Wood carving techniques

Wood carving techniques are mostly defined by the tools, types of wood used, and many other aspects. And in this blog we want to share with you about the main techniques.

Wood carving techniques vary and differ in the toolset required to perform each of them and what the end result of your carving should be. The general difference can be made between projects that create a sculpture and projects that are leveled on a wood panel such as relief carving and engraving.

One of the most common hand wood carving techniques is whittling. Whittling has been around for centuries and it is the simplest carving craft that requires nothing but a simple knife that is well-sharpened. Whittling is done with three basic movements starting with a straight rough cut, pushing the blade down the wood, removing the slices one by one. You can either push the blade away from you or pull it towards you with each stroke.

Spoon and Bowl carving or any other round carving technique requires rounded blades to cut out the desired shape. The cuts are smaller, in general, and a mix of straight and round knives is required to perform the details of the whole project.

A carving process that involves many simple cuts is chip carving. As the name says, it is about chipping the small pieces of wood out of a wood board to create lovely shapes and patterns. It comes close to relief carving. Usually, crafters use special chip carving patterns to make the process easier and faster.

Wood relief carving techniques are about creating carvings on a wood panel that appears as if they are coming out of the background. This carving style is done by digging deep into the surface of the panel and creating different layers of the project, after which the background is being leveled down underneath the carving itself.

Different styles require special sets of tools and a level of expertise. In this article, I will share wood carving tips and techniques for both beginners and more experienced carvers.

Whittling is among the most common wood carving techniques for beginners, and creating caricatures and animals is often the most exciting carving style that inspires people to learn more about this craft.

Chip carving is also a common choice among beginners, and with a simple chip carving guide for beginners you can make beautiful patterns with ease. A more challenging carving style is relief carving, but it is also not impossible to master. The key is having the right toolset and begin with a simple enough carving project to help you get a better feeling of how different levels are being carved.

Another useful tip for wood carving: projects and techniques is to get started with softwood block that is easy to shape, and to only work with well-sharpened tools. The best wood type for any woodcarving project is softwood, while the most common one is basswood in particular. You can carve butternut or white pine just as easily, so it is a matter of your personal preference.