Practical Wood Carving Tips for Beginners
Having barely learned to hold objects in his hands, the little man manifests a craving for creativity. Over time, he will have the opportunity to try himself in various types of craftsmanship: needlework, modeling, origami, wood carving, drawing. Of course, certain skills that the child acquired in early childhood are useful for this. Sometimes a simple hobby gradually turns into a hobby, and then becomes a matter of a lifetime. So many centuries ago in Russia one of the main types of creativity was woodcarving. And in the 21st century, it still arouses genuine interest in people.
Popular forms of intricate art
- geometric;
- flat-shaped;
- slotted;
- sculptural;
- embossed;
- openwork;
- waybill.
Fortunately, the list does not end there, because this type of creativity is spread throughout our vast country. Let's consider just a few of them.
Geometric wood carving provides for the use of various shapes in the work. These are triangles, circles, squares and polyhedra. It is used for the manufacture of furniture items, household utensils, as well as wall crafts. The oldest type of such carving is a trihedral-notch carving. This is one of the simplest methods, as it is performed with only one tool - a knife with a jamb. Such wood carving requires a simple set of items:
- linden board;
- special jamb knife;
- ruler;
- pencil.
First, sketches of geometric shapes or a ready-made ornament are applied to the board. It is better for beginner amateurs not to use complex drawings so that the work turns out to be flawless. For the first work, material from deciduous trees is suitable, since it is more convenient to draw straight lines on it with a sharp knife.
The wooden surface should be as smooth as possible. This is achieved by planing the board. Moreover, it does not need to be sanded with sandpaper. Otherwise, the carving will not turn out clear and accurate, and the tool will quickly become dull.
The flat-groove method is used to cut out recesses of various sizes and shapes on the plane. It can be oval outlines and all kinds of bulges.
The slotted thread is also considered quite simple. It is done with a jigsaw. A sketch of any figure drawn on a wooden plane is cut along the contour. The result is cute crafts. A slotted thread is used to make background objects through which other planes are visible. It is often called openwork carving and is used to decorate Baroque furniture. It can also be elements of sideboards, window frames, doors, and sometimes decorative screens. If the crafts are attached to a special base, then this type of thread is considered an invoice.
The process of working with the slotted method begins with a sketch that is applied to a pre-ground workpiece. It is transferred to the surface using a special template or transparent white paper.Then holes are made on the contours and cut out on the desktop using a thin jigsaw file.
Relief carving includes two main methods: flat and blind. In addition, the deaf version implies a low or convex relief. The bottom line is that the pattern is formed due to the main background of the surface.
The flat-relief method is performed so that the pattern and the surrounding background are made at the same depth over the entire area of the base. Blind carving is characterized by a convex pattern that does not have a flat outline. Such products are appreciated for their high decorativeness and richness of the composition. Indeed, a kind of miniature landscape is created on the plane with hills, depressions and depressions. To create such masterpieces, craftsmen use elements of almost all types of wood carving. Therefore, beginners should master each method separately in order to apply skills with more complex crafts.
The first steps towards mastery
History shows that wood has traditionally been used to decorate living spaces. Nowadays, various photographs, drawings and sketches of woodcarving are exhibited in local history museums or printed publications. This suggests that smart people who are ready to learn are able to master this art form. Wood is a wonderful natural material from which you can create decorative compositions, paintings, furniture items and kitchen utensils. Having mastered the basics of ancient art, some became true masters of wood carving, devoting their whole lives to this.
Folk wisdom says: "Dashing trouble is the beginning." So it is, if you do nothing. Practical woodcarving tips for beginners open the door for brave people to a world of great DIY crafts. First, you need to prepare the tools and understand the basic nuances of the craft.
It is advisable for beginners to choose high-quality and durable equipment for work in order to acquire valuable skill skills.
For wood carving, you need to prepare the following tools:
- sharp knife;
- chisel;
- jigsaw;
- bit;
- drill;
- needles;
- spoon cutter;
- bars;
- electric drill;
- drill;
- milling machine.
Of course, for beginners, it will be enough to purchase a special set of tools for woodcarving, which includes a knife, jigsaw and awl. With their help, it is very convenient to master the skills of ancient crafts.
The next step is the selection of raw materials. The quality of the product depends on this. In nature, there are two types of wood: hard and soft. The first group includes mahogany, oak and beech. To the second - Linden, aspen, pine, spruce, birch. Of course, it is easier to work with soft wood, but with one wrong move, it quickly deteriorates. Despite this, it is considered the most suitable raw material for beginners.
Hardwoods are used by professionals because they are very expensive.
In addition to the strength of the material, the color of the wood also plays a key role. The right raw material for learning the craft is birch. It lends itself wonderfully to cutting and drilling in any direction. When choosing patterns for wood carving, it should be borne in mind that birch wood darkens over time. Despite this, it is very easy to work with her.
When the pattern is selected, it must be transferred to the wooden blank. In the age of technology, you can use ready-made photographs or drawings that are provided by specialists. The subjects of the images are very different, but each has its own unique beauty. When everything is ready, you can start creating your own masterpieces. Themed woodcarving lessons are invaluable help for beginners.
Master class of simple crafts
When you look at the finished crafts, you get the impression that making them is not at all difficult. Therefore, many lovers of folk craft took the instrument into their own hands and got down to business.To cut an ordinary flower, you need to prepare the following set of items:
- wood blank;
- double soft pencil;
- tracing paper;
- chisels.
It must be borne in mind that only special chisels for wood carving are suitable. They should be v-shaped, narrow and semicircular. The next stage is drawing. It can be taken from the Internet. To do this, a sheet of paper is applied to the screen, the diagram is redrawn, and then it is applied to a wooden plane.
Start from the center of the sketch, carefully carving out a circle. Then, using a V-shaped chisel, the petals are cut along the contour. Waste wood between them is removed in the course of work. If there is no such chisel, professional knives for woodcarving are suitable, which are no worse to wield in this craft.
The outer part of the petal is cut out with a semicircular chisel. It looks like the outline of a heart, but that's okay. Then cuts are made in the inner part of the petal, connecting it to the center of the flower. It remains only to round it off and the flower is ready. Now you can admire the first creation of your hands. An invaluable help for beginners is a thematic woodcarving video that encourages you to immediately get to work.
State-of-the-art technology for experienced craftsmen
In the modern world, many works have long been performed mechanically. Applied craft is not far behind in this. The use of technology enables craftsmen to save their energy and precious time. Wood carving machines make it possible to quickly and efficiently prepare the source material for work. The only drawback of such devices is their high cost, but people for whom carving is not just a hobby are ready to purchase them.
Pantograph
The device is designed to work with any wooden surfaces. It performs operations of various kinds, both volumetric and on a plane. The pantograph is used for processing arched, bent or rotating parts. So with the help of a machine, various elements of furniture, statues or panels are cut out.
Drill
Excellent device for working with hardwoods. In this case, it is important to take into account the properties and location of the fibers of the natural material. With the help of a drill, craftsmen sharpen tools, grind wood, and, if necessary, polish.
For working with a drill, tree species with dense woods, which do not have a tendency to chipping, are suitable.
CNC milling machine
This technique is mainly used for the production of wood carved furniture. The machine is designed to work with any kind of plywood and wood. It is distinguished by high functionality and technical capabilities. When working on such equipment, it is important to use special protective equipment - glasses and gloves. Also follow the instructions for use of the device.
As practice shows, such machines simplify the process of wood carving. They make it possible to create a huge number of products in a short time. The devices are used not only in industry, but also for a personal workshop.
In any case, hand-made products bring genuine satisfaction to a person. They create a pleasant atmosphere in the house, help to express the feelings of the master for his loved ones, and serve for the benefit of the household for a long time. Wooden crafts retain their natural beauty for a long time and never go out of style. Wood carving is an art that has been passed down from generation to generation. It is available to anyone who wishes to master this craft. The main thing is not to be afraid of failures, but to readily learn, pick up tools and create masterpieces.
Woodcarving video tutorial for beginners