What tools are needed for wood carving: a set for beginners

• June 5, 2020
• Tools and equipment
• Igor Nezhvinsky

The quality of the tool always plays an important role, and especially when working with wood. Wood is a soft and warm material, responsive to handwork. The market offers a wide range of machines for precise and high-quality wood processing, but to this day only the hand of a master can create a masterpiece.

The art of wood carving has a long history that has given the world unique works of art. Working with wood and creating beautiful things is easy. All you need is patience, perseverance and a good tool. Experience and knowledge will come with time.

The beginning of time

The woodworking master begins with a wooden block, which for an unexpected and incomprehensible reason attracted his attention, and a sharp kitchen knife. The situations can be very different:

• needed a spice rack in the kitchen;
• the door fell off the closet in the bedroom;
• you need to make a rack for children's toys;
• decorate a jewelry box with an ornament;
• you need to put a lock on the front door, etc.

Such tasks are not wood carving, but you will have to cut, drill, saw, sand, etc. If the result is in demand and it has captured the attention of the beginner, then a new star lights up in the sky, and the young master begins his journey of transforming wood into unique and practical products.

Main tool

A kitchen knife can easily cut out a whistle, a simple toy or a spoon. Many people start with a pocket knife for the purpose of carving a spoon. This is not woodworking or creativity - this is a memorable beginning. Tools for wood carving need special and, most importantly, sharp ones.

A beginner can start his practice only with this instrument. This is a blunt knife. If you want to cut out simple designs or give the desired shape to a wooden surface, this knife will help you do it perfectly. You don't need to specially learn to work with it. Once in your hand, this knife “will show you” how and what to do. There are only two conditions for the first tool:

• very sharp made of high quality steel;
• fits very comfortably in the hand.

There is no need to think about what tools are needed for wood carving and spend money on beautiful sets at the very beginning of practice - they will all be waiting in the wings. One sharp corner knife with a straight blade is enough.

Set 23 pcs. BISON EXPERT 18377-H23

Photo: https://pokupki.market.yandex.ru

Professional cutters of various shapes and sizes meet the needs of any master. Convenient handles ensure comfortable work. They are used to perform precision and artistic design work on paper, cardboard, soft and hard wood, and plastics. The blades are made of improved tool steel. Three differently shaped handles provide a secure grip and comfortable operation. Convenient plastic box for storage and transportation.

Set 23 pcs. BISON EXPERT 18377-H23

Advantages:

• quality
• reliability
• convenience
• comfort
• safety

Chisels and mallet

A set of chisels and a good mallet increase the capabilities of a novice craftsman. When choosing a set, you need to pay attention to the material of the blade and the quality of the handle. These are essential wood carving tools for beginners and professionals.

Having chisels of different shapes is an opportunity to make ornaments, cut grooves, make straight lines, and select recesses of the desired shape.

A mallet is a special hammer. It can be rubber or wood. It is recommended to have both options in your arsenal. A metal hammer will quickly destroy chisels.

The handle of a chisel does not necessarily have to fit well in your hand. But when working with a chisel, the hand must be protected, and it would not be superfluous for a beginner to have a robe made of durable fabric that protects the body from a sharp object. For example, a leather apron or a regular robe inlaid with leather, plastic or other inserts.

When working with wood, movements are often directed towards oneself or the auxiliary hand. To avoid scratches and puncture wounds, it is advisable to protect yourself.

Types of devices and their features

We will look at those products that are used most often at home; all of them can be divided into two large groups - manual and electric.

Hand tool

The most common options are the following:

• An ax is necessary for a wide variety of work: chopping, splitting, trimming wood. In the old days, this was the main working tool, in our time it is mainly used for rough processing, however, it is difficult to imagine a carpenter’s or joiner’s set without it.
• A wood hacksaw is used to cut elements in different directions. Modifications vary in size and shape of the teeth - there are universal options, and there are hacksaws that are designed for longitudinal or cross cutting. In addition, the size of the tooth matters; the smaller it is, the cleaner the edges, but the speed of work is lower, and the larger it is, the higher the productivity, but the lower the quality.

Hacksaws come in different sizes, so choosing the right option is not difficult.

• Planers are used for planing surfaces and consist of a body with handles and a cutting part, which is adjusted and sharpened if necessary. To achieve the best quality work, you need to plane in the direction of the grain of the wood and carefully adjust the position of the blade so that it removes as much as necessary.

A classic wooden plane is an excellent option for the home craftsman

• A chisel is used to gouge holes and other indentations in wood, most often a heavy-duty device with a strong blade and a sturdy handle so that it can be struck with a hammer.
• For more precise processing, a chisel is used; most often it is advisable to purchase a set of such devices of different widths and configurations. This will allow you to choose the best option for any product - straight, semicircular, concave, etc.

Chisels of various shapes are designed for precise processing of wood products

Important! If necessary, you can make chisels yourself; the main thing is to select the appropriate workpiece and sharpen it at an angle of 45 degrees for the best quality of work.

• In order to cut elements at a certain angle, you need a device such as a miter box. It is a design in which there are slots for a hacksaw, which allows you to maintain the ideal geometry of the edges, which is especially important when connecting elements at different angles.

Miter box - a simple but very useful device

• Drills with a hand-crank are used to drill holes. The configuration of the elements can be different, most often there are classic ones, as well as pen and screw options. For large diameter holes, special crowns are used, which are sold in sets.

A device for manual drilling is called a brace

• Do not forget to take care of purchasing measuring devices - you will need a metal ruler, tape measure and square; for the most advanced, a protractor with the ability to set a certain angle is suitable.

Adjustable square with ruler - a universal option for work

There are other tools for manual woodworking, this can include a hammer, screwdrivers, nail puller, pliers, clamps, sandpaper for sanding and much more. A specific list should be selected based on their specific tasks.

Electric tool

Hand-held power tools for woodworking can significantly simplify many operations, so if you decide to do the work constantly, then you should pay attention to this particular group of products:

• Jigsaws are used for both straight and shaped cutting of materials up to 50 mm thick (more is possible when installing blades of the appropriate length). This tool is simple and functional, especially suitable for those who cut complex shapes from thin materials.

Anyone who does woodworking at home should have such a tool.

• To cut thick materials, either a compact circular saw for wood (the so-called parquet) or a structure mounted on a bed (in common parlance – a cross-cut saw) is used. The thickness of the materials being cut depends on the diameter of the installed disk, so the choice of a specific modification is made based on this parameter. For large items, it is better to purchase a gas or electric saw with a chain and bar.

Circular saw - a compact and convenient cutting device

• Electric planers are used for planing surfaces; they can have different sizes and power, so they need to be selected depending on the specifics of the work you perform. To understand the configuration features, you need to familiarize yourself with the recommendations given in the instructions that are included in the package.
• Grinding machines are used for finishing; they can be of three types: belt for large volumes of work, they are characterized by high productivity, vibrating with a straight sole - quite powerful with good processing quality, and planetary - in which the round sole vibrates and rotates with an offset relative to the axis , this option allows you to achieve the best surface quality.

Planetary sander – the optimal solution for perfect surface finishing

• If you want to make relief products, then you cannot do without a hand router; with its help you can give the product different shapes and cut out various patterns and ornaments on it. The main working element in such devices is cutters of various sizes and shapes; with their help, you can perform a wide variety of operations; it is important to choose the right option.

A hand router is indispensable when making furniture yourself

• An electric drill is needed to drill holes of various diameters. Additionally, the device is equipped with a set of drills and crowns; sometimes it is advisable to use adjustable structures, which experts call ballerinas. The power of the drill can be different and depends on the complexity of the work.

Accessories

To use woodworking tools at home as efficiently as possible, you must have additional structures:

• The workbench is the ideal workplace for most tasks performed. Modern options have a wide range of adjustments both in height and in the position of the working surface. In addition, the design contains a vice for reliable fixation of the elements being processed and drawers for storing all accessories.

The workbench is the ideal solution for the carpenter and joiner

• For additional fixation of individual elements, you may need clamps of various configurations, and for marking you should have a carpenter's pencil on hand. These seemingly small details significantly increase the convenience of the work and allow it to be carried out more accurately.
• Pliers and pliers may be needed to remove nails and clamp small items. To tighten the screws, you need a screwdriver; you can use it to drill holes of small thickness.
• If you decide to make balusters or other elements of a similar shape, you will need a compact lathe and a set of chisels of different shapes.

Lessons from a recognized master

Meeting an experienced carver is a rare success. Just one visit to a professional carver’s workshop leaves a lasting impression on a beginner. The workshop has everything: from the smell of wood to a clear understanding of what tools are needed for wood carving. The first impression falls on the subconscious, and the beginning carver “already knows” what and when he should purchase or make.

A professional does not use standard sets of tools. He prefers to make his own instruments. This point is important to keep in mind. No manufacturer will make what you need. Any tool on the market is a tribute to established traditions, the shape of blades, handles, and accessories.

If you have a chance to become an apprentice to an experienced carver, this is a rare success. You can learn not only the technique of wood carving, but also the logic of making a tool, and master important rules for sharpening and using it.

Types of thread

There are many techniques for processing wood, with the help of which craftsmen create real works of art from it.

As such, a strict classification has not yet been created, but conditionally all techniques can be divided into several types.

Flat socket carving: a flat wooden surface acts as a background. The pattern is formed using notches of various shapes.

Flat grooved threads are:

• Geometric has a pattern in the form of a bizarre combination of various geometric shapes.
• Contour forms a pattern in the form of a rigidly drawn outline, as if pressed into the surface.

Flat-relief carving highlights a convex pattern on a background deepened with the help of a tool.

Flat relief carving can be:

• Oval - the pattern on it is located in the shape of an oval, often filling the entire space of the canvas with small recesses.
• With a selected background, a large ornament appears against the background of the space scraped out by the tool.

Relief carving: three-dimensional paintings, practically devoid of a flat background.

Relief carving can be:

• The bas-relief has protruding figures of medium height (about half of their volume).
• High relief - the background is deeply recessed, the figures are very voluminous and protrude greatly.
• “Tatyanka” - a convex pattern fills the entire space of the product, the elements merge, turning into each other (usually the theme is botanical).

The slotted thread can have the appearance of flat-relief or relief. The pattern is made by completely removing wood fragments and leaving through voids between the elements of the pattern.

The slotted thread is:

• Openwork: has protruding parts combined with cut holes, widely used for decorating furniture sets in the Baroque and Rococo styles.
• Overlay: made up of figures cut through and with protruding elements, processed only on the front side.

Sculptural carving - the depicted objects are separated from the background and represent a full-fledged sculpture.

House carving is the creation of elements used to decorate wooden buildings.

Wood surface and sanding

Depending on the item being manufactured, one or another surface treatment is required. A shelf or rack for the kitchen, a table or bedside table for the bedroom requires a perfectly flat and smooth surface. A toy figurine, panel or box does not need sanding, but a drawing made with a chisel cannot be sanded at all.

Cutting wood with a knife and shaping the surface with a chisel does not require preliminary sanding, and once the work is completed, the surface simply cannot be sanded.

In the creative process of wood cutting, the idea often arises: not to cut out what you want, but to refine a natural solution. When a fancy piece of wood (a branch, a stump, a trunk) falls into the hands of a craftsman, the idea arises of adding to it rather than cutting it out.

Electric hacksaw

Also known as a reciprocating saw, and colloquially referred to as an "alligator saw"

According to the principle of operation, it completely repeats the classic hand hacksaw, only the reciprocating movement is provided by electrical energy, and not by your hand.

Unlike a circular saw, a reciprocating saw is messier, slower and rougher, but it is safer to work with. However, the alligator also has advantages: the depth of cut, which is limited only by the length of the saw blade (and they are replaceable, so you can always find consumables for any task in the store), and the ability to work in hard-to-reach places.

What you need to know when choosing

Work surface and vice

Wood carving tools should be within easy reach. The desktop must have a perfectly flat, horizontally leveled surface. At least one vise must be firmly fixed to the workbench.

A metal corner, a level, clamps, and wood glue must be purchased immediately, and they should always be at hand.

Auxiliary equipment is a sharpening machine, a hand-held circular saw with the possibility of stationary installation, a grinding machine, and an electric jigsaw. A hand jigsaw, a set of needle files and files will come in handy.

Additional equipment and tools are not associated with wood cutting, but without this you will have to spend time doing auxiliary work elsewhere.

A good master should have everything at hand.

Types of knife blades

A classic jamb knife can have blades of different widths, blade angles and a conveniently shaped handle for a specific type of work. The blade of the knife can be made in the form of a triangle (the flag knife is very popular) or have another shape.

The knife can have different sharpening options, smooth or sharp cutting edge shapes. Understanding which blade is needed depends on the specific type of work, the design being performed and the experience of the craftsman.

As in the case of a blunt knife, the prerequisites for the quality of a knife with any blade shape are the sharpness of the blade and the comfort of the handle. The attachment of the knife blade to the handle must be perfect and reliable.

Bogorodsk knife “Tatyanka”

The name “Tatyanka” and the Bogorodsk knife were formed historically. They are associated with carving with only one cutter by hand. This knife works on soft wood for cutting small sculptures and figure cutting.

Bogorodskaya carving came out of peasant craft. Her most recognizable scene is "man and bear", and her carving technique is often called power. One knife, one workpiece. A carver of this style is a unique master. He doesn't wonder what tools are needed for wood carving. He just takes his knife and makes unique things with it.

There are many options for making a Bogorodsk knife. There are many options on the market, even a folding product. The best will always be your own.

Power carving with one knife is creativity, and creativity never fits into the framework of a standard manufacturer. When a beginner decides to devote himself to Bogorodsk carving, he will not have a question about what tools are needed for wood carving, he will not have a desire to purchase them, but he will have a clear understanding of how to make his own version of a knife.

Household ornament and “kitchen” cutting

The kitchen is the most popular place in the house. The whole family often gathers here, friends come here, and the interior of the kitchen should always be at its best. A kitchen tool is important for a good housewife, and its quality should be better than others.

To decorate a shelf, rack or cutting board, there is no need to perform figured cutting. Household ornaments should be beautiful, simple and easy to clean quickly. Here it is necessary and sufficient to have a simple set of wood carving tools.

As a rule, a set of chisels will be enough to give a unique look to any wooden item for use in the kitchen. Any surface in the kitchen must be clean. From this point of view, it is more convenient to use an electric tool for wood carving - this will allow you to get straight and smooth lines, an easily cleaned ornament and avoid grooves and recesses in which dirt can accumulate.

The choice between manual work and the use of a machine is up to the master, but the cleanliness and “cleanability” of the product should be in the foreground.

Wood carving for beginners

In order to master the skill of turning objects from ordinary wood into works of art over time, you need to gradually go through lessons, moving from simple to complex.

To learn how to create decorative wooden elements, you need to know the technology of work and possess the necessary tools, without neglecting safety precautions.

Masters advise beginners, especially children, to first master the basics of contour carving. For it you will need:

• wooden canvas or object for decoration;
• set of chisels;
• blunt knife;
• pencils;
• sketch (drawing);
• sandpaper.

First, using a sample, you need to check how to work with each of the chisels, see what it is needed for, and practice.

Then the sketch from the paper needs to be transferred to the workpiece.

Only after studying the basic principles of working with the tool can you proceed to testing the products.

The most common are sketches with images of flora and fauna, and landscape sketches.

After applying the pattern, the wood must be sanded and varnished.

Children's room and bedroom

The surfaces of shelves, cabinets, tables, chairs are smooth and even. This does not apply to legs, arms or ornaments. As a rule, artistic cutting can be applied along the edge of the surface of a table or bedside table, but most often it consists of making additional elements.

A carved handle for a cabinet door, a carved leg for a table or a horse chair for a child will require a simple tool. For example, a set of chisels of various shapes can be used to mark a horse’s mane or make a tail.

Types of tools and wood carving for household use is a technique of personal creativity. A person does not set himself the goal of creating a masterpiece. In his opinion, a masterpiece will be a children's room in which his child will feel comfortable; a set of simple wooden toys that will develop motor skills and imagination. The bedroom will be decorated with a unique lamp made from a tree stump modified with a Bogorodsk knife or a book shelf with a light ornament.

Wood cutting for the interior of a living space is significantly different from cutting figurines, sculptures or artistic paintings. Everything here is simple and easy to use: the most affordable materials and tools. Wood carving in everyday life is the art of designating, clarifying, and decorating.

For a beginner, “household cutting” is an excellent school of skill.

Electric planer

The main task is to plan. Can also be used for trimming boards and trimming.

What you need to know when choosing