larger surface areas. Let me introduce you to a few knives that I use.

Bench Carving Knives

Carving knives with a fixed blade are somewhat different from other types of carving knives in terms of appearance and function. They generally have a large handle and a tiny blade. This gadget is intended to cut out smaller pieces and intricate details like text engravings. Use a Bench knife to dig into the wood and remove larger pieces for detail work.

Although the skill needed to properly produce precise detail work with a bench plane is limited, having the appropriate tool along with a high-quality piece of softwood can help novice wood carvers get started quickly.

Carving Chisels

In addition to carving knives, beginners will want to have a variety of chisels to work with. Chisels are very sharp wood carving tools that are typically used with a hammer or mallet to chip or rough material away. There are a wide variety of wood carving chisels to choose from. Some have an edge on the left or right side. Others have edges on both sides.

While your standard wood carving chisels are used for roughing and removing large amounts of wood, micro wood chisels are the top choice for projects that require fine details. For beginners, it is best to start with larger chisels before working with mini chisels meant for small detail work.

Carving Gouges

Wood carving gouges are very similar to chisels; however, they have a curved cutting edge rather than a flat one. Unlike chisels, gouges are designed to carve grooves without the corners of the tool digging into the wood. They remove excess wood quickly, especially from a flat surface, where the corners of a flat chisel would dig in. 

For projects that require precise grooves and trenches, carving gouges are the way to go. These tools also allow you to stop-cut around round objects. Both long-bent gouges and short-bent gouges are great tools for those looking to get into relief carving, which is where a figure is carved into a flat piece of wood but does not protrude far beyond the flat surface.

Chip Carving Knife

Chip carving is a simple woodworking project that even beginners can complete! Chip carving is one of the simplest, quickest, and most enjoyable techniques to learn. Chip carving knives are used for this type of carving. They have a long blade and a long handle that is usually 1½ inches.

A chip carving knife is used to cut precise grooves or incisions in wood to remove particular pieces. Chip carving knives are best used on softwoods like basswood and butternut. However, if you want to do a project with chip carving knives, you can use them on different types of hardwood.

Whittling Knives

Whittling is a centuries-old wood carving technique. Whittling doesn’t need many instruments or much room to perform. It simply entails using a specifically designed carving knife to create the design on a piece of wood. This wood carving style is easy to learn, even if you have little or no experience.

The ideal whittling knives have a curved blade and a grip that fits comfortably in your hand as you remove tiny slivers or pieces of wood. You can use a whittling knife to make things out of softwood.

V Carving Tools

Similar to gouges, V wood carving tools are designed to carve grooves. As the name suggests, however, these tools have a V-shaped cutting edge. When hit or pushed through the wood, the cutting edge creates a thin groove in the wood. It’s great for lines and small details in the design of a wood carving project. 

V carving tools, as well as the closely related veiner tools, allow for cuts that have more depth compared to your standard carving gouge. These tools are commonly used for different styles of relief carving. With V tools, beginners can improve their fine detailing skills and expand their scope of potential projects.

Sharpening Tools

Finishing up a wood carving project is the best part of the whole experience. You’ll enjoy watching months or even years of hard work slowly take shape before your eyes. To make this happen, you need to be able to sharpen different tools so that they can remove tiny pieces of wood without getting snagged or dulling too quickly. That’s why beginners need to invest in sharpening tools so that you can get back to adding new details and finishing your work!

Many people assume that these are only useful when their knives or chisels become dull. This isn’t true at all! While sharpening tools will always help out if your blades fade on you, they’re also great for preventing this from happening in the first place. With a bit of practice, you’ll be able to get back to your project and remove stray bits of wood with ease!

Conclusion

Do you want to try wood carving? If so, you will need a selection of quality tools to include chisels, knives, and carving gouges. But with the right tools and the right piece of wood – plus a lot of practice, dedication, and patience – you can be turning out great-looking pieces. Keep it here for related content.