Tips & Patterns
Gold Nuggets of Wisdom
SAFETY IS THE NUMBER ONE PRIORITY!
1) Safety first!
When carving, always use protective equipment, such as a carving glove, carver's tape, leather apron or carving surface to carve against; never carve against unprotected body parts. As it turns out, advice from your parents also applies when woodcarving. You should always wear a carving glove on the hand holding the carving, as well as protection for the thumb on the carving hand. Some carvers also cover other fingers that may come in contact with sharp blades or to protect the forefinger that pushes on the back of the carving blade.
2) Always carve with sharp tools.
More people are seriously injured when using dull tools than they are when using sharp tools. A dull tool has a nasty tendency to catch or slip, and can cause a severe cut. Strop your knife often when carving. On average, strop after about every 50 strokes, or every 30 minutes. But remember that this is only a general rule. If your tool is not making a clean cut, STROP!
3) Always know where the edge and tip of your knife blade is, and where it's going.
Do not place anything in the way of the blade that you do not intend to cut with that tool. Always keep in mind where that sharp blade will go if the wood fails you, or the blade slips off of the wood, and prevent possible injuries.
4) Carve often, carve much, and carve well.
Good carvers become better carvers when they practice. Master carvers recommend at least 30 minutes a day, or several hours a week. This helps you practice how to use your tools, how to implement a design or plan, and how to correct your mistakes. And let's face it, all of us make mistakes. A master carver once said that the difference between a good carver and a beginner is that the good carver knows how to fix any mistake they make.
5) Buy quality tools, wood, and supplies.
No one likes spending money on inferior quality items. So to prevent throwing inferior tools in the bottom of your toolbox, buy the best you can afford. You will never regret it.
