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How to Carve Wood in 3D

Never tried your hand at woodcarving but would like to try?

Difficulty Level: average      Time Required: N/A

Here's How:
  1. Materials needed: Some fairly soft fine grained wood, carving tools including several sizes of gouges, a coping saw or jeweler's saw,a mallet and patience.
  2. This description is for carving in the round.
  3. Draw a side view of your design onto the side of the block of wood with a soft lead pencil.
  4. Using the coping saw or jeweler's saw, cut off the excess wood leaving some extra wood outside of your outline.
  5. Now, if possible, draw a top view of your object onto the top of block.
  6. Using saw, remove excess wood. Be sure to secure your work using a woodworker's vise or other suitable device.
  7. You should now have the rough shape of finished object.
  8. Carefully use your gouges to remove more wood down to your outlines.
  9. Slowly and carefully, using smaller tools, remove more wood until you are able to start adding details.
  10. Always work in the round, checking to make sure that all elements of object are located where they should be.
  11. Add finished details and carefully sand the piece to remove splinters and unsightly knife marks.
  12. Do not try to remove all carving marks. You will remove details and character if you do.
  13. Stain the piece with wood stain if desired. Let stain dry.
  14. Lightly go over piece with fine steel wool.
  15. Finish piece with desired finish such as polyurethane or varnish.

 Tips:
  1. Always carve away from hands and body!
  2. Secure piece to work table to keep it from shifting while working on it.
  3. Always use sharp, quality tools. Dull tools cause accidents.

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