Wood Carving

All About Oaxaca Wood Carvings

noreply@blogger.com (The Best Forex is Free) — Sat, 5 Mar 2011 02:38:00 -0800

One of the hottest new trends today in the world of investment grade art, is Oaxaca wood carvings. Delicately carved, sanded and painted sculptures made from the wood of the Copal tree that flourishes in the hillsides of the Oaxaca Valley of Southern Mexico.

A Way of Life for Generations

Carving with basic tools has been a way of life for generations in this isolated region of the planet where things like childrens toys and home decorations were always whittled from the soft Copal wood. However; beginning in the early seventies, a new far more progressive art style began to evolve.

A New Style of Oaxaca Wood Carvings Evolved

A few talented wood carvers with names like Manual Jimenez began to create experimental brightly colored animated and expressive works that were painted in bright bold colors. Over time, as these artists worked in their isolated villages, a complete new style of sculpture evolved.

Wide Recognition North of the Border

Of course it wasn't long until occasional travelers who happened to venture off the beaten path began to come across and become smitten by Oaxaca wood carvings. However; it would take a couple of decades more before they would begin to receive wider recognition north of the border.

Quirky Whimsical and Often Comical

As it stands today, these quirky, whimsical and often comical wooden sculptures are sought after by avid collectors around the globe and especially in the US, Canada and Europe. The result of this uptick in popularity, is that today demand often outstrips supply. Particularly with regards to high end creations of the most notable artists.

Proving to be a Viable Art Investment

Oaxaca wood carvings have also proven to be a viable investment, as an art niche market. Also unlike other styles of investment grade art and sculpture that require large amounts of money to get started in, these works are actually quite affordable.

Sharpening Wood Carving Tools

noreply@blogger.com (The Best Forex is Free) — Fri, 4 Mar 2011 18:52:00 -0800

Sharpening carving tools is an essential step in carving. A sharp carving tool works better because it slices through the wood easier, making it safer and quicker to use. It, also, leaves a cleaner path behind. A good sharp edge means less effort, which means less force. When less force is needed, more control is possible, making the work safer.

There are many methods of sharpening carving tools from power grinders to wetstones to sandpaper and finally the strop. The most inexpensive method is using a couple of grades of sandpaper and a strop.

How much sharpening is needed depends on how damaged the edge of the blade is. If damaged or dull, you will need to use a 400 grit sandpaper laid on a flat surface such as the edge of the table. Place the blade edge down and drag it across the wet surface of the paper at an eleven degree angle. One way of finding an approximate eleven degree angle is to use either a nickel or a dime beneath the spine of the blade.

If your carving blade is three quarters of and inch in width or more, lay your blade flat on the sharpening surface and raise the spine of the blade until you can fit the edge of a nickel under it. If it is less than three quarters of an inch, use a dime.

Drag the edge along the wet sandpaper surface until all the nicks are gone and you have a smooth edge. Then do the same thing using a 600 grit wet sandpaper.

Finish by loading your leather (strop) up with your white aluminum oxide to the point that it won't absorb any more compound. You can use some light oil to help create a paste-like consistency. Make sure you wipe your blade clean of any sandpaper residue with a cloth. You don't want to get any grit on your strop. Then drag your knife edge along the strop at the same 11 degree angle, and continue equally on both sides, sharpening until you get a mirrored edge.

You can test the sharp edge by taking your knife and carving across the end grain of a piece of carving wood. You should see a smooth shiny surface and the end grain clearly. If you see a white line in your slice, you have a nick in your edge. You need to go back and start the process over. Once you have the edge you like on your knife, all you should have to do is strop about every fifteen minutes and protect your edge when you're not using your knife.

Woodworking Books - Why Use Them?

noreply@blogger.com (The Best Forex is Free) — Fri, 4 Mar 2011 10:53:00 -0800

If you are interested woodworking, then you will be interested in buying woodworking books, to further your knowledge and skills. Then all you need to do is simply log on to your computer and visit websites that can give you a list of woodworking books. Through these websites you can do your online shopping, check reviews, plus home delivery makes it so much more convenient to do this.

Woodworking books show you how to revamp your home using your woodworking skills. If you have any queries regarding your project then you can always refer back to your purchased book. Even professionals, use books as a standard reference.

You will get professional advice in these books, on a large variety of woodworking topics. They are written by professionals who have years of experience in the industry. So if you are a woodworker but you do not have the required knowledge about finishing your project, then you can refer to your book. Carpenters working on any wooden furniture will often find a problem at some point. And that is the time they take help from a joinery book.

Woodworking books will show you the techniques that are used to create a lasting and a beautiful wooden products. Your furniture will be durable if the joints are well made. These books will explain to you in detail, how you can create sturdy and long lasting joints. These books also pass along the secrets and tips of the experienced craftsman, that you will require to make perfect furniture.

They also provide you with up to date information on machinery that used when making your project. Cutting tools need be used correctly. An incorrect cut will damage and weaken any furniture you make. These books tell you the techniques of using any specialized tools that you will need. Woodworking books give professional advice about consistently creating identical furniture using templates.

If crafter's want to hone their skills for there various projects, then they will need the help of these woodworking books. Your project may range from making special bowls and boxes to toys and hat stands. Whatever your project, there will be a book available to you, that can really help you get the best results.

These books will also teach you how to use wood carving tools efficiently and in the correct manner. They will also tell you how to easily make the most fundamental wood carving cuts such as stabbing, running, sweeping and sliding using woodworking tools.

If you wish to develop the skills of molding and shaping a wooden products, then you should read a wood turning book. They can also provide you with the knowledge that enhance your existing skills and hone them to perfection.

So as you can now see, purchasing woodworking books is a absolute must, if you are to increase your knowledge skills to become the expert craftsman you desire to be.

Mexican Art - Oaxaca Woodcarving - Los Alebrijes by Jacobo Angeles

noreply@blogger.com (The Best Forex is Free) — Fri, 4 Mar 2011 04:23:00 -0800

Jacobo أپngeles (born 1973), learned from his father the art of woodcarving at the young age of 12. Jacob acquired further knowledge from old masters of woodcarving from San Martin Tilcajete Zapotec villages. His wife, Marأa (b. 1977) also from an artistic family, is responsible for the detailed painting of the figures. Other family members support both of them during varied procedures, which are necessary to complete the uniqueness of the copal. The wood carving of أپngeles is a major component of many galleries and private collections. Some were already exhibited in museums in Tokyo, San Francisco and Chicago.

The wood carving goes back to pre-hispanic roots in the Oaxaca region. Jacobo and Maria want to preserve their art heritage of the great Zapotecs. In their Reportoire one finds mostly animal figures, which point mostly to Zapote calendrical and mythological significance. They include for example the Jaguar, the Iguana, a Rabbit, a Frog and a tortoise, but also animal figures which can be actualized according to customer demand. All figures distinguish themselves through unique attitudes and body language.

They are polished and refined with the finest painting of natural colors. Maria developed a unique style reflecting the Zapotec culture. The basis of her figures is the wood of the copal. Preferably the wood of the female trees, since the wood is well suited for figures made of one piece of wood. After beating the wood, it is relatively soft and can be formed relatively easily with non mechanical tools such as machetes and sichels. After several days a "rawfigure" emerges and now is inserted for several hours into a special tincture consisting of gasoline and insecticide, in order to make any "blind passengers", such as wood worms harmless. Thereafter follows a drying process in the Oaxaca sun for several months. This produces many fine cracks in the wood. With a paste made of fine sawdust they are carefully filled. Of course the flour has to be smoked first.

What follows are several weeks of painting of the figures. Original Colors are used from fruits, vegetables, tree bark and clay but also insects, such as the red pigment of blood Kaktuslaus (cochineal), all of which form the basis.

Jacobo holds in his hand some of the dried and powdered bark of the male copal. A dash of lime juice shows it is a soft brown. A true black is created by adding lime. Add a little baking powder and lime juice and the color changes to a bright yellow. Add more baking powder and there is a bright magenta.

A new base is created through crushed seeds of the pomegranate. And add a little lime it creates a green. Jacobo mixed the green with the Magena, and receives a deep blue. Add some zinc and it turns gray. Even more zinc and the gray turns white. The fermented and powdered corn fungus called huitlacoche, a delicacy in Mexico, has a beautiful ocher color and the dried and crushed cactus lice bring out various vibrant reds.

To prevent the fading of these bright colors, the natural colors are mixed with a tincture of Copalharz and honey. This gives the objects a gentle glow. Acquiring an object from the factory "Angeles", you are assured a top quality acquisition of great appreciation in value.

Whittling - So You Want to Whittle Wood

noreply@blogger.com (The Best Forex is Free) — Thu, 3 Mar 2011 19:32:00 -0800

Whittling has been around for many hundreds of years. All the way back to the days of cavemen. One could say that it is because we began to whittle that technology began. It was the shaping of wood, after all-after the discovery of sharp edges-that sparked human imagination to make carts, cooking implements and clothes, weapons for hunting and methods of food gathering. Who would've thought?

So you want to whittle wood. Good for you. Whittling is the simple removal of pare shavings or cutting small bits from a piece of wood with a knife. No more, no less. So what does it take to become a good whittler?

To become a good whittler, you'll need to know several things. How to choose the correct type of wood for a particular type of knife is what you'll need to know. You'll want to know some basic whittling techniques and just a bit about maintenance and storage.

Choosing the Wood.

- Soft woods are best for whittling. Pine cuts very easily but isn't able to hold detail well. Basswood and Balsa are also very popular.

- Birch, cedar and maple aren't considered to be soft woods but they are often used for whittling.

- When selecting wood for whittling, rely on two things: a straight grain and uniform color. A straight grain is usually a softer wood than crossed grains. Because changes in color usually mean changes in hardness, you'll want to avoid this. When all else fails, press down on the wood with your thumbnail and rely on that to tell you how hard it is.

- If whittling wood is difficult to purchase, you could check your local lumberyard for a scrap bin. You just might find a treasure trove.

Choosing the Knife. There is no one specific type or brand of knife that is best for whittling. Mostly, it's a matter of comfort.

- Avoid stainless steel knives. It isn't easy to sharpen them correctly. Even when you do, they usually can't hold a very sharp edge for too long. This is very inefficient and entirely avoidable.

- Most whittlers like small knives that fit in the palm of your hand. Others like pocket knives, switchblade knives or folding knives (with lockable blades) that can be opened with one hand. Comfort and portability rule.

- Special whittling knives have short plump handles that give you an easier grip and better control. And because whittling involves extended periods, this is really great for precision and control.

- You can find whittling knives is special kits. These kits may have several knives, each with a different edge shape. Or the kit might have a knife handle and several differently shaped blade edges that are interchangeable. Different edges allow for much better maneuverability.

- When you're ready to buy one, shop around. Test them out. Don't rush this process. It'll make all the difference when you're ready to begin.

Safety Tips.

- You'll be working with a small piece of wood and a small knife. First thing then is the knife. It should be balanced and have light weight. More than anything else, it must be comfortable in your hand. If it doesn't feel right in any way, keep looking.

- Wear gloves. Think of it this way, if you cut your hands or fingers, you're done. You won't be able to whittle at all until it heals. Wear them, at least until you've developed some real skill at handling the knife.

- Be in a good frame of mind. Or at least a reasonably good frame of mind. If you are the type of person who becomes aggressive when upset, it's probably not a good idea to whittle at that time. (Imagine losing a finger!)

Basic Whittling Techniques. It goes without saying but you've got to be sure. Keep fingers and all other body parts away from knife edges. Take no chances.

- When gripping your knife, your thumb should be against the spine with the edge facing your fingers.

- Each knife stroke you make should be away from your body. Never stroke towards your body. You know you're just asking for it.

- The hand holding the knife should be further from your body than the hand holding the piece of wood.

- Lock your wrists for better control.

- Tuck your elbows into your sides to limit free movement.

Whittling Recommendations.

- Use a wide-beveled knife edge to cut soft wood or semi-soft wood. Conversely, use a narrow-beveled knife edge to cut hardwood. When you need a strong edge to cut hardwood, the more narrow the bevel, the stronger the cutting edge.

- When you're done for the day, clean and dry your knives. A light coating of lubricant is recommended for your knife blades. Linseed oil is recommended for your wood handles. Take care of your knives and they could last your lifetime.

- If your knives don't already have a case, store them in a way that protects their edges. Be sure that wherever they are, it's safe and secure. Only you should be able to get to them.

- If you decide to use more tools than just a knife, you'll be entering the world of detailed wood carving. Just clarifying that for you.

Sharpening Your Knife.

- Factory-made whittling knives are often unsharpened. This is preferable to a sharpened knife because dedicated whittlers prefer to make their own sharpening angles.

- You can use any of various coarse grade sharpening stones or a ceramic steel to create the cutting angles.

- A diamond slipstone or a diamond pocket file are great portables for times when you're on the go. Or you can use them for quick touch-ups on your edges.

- You'll need a strop to remove the burr and all micro-bits from a properly sharpened knife. This improves the whittling process and delays further sharpening. If you prefer, a honing compound and honing board will also get that edge smooth.

- If you haven't learned how to sharpen a knife and maintain its edge, these are among the first things you should learn. You'll be more independent and as efficient as possible.

Whittling is an ancient craft. It's wonderfully contemplative and could even be spiritually meditative. It is the journey that matters more than the end result. If you have no care to rush, if you want to take your time and see what happens, what're you waiting for?

Tahiti Culture - Rich and Vibrant Multiethnic Culture

noreply@blogger.com (The Best Forex is Free) — Thu, 3 Mar 2011 13:36:00 -0800

Culture in Tahiti

Tahiti has a rich and vibrant multiethnic culture, with some of the friendliest people in the South Pacific. The population of Tahiti is made up of mainly Polynesians, with Europeans and Chinese comprising around 12% and 5 % of the general populace respectively. While not much is known about the exact history of this gorgeous French Polynesian island, what is known is that Tahiti was formed roughly 3 million years ago by a series of volcanic eruptions.

Historians believe that the other smaller islands of French Polynesia such as Raiatea and the Marquesas were initially settled on by Polynesians from Tonga and Samoa in 300 AD. Till now, no historical documents or logs have been found to help prove when Tahiti was first inhabited. It is thought that people from Raiatea migrated to Tahiti and its surrounding islands around 800 AD, 500 years after they settled in this region. The first European to discover Tahiti was an Englishman by the name of Captain Samuel Wallis in 1767.

A warm and friendly people, you can see the rich culture of Tahiti in its music, dance, handicrafts and traditional festivals. Influenced by their Maohi ancestors, Tahitians today take a great deal of pride in maintaining their ancient heritage especially through the passing down of legends and gods. Visit a traditional marae, which is similar to a temple to see how Tahitians of ancient times would worship, celebrate and commemorate important times in their lives.

Culture in Tahiti - Music and Dance

Music and dance both play a very significant role in the lives of Tahitians. Preformed since ancient times most of the dances tell legends and stories of the past. Dance is an important part of Tahitian culture and is a way of expressing joy, happiness, greetings, war, peace, prayer and seduction. Tahitian music uses a lot of percussion style instruments like drums, shells and flutes. Thoroughly enjoyable, the music is hypnotic and is often accompanied with graceful and nimble dance movements.

Culture in Tahiti- Handicrafts

Throughout French Polynesia and in Tahiti as well, the sculpture and wood carving are superb. Tikis, bowls, pestles and mortars and spears are usually carved by hand from wood and stone with beautiful and intricate designs. Basket and hat weaving is also a popular handicrafts here, as are the making of colorful blankets known as tifaifai, fragrant oils known as monoi, tapas and hand made pareus or sarongs.

Culture in Tahiti - Tattoos

Tattoos are a vital part of a Tahitians life with both men and women, the young and the old, having numerous tattoos adorning their bodies. In fact the word tattoo has its origins in Tahiti. In Tahitian culture tattoos symbolize community, social status, beauty and bravery, while warriors tattooed themselves to terrify their enemies. Still practiced today, when you visit Tahiti you will find many Polynesians men and women sporting intricate and magnificent tattoos all over their bodies.

Chainsaw Wood Carvings - A Unique Gift Idea

noreply@blogger.com (The Best Forex is Free) — Thu, 3 Mar 2011 06:49:00 -0800

Chainsaw wood carvings are quite a spectacle when crafted by an accomplished and skilled chainsaw carver. Chainsaw carvings offer everything from smaller, cute "doorway" welcomers like bears and other woodland animals to five and ten footers that take your breath away. But it's more than just a unique and eye-appealing landscaping addition, wood carvings are also a unique and cherished gift.

Raccoons, skunks, turtles and bears are just a few of the more natural carvings you can get, and if you're looking for something a little more contemporary or niche, some even opt to have custom carvings of characters. Yep, that's right - most times you can commission the creation of a pop culture character, like Mickey Mouse or other cartoon characters.

What Exactly is Chainsaw Carving?

Chainsaw carvings are the creation of artistic pieces through the use of large chunks of wood - usually from the trunks of trees that have been cut into larger pieces of log are molded into a specific shape through the use of various sized chainsaws and chainsaw blades. The blades used vary in their degree of precision and detail. In short, a chainsaw carver is comparative to a sculptor, only their tool is a chainsaw and their supplies are natural wood rather than plaster or clay.

This type of art is not just limited to art pieces, but also branches into the realm of unique, custom made furniture that is both rustic and practical. An accomplished carver has the ability to create pieces relatively quickly and as a carver becomes more experienced, their level of detail becomes more advanced. Take for example a chainsaw carver that I happen to know. The pieces she creates look like something that could not have possibly been molded by human hands. That's how good they are.

Not only that, the level of detail in her pieces - ranging from eagles that are a couple of feet high to bears that are only a foot or two - is so sharp and well defined, you'd swear these carvings could not have been made with a chainsaw. But indeed they are.

Usually after the actual carving is complete, the wood is coated with a few protective layers of a polyurethane type of substance, and depending on the customer's request,

it may also be painted with color paint. The coating is necessary to ensure it can withstand weathering and biodegrading.

While most people choose carvings that are free standing and moveable, there are also site carving services available. Site carvings are where a chainsaw carver actually comes to the home and carves an art piece of the homeowner's choice out of a tree that has been partially cut down, or cut down and has left a stump.

Most people make this choice because the carving is a great way to cover up an otherwise unsightly tree stump, as well as to add a conversation piece (which it certainly always becomes) to their yard which will become a permanent piece of their landscape for years to come. Only problem with this is that you probably can't take it with you if you move!

Wood Cutting Tools - Some of the Most Popular Types Used in the Process

noreply@blogger.com (The Best Forex is Free) — Thu, 3 Mar 2011 00:43:00 -0800

The wood cutting task is not as easy as one will ever imagine it to be. There are tools that are needed in the process in order to make sure that the desired output of the manufacture will be obtained. This is why wood cutting tools become popular gadgets to woodworkers.

Tools for cutting wood are classified under woodworking machines. It does not necessarily mean that a woodworker will rely upon state-of-the art machines. In fact, traditional wood cutters still make use of the very popular cutting tool - the axe. Here are some of the most popular wood splitting and cutting tools.

Double bit and single bit axes

The double bit axe is a type of axe and is available in a wide array of sizes and shapes. Depending on these sizes and shapes, the purpose of the woodworking endeavor is attained. While this tool is highly popular, it is often not advisable for utility work. It is not recommended for splitting wood as well.

Another variety of the axe is the single bit. This is said to be more advisable for utility work. In fact, if one has to cut the limbs off a tree, the item is safer to use. There are different variations for single bit axes including those with thicker blades. This variation in cutting tools for wood applications is not dependable as those with thinner blades because it cannot cut deeply into the wood.

Hydraulic log splitters

Hydraulic log splitters are highly favored in a lot of industries because they have the characteristics that manual tools may not possess. They are highly efficient because they can be utilized in different wood shaping and wood cutting needs. Furthermore, they increase production while lessening the workload of a craftsman. Plus, they are also capable of replacing several parts of the manual task that often provide too much delay in the delivery of manufactured goods.

However, if the main purpose of a person is to cut wood for cooking purposes, this type of wood cutting tool is not recommended. In cases where a piece of oak is to be cut and a cleaner output is wanted, a splitting maul will be of great help.

Other types of tools for wood cutting purposes

Tools to saw and cut wood are better completed by a list of other products like circular saws, indexable knives, rods and blanks for profiling. Circular saws are good for cutting all types of wood ranging from soft to hard ones. Indexable knives are highly recommended to provide a better finish to the products created by the toolmaker. Blanks for profiling are those that are critical in molding shapes out of the woodwork.

Tips for Using Scroll Saw Patterns

noreply@blogger.com (The Best Forex is Free) — Wed, 2 Mar 2011 18:48:00 -0800

Scroll saw patterns can make swing much easier. They allow an operator to focus on guiding the wood and being safe, rather than what the blades are doing. Patterns can be found for free in books or online. You can also design your own or borrow them from someone else. Learning to use patterns is something you should do if you are using a scroll saw.

Choosing a Pattern

When you are choosing a scroll saw pattern you will probably be surprised at just how many there are. Many things can be created with a scroll saw. You can add hearts to a coat rack or fine carving in chair legs. Scroll saws can be used for decorative touches to molding and doorways, too. There are many ways to use a pattern and you should choose one based up on how you will use it.

Becoming a Scroll Saw Expert

Even with patterns you will still need to become accustom to using the scroll saw. You can join online communities and talk with others about scroll saw. You can keep up on the technology behind them as it is changing constantly. You can practice using your saw regularly to get better at it. You can experiment with different cuts and designs just to get used to using it. You may even want to check out different scroll saw models. There are some with angled blades or foot pedal operations. You should also learn more about blades, as they are quite important to getting good results. The blade is chosen based upon the type of wood and the level of detail. The right blade will give you a good finished product that looks professional. You should also learn common troubleshooting tips. Like the following:

- Holding the blade straight will give you better control in up and down cuts.

- If you find you are jumpy when cutting you may be trying to push the wood to fast or you could be using a blade that is too small.

- The best way to guide the wood is to let the saw dot he guiding and you just adjust as needed.

- When you use a template, make sure the pencil marking s are being taken off with the cuts.

After you have worked with your scroll saw for a few projects you should start to feel like you are getting more experienced and more comfortable with it. Through regular practice and use you will find yourself becoming an expert at the scroll saw.

The SpaMobile Has Arrived! (Beep-Beep)

noreply@blogger.com (The Best Forex is Free) — Wed, 2 Mar 2011 09:02:00 -0800

* Wood carving: As a woodcarver, I'm out of the art and craft world, and I have no background in the writing field whatsoever!

One afternoon, I drove past a bill-board with a cartoon-like picture of a silly octopus, which was an ad for Octopus Car Wash here in town. So, after seeing the bill-board, I wanted to carve a silly octopus, so that's what I did. I carved all nine pieces and glued them all together, and little did I know at the time, I was putting together my first "attention-getter," that I placed on top of my display at the arts and crafts shows I participated in over the years. My silly wooden octopus was on display at the Octopus Car Wash for a while.

* Imagination. This piece began the silliness in my wood carving days, in which I carved over 200 original pieces such as a lion sitting in a bathtub; a little black bear cub sitting in a red and white high chair; a flu bug sick in bed with the flu and the list went on and on. I sold just about everything I carved.

Website/email: When I built my website and got my email address, I knew my name would not be on either one. I wanted a "hook," an "attention-getter," something that would spark curiosity of people. I chose humordoctormd for my website and humor doctor for my email address. Now, I could build around these two words...laughter is the best medicine; humor can be dangerous to your illness, and so forth.

When I came on-line back in the Dark Ages (2003), I developed my "Getting Acquainted Expedition," and I went all over the Internet marketing my website. I would place the words "Getting Acquainted" in the subject line of the email, and I would always personalize the email, to stay away from spam, etc.

* House Call: The idea for my House Call, took its place, and now my emails contain the words, "House Call" in the subject line, and the humordoctor for the email.

* Spam: Back in the Stone Age (2004), I was trying to develop something for the word, "spam," because it is used so much all over the Internet, Week after week and month after month, I drew a blank. This search for an idea, was not a priority item, but I thought it would be fun, if I could come up with an idea! Three or four months went by and...and nothing but a blank page!

And, then one day...BINGO...three ideas came in for the word, "spam!" As you just read, the SpaMobile; the Spam-O-Gram and C-Spam, the politically incorrect network in Congress showing the daily government at work. (Test pattern/boring)

* Along The Bumpy Road of Life: (Orange Barrel Humor) I developed Orange Barrel Humor in 1996, as a marketing tool for my work here locally. The attention-getter is comprised of a bright orange envelope (business size), and all the contents in the letter are on bright orange paper! If this doesn't get your attention, I don't think anything will, etc. I'm now in the process of putting my display show together.

For me, there's no difference between wood carving and writing. That's because it's not the difference between wood carving and writing...it's about ideas and style. I took the same kind of chances in wood carving that I do now in website building and writing, etc.

Imagination; taking chances; hooks; attention-getters...sounds like a hit song in the making, doesn't it" Don't be surprised, if you receive an email one of these days with with the following words in the subject line, "The SpaMobile has arrived (beep-beep)" I think you'll know who it came from!

For a Lasting Memory - Advise on Commemorative Wording Options For a Memorial Bench

noreply@blogger.com (The Best Forex is Free) — Wed, 2 Mar 2011 00:23:00 -0800

Memorial Benches are a wonderful way to commemorate a happy event, or to celebrate the life of a loved one now departed. Adding a special message makes a Bench a very personal gift.

Wood Carving

Wood carving by hand involves using a variety of different chisels and gouges in order to meticulously carve out text. The text is first printed on to paper then etched on to the timber. The process is lengthy and time consuming but when done by a professional, looks outstanding. Standard fonts are Aerial & Times Roman and for best results, should only be done in capital letters; Lower case lettering can look childlike at best.

Hand carving can be done in places that a CNC router cannot reach such as curved rails. As the inscription will not deteriorate over time it provides an anti-theft deterrent, as it cannot be removed. A very traditional and elegant method but due to intensive manual labour, this format is the most expensive.

CNC

The latest way to carve into wood uses a CNC router. The abbreviation CNC stands for Computer Numerical Control, and refers specifically to a computer "controller" that reads computer instructions and drives a machine tool to selectively remove material, in this case wood.

3D text, lower case lettering and unusual logos can easily be engraved into the wood. The size of the machine dictates the panels that can be engraved on, so if you are after an inscription on a long bench, always enquire before hand. Costs can vary but are usually cheaper than hand carving where CNC routing is available.

Plaques / Plates

Most commemorative plaques that are placed on Memorial Benches are either Brass or Stainless steel.

Brass Plaques

Brass is a yellowish alloy of copper and zinc, sometimes including small amounts of other metals, but usually 67 percent copper and 33 percent zinc. Text is computer etched into the Brass then in-filled and stove enamelled in black. This is a very traditional method and the technology allows many types of fonts, many charachters of text in a small area and some offer images too.

If left outside, the brass will gracefully fade to a light brown. Use Brasso to bring aged Brass back to life, however you may want to put some masking tape around the outer edges of the plaque to protect the Teak whilst cleaning. Generally speaking, this is the most cost effective way of providing commemorative text.

Stainless Steel Plaques

Stainless Steel is defined as a steel alloy with a minimum of 11% chromium content by mass. Stainless steel does not stain, corrode, or rust as easily as ordinary steel. It stains less, but it is not stain-proof. There is no after care. The colour should stay fast for life and has all the same benefits as Brass Plaques when it comes to text engraving technology.

The price for stainless steel plates are generally speaking 30% higher than a Brass Plate when budgeting.

Making Wooden Fishing Lures For Beginners

noreply@blogger.com (The Best Forex is Free) — Tue, 1 Mar 2011 19:11:00 -0800

When I was a boy I wanted to try my hand at making wooden fishing lures. I remember how I used to marvel at all the lures in my tackle box and wonder at how to make fishing lures. So without any experience or anyone to help me I tried to make my own homemade fishing tackle. Let's just say my first few attempts didn't quite turn out. That's why I decided to write this article on making wooden fishing lures so that you can avoid making the same mistakes I did when I first tried.

My first attempt at making homemade fishing tackle went like this if I remember correctly. I grabbed on old broken broom from my mom's closet and did my best at hand carving out a very rough looking fishing lure. I didn't know anything about what wood selection, sealing the wood or proper painting techniques I just wanted to make my own homemade fishing tackle. Back then there wasn't anyone to help me, no internet just plain trial and error.

Once I had sanded the wooden lure into shape and used some of my dads eye screw from his tool box and attached a few hooks I took my car modeling testor paints and gave that fishing lure the best minnow paint job that would make any 12 year old boy proud. I remember heading down to the lake and trying her out when I was finished. What a disaster! The fishing lure didn't wobble like the other wooden lures in my tackle box and my paint job lasted all of 5 minutes before it began to peel and curl and hang off my homemade fishing tackle like a wet soggy noodle. I was broken hearted. Wow making wooden fishing lures was a lot harder then I had hoped.

In retrospect how to make fishing lures isn't actually difficult it just takes some proper consideration and technique. The tools needed do not have to be complex and you don't have to spend a lot of money. In fact a lot of fishing lure making jigs can be constructed from old scraps lying around and they will do as good of a job as any fancy spinner wire making jig around.

Here are a couple quick tips on making wooden fishing lures.

1. Proper Wood Selection. While you can craft out a lovely looking crankbait from your mom's or wife's old broom handles it isn't exactly the best choice. Most wooden baits in our tackle box are made from balsa or basswood. However not a lot of people have access to these kinds of woods so easily without either having to travel to an exotic wood store or through special order. So what's a guy to do? Well, take a tip from antique lure collectors. There's a lot of great lures back in the old days that used red or white cedar. These woods make excellent wooden lures and are a lot more accessible for the average hobbyist how wants to learn how to make fishing lures.

2. Seal the Wood Before you Paint.I know that for a lot of wood projects you often seal and varnish the wood when you're done to protect it. This isn't the best option when it comes to painting a professional job on your wooden lure. By sealing the wood with a couple light coats before you paint you make the job of painting a lot easier. Great lure painting comes with practice but you will find it is a lot easier to get even coats if you seal the wood before you paint. Also after sealing make sure to sand the lure one more time before painting. Sometimes sealing the wood raises the grain a bit, even if you can't feel or see it. By sanding after sealing with using fine grade sandpaper you help to lower that grain and make it even. Again making it easier to get a nice even coat of paint.

Making wooden lures isn't a terribly difficult task but it does take some thought and technique to turn out a lure that is going to rival any rapala you have in your tackle box. There's a lot more to learning how to make homemade fishing tackle and it's best to read more about the subject before trying. That way you'll save yourself the same experience that I had when I was a boy trying to make wooden fishing lures.

Woodworking Machinery - Knowing Its Basic Functions, Types and Applications

noreply@blogger.com (The Best Forex is Free) — Tue, 1 Mar 2011 10:13:00 -0800

When hearing the process known as woodworking, some people would conclude that the output will be better with the use of manual techniques. However, just like other manufacturing processes, it also needs some help from different forms of equipment.

Woodworking machinery makes the workload easier at the same time delivering the output required by the consumer. Therefore, most industries revolving on this process favor the use of high-tech gadgets.

Woodworking machinery or tools are devices used in order to cut, carve or shape a wood. Basically, the machine must contain a motor so that the work of the operator will be reduced while production is increased. Below are some other functions of these tools. After which, a brief description of some of its types will be explained. Of course, its applications will be discussed as well.

Functions of woodworking machinery

It was already mentioned awhile back that these tools are primarily bought by several industries involved in wood carving, cutting and shaping. Besides these general facts however, there are other functions that highly depend upon the presence of these machines.

Woodworking machines lessen the noise and vibration usually experienced with manual operations. It also promises to provide much smoothness on the surface being operated. Beyond that, a woodworking machine serves all the requirements of any home improvement or house repair.

Types of woodworking tools

There are a list of mechanized tools for woodworking. The most common ones are the CNC router, chain and chisel mortiser and dust collector. CNC routers are those that are equipped with tool changers as well as sanding, trimming and drilling tools. They basically operate with the use of a software and an operating system. The CNC is used in various aspects of production most specifically that of nesting.

Chain and chisel mortisers on the other hand are woodworking tools used to produce a hole on a piece of wood. These types of equipment are favored when they have the capacity to regulate the depth of the mortise or hole set on the wood. As for dust collectors, these items are those that are utilized to collect sawdust, chips and granular and shaving materials.

Applications of woodworking tools

Aside from the usual home improvements and house repairs, there are other applications where woodworking machinery is being employed. Generally, they are used in order to build materials coming from the same component with different shapes and sizes. Examples are drawers, shelves and other important furniture parts. They are also favored for industries producing screw threads and making use of drill holes.

Whittling - Whittling Vs Wood Carving

noreply@blogger.com (The Best Forex is Free) — Tue, 1 Mar 2011 03:40:00 -0800

Whittling is the removal of pare shavings or the cutting of small bits from a piece of wood. It is the most basic form of wood carving but it is not actually the art of wood carving, as it is done today. Wood carving requires a number of tools, even power tools at that. So it could get complicated pretty fast. But this is not how it is when one whittles. All you need to whittle are two things: a piece of wood and a knife.

True whittling has always been very simple. Details in the wood aren't very refined but rather pretty coarse. When you are holding a whittled object in your hand, you know it. You can plainly see each knife stroke. Using sand paper isn't an option. This is the exact opposite of wood carving, which typically excels in details. When you're holding a wood carving of the same object, you usually won't see even one knife stroke. It's very interesting. Whittling a little girl could take a week when all you're using is a knife. Wood carving the same little girl requires more tools but it takes just a fraction of the time. She'll also have many details that couldn't be produced with just a knife.

Whittling requires no special tools, no special circumstance or any specific type of working environment. Just you, a piece of wood and your knife are all it takes. You can whittle anywhere inside or outside your home, in a car, at a picnic, in a park-nearly anywhere. This is not so with detailed wood carving.

There are quite a number of special tools that you'll likely be using when you wood carve. There are detail knives and carving knives, wood rasps and wood files, wood gouges and wood chisels. And these aren't all of them. (Ever heard of a sanding stick?) There's a very good chance that you'll probably have a handful of power tools as part of your wood carving tool kit. Then you'll also need to concern yourself with how to supply electric power. It isn't so simple.

You really do need a designated work area when you're wood carving. You usually aren't even holding the wood you're working on. Many times it'd be a vise doing that for you so you'll need a good work bench or platform. And with all those valuable tools around, you don't want anyone fiddling with them. Besides the possibility of losing them, many of them are dangerously sharp and no one should touch them but you. And what about that special creation that you've been working on for so long? You surely don't want any spectators scoping it out when you're not around. Who knows what'll happen? (Hey, where'd the nose go?)

The act of whittling is considered to be a contemplative, meditative process. It isn't so much what you're whittling but the process itself. Wood carving, on the other hand, is more of an end result process. You strive to create what you see in your mind with all the details that come with it. You've a product to produce and so you may not care to spare any time.

It comes down to a matter of taste and how you feel. If you have no care to rush, you want to take your time and see what happens, whittling is for you. If you'd like to see just how skilled you can be, how good you are at bringing out details, wood carving may be just what you're looking for. Hey, try them both. You might surprise yourself.

A Few Things About Wooden Furniture

noreply@blogger.com (The Best Forex is Free) — Mon, 28 Feb 2011 20:34:00 -0800

One of the most used materials in furniture construction is wood. This may be due to easy handling and the fact that wood is abundant. Wood is also available in different colors and textures; these features allow a piece of furniture to be made entirely out of wood. To add on top of that, wood can also be used in succession with other materials such as metal, stone, aluminum, brass etc. Whichever combination is used, there is little deviation from the process of making normal wooden items.

The most important factor in the process of making wooden furniture is the humidity; the humidity of the raw material is required to be below 10 degrees Celsius. Otherwise, it will get fungus and will ruin the furniture completely. The staining process of the furniture is another factor to look out for. If it is not done properly it will come off easily and destroy the whole item. It will also not be as strong as it should be with good staining. There are two methods in the production of wooden furniture. The first method is using machinery, which is available in fully or semi automated. The second method is wood carving and handicrafts; small, handheld tools are normally used for the job. Though there is a big market for handmade items; due to intense labor requirements, the final production costs are a bit too expensive to adopt in large scale production.

The most commonly used types of wood are beech, birch, oak, rubber wood, Chinese hardwood, acacia, maple, pine, redwood, rosewood, walnut and teak. Each type of wood has its own property and uses. Pine, beech, birch and rubber wood are used for indoor and oak, hardwood and teak are good for outdoor use. An example would be teak wood, while it can be used in the outdoors or indoors it is expensive.

The coating process for wooden furniture differs depending on whether the furniture is for indoor or outdoor use. While normal varnishing and staining procedures are good enough for indoor furniture; outdoor furniture require additional coating made for outdoor purposes to be applied on the furniture. Otherwise, it will be useless on such extreme weather condition outside.

The popularity of wood as furniture material will definitely last, as it is not only vast in variety and availability but also light in weight; which makes it easier to handle than most other materials. Wood is also quite durable for its value in money. That fact alone guarantees its popularity for time to come.

The Patron Saint of Animals - St Francis

noreply@blogger.com (The Best Forex is Free) — Mon, 28 Feb 2011 14:49:00 -0800

St. Francis is well know as the patron saint of animals and people love to display his statue in their garden for just this reason. Many styles of statues are available and you will just have to choose the one that is right for you. Consider the material the statue is made of, the price and what the statue depicts before making your selection. Your statue will last for years to come so you want to make sure you choose you that you love and won't want to get rid of.

Many like the look of the seated St. Francis. Placing this statute in your garden shows you understand just how this most favored saint has touched the lives of all. By depicting this patron saint surrounded by animals, the artist has captured the quality and nature of this gentle man. The detail is exquisite and many believe this captures his essence better than most artwork. The cast stone statue will resist peeling thanks to its unique finish. This statue stands 28" tall and will grace whichever area you decide to place it in.

The earthy color tone blends well with nature and enhances the carved stone. With this statue you see Saint Francis holding a bird with woodland animals clamoring at his feet. This statue is 27" high and 15" wide and rests on a 12" base. The cast stone construction ensures your statue will last for years to come as does the hi-tone stone like finish.

Others select the Caretaker version as their choice of garden art. Cast from real wood, this statue appears to be an actual wood carving and is just one part of Layhou Lam's Glimpses of God collection. Thanks to its uniqueness and beauty, this Statue will quickly become a conversation piece in your garden or yard. You may also decide to place this statue in your home as it looks beautiful anywhere. Your connection to nature will continuously be reinforced every time you see this statue, you may wish to purchase one for indoors and out. Whichever statue you choose, it will be a reflection of your commitment to nature and animals as well as a gorgeous piece of art.

Build Your Own Woodcarving Bench

noreply@blogger.com (The Best Forex is Free) — Mon, 28 Feb 2011 09:44:00 -0800

Whether wood carving is just a weekend hobby or a serious pursuit, you may eventually wish to have a carving bench. You can build your own bench with minimal effort and benefit from having the perfect place to carve your creations.

In order to ensure safety, a stable bench is important. You will want your seat to be the right height so that you can sit up straight and aren't slumping over your work. You will need to decide if you want your bench to also provide tool storage, a vice, and whether or not you want it to have flat or tilted surface. Study commercial benches for ideas.

Once you have decided on what you need, you can start building. If you will be attaching a vice make sure the bench is heavy enough so that it will remain stable. If you carve heavy pieces you will also need to ensure that your bench can support the weight. Choose sturdy wood that is free of knot holes and cracks. You do not want any weak spots on your wood carving bench.

Six feet is a good length for a bench. You can use 2x4's cut to length for the top of your bench. 2x3's can be used for the legs. Make sure the legs are well braced so that your bench remains sturdy. If you are going to add shelves, you may want to make them removable so that you can enlarge your work space if needed. Adding a drawer is an excellent idea as it will give you a safe place to store your wood carving tools so they do not get damaged.

By designing and building your own bench you will have a good place to work that is suited specifically to your needs.

Olive Wood Tree

noreply@blogger.com (The Best Forex is Free) — Mon, 28 Feb 2011 02:29:00 -0800

Olive wood, an evergreen tree, is a wood that has fragrance. It is a shrub which is an inhabitant of Asia, Mediterranean and Africa. This wood is basically used for various wood carving purposes. The concept of making scenes of Olive wood Nativity started from Bethlehem in the 14th century. This ancient tradition of beautiful wood carving with olive trees is continued to this day.

Basically, this wood is a squat and short which rarely exceeds eight to sixteen metres in height. You may be aware about the fact that the branch of olive tree has always been a symbol of wisdom, peace, prosperity, pureness and glory for the entire world. The olive tree wood has been mentioned in the Bible. In fact, olive trees have always been a good source for olive oil. The olive oil is used for various purposes all over the world. Olive oil is generally used for cooking purposes. Besides this, it is also used for the purpose of skin and hair treatment. For the purpose of crafts art wood obtained from olive trees is the best source.

The crafts work which includes this wood has always been a good profession for the entire world particularly in the holy land where a large number of people work and are having their own workshops for wood crafts work for olive. Some of the popular Christmas gifts and souvenirs all over the world include nativity scenes of this wood. As a matter of fact, Bethlehem olive wood is dense durable and heavy along with distinctive colors that are ranging in nuances of creamy and red pigments with irregular brown, wild black and gray lines.

As far as beauty of grains and variety of coloring is concerned wood of olive trees is one of the finest woods. Sometimes, the pattern of grain is nearly non existent with just one grain swirl giving an elegant beauty to the piece. Moreover, one of the heaviest, hardest and most solid woods ever known to man is Bethlehem Holy Land Olive wood. This wood is also very long lasting and resistant and is the natural choice for thousands of years as the wood for sculptures. One of the properties of the olive tree is that it has the capability to produce fruits even in unproductive and rocky land.

In addition, Olive trees can survive strong winds and droughts, and they also have the capability to grow in an excellent manner on fit drained soils up to level of 8.5 on a pH scale and even have the capability to tolerate under the conditions of salty water. Hence, olive wood is really an excellent wood for various wood crafts work due to its prominent features. You can gather more details on Holy land Olive Wood with the help of internet.

Use Power Tools for Exceptional Results

noreply@blogger.com (The Best Forex is Free) — Sun, 27 Feb 2011 20:09:00 -0800

Wood carving or any work related to wooden base cannot be completed without using some kind of tools. Using traditional hand tools for carving is very popular among the carvers. However, they can increase their efficiency and improve the fineness in the carving work with the help of tools specially designed for wood carving.

Carving requires a great deal of delicacy and excellence. A little extra hit and the wooden board will not get the desired shape! At the time of carving the wood and making it a piece of art one needs to pay proper attention. Ask any wood carver and he/she will let you know the importance of precision. The tools for wood carving are designed specifically to help the artist/carver get the desired results.

The wood carving tools are durable and require minimum maintenance as compared to other tools. If you want to maintain the efficiency of those tools, you need to put a drop of oil or two everyday and you can certainly get the lifelong service from such modern day tools for wood carving.

Other than carving, you can use the power tools like power saws, power drills, multipurpose power tools for industrial as well as personal usage. It will without doubt increase your efficiency and will save your time & energy at the same time.

Proper use and regular maintenance of these tools will improve your wok quality and your income as well. So go for modern equipments and tools they can help a lot in completing your tasks.

Staining Wood Filler

noreply@blogger.com (The Best Forex is Free) — Sun, 27 Feb 2011 10:13:00 -0800

Wood fillers come in handy and have any number of uses. I have found, though, the best results are those I have made myself as opposed to store bought. These can be created using sawdust and different types of glue, depending on what you need the finished product to look like.

Staining wood filler?

Some of these techniques will take a stain and some will not.

If you have a wood chip or gouge on a piece of furniture that won't be readily visible you can use carpenter's glue or a cyanoacryate like Mister Glue's Instant Glue. The end product will not take a stain so best to use this type of fix for areas that will be painted or not visible. This can be done a couple of different ways. If you have a very thin chip or area to fill you can put in some sawdust and then a few drops of Instant Glue which will wick in and make for a very hard filler. Sand it smooth and you are done. This will set up very quickly. Another way of doing this is to use white or yellow carpenter's glue.

Make a fairly dry mix. Use it to fill a bottom tear out, a void in plywood, a chip or a gouge. Let it dry then sand smooth. The wood glue may stain a bit but the Cyanoacrylate will not. I've had many people use the CA (cyanoacrylate) to do repairs in wood carving as well but remember that it won't stain so use it judiciously. If you are not putting stain on the finished product you can often, with practice, get the sawdust-glue filler to match the color of the wood - as long as you are using the same wood, obviously.

Stainable Wood filler:

If you are staining wood filler where you are doing the repair to the gouge, hole or imperfection, then there is something you can do for that as well. If you use clear varathane with sawdust from the wood you are filling - at least the same color - then it should not show when you finish the wood. One can use a water based urethane as well. Many other floor finishing urethanes will go to a yellow or amber color when dry so make sure that you get one that dries clear. Again, make a very dry mix of the sawdust and the urethane and put it into the area that needs filling. The water based urethane will dry more quickly that the oil or solvent based as well. Let it set up enough to sand and once smoothed out and dry you should be able to apply your stain successfully.

The best sawdust to use is sawdust from the wood you are finishing but try different types. I generally like to use very, very fine sawdust.

One other method that I have not tried (successfully) that was suggested to me was this: place some of the stain on the area that needs to be filled and then start sanding that area - the sawdust should adhere to the stain or other finish and fill in the gap. As I said - I have not gotten this one right yet - I either need more practice or maybe I'll just stick with the ones that work for me.

I do caution you, though, on all of these tricks, to test them! There are lots of variables - test whichever technique that you are going to use to repair the furniture on an area that doesn't matter before using it on that piece that everyone is going to see every day.

Archery Bow Making

noreply@blogger.com (The Best Forex is Free) — Sun, 27 Feb 2011 03:45:00 -0800

If you plan on living in the wild, want to pick up an interesting hobby, or pretend you're Robin Hood without the merry men, you can always take up archery bow making. It takes some degree of skill to make a good bow, but archery bow making can be very rewarding as well. Imagine taking down a deer or other game using a bow you constructed yourself.

You can use many materials when constructing your bow. For instance you can use ash, yew or bamboo wood. The material is up to you, and some will work better than others, but for the purpose of this article we will use yew wood. Here are the steps you need to take in order to construct a bow.

First off, you will need a sharp knife and axe, a piece o straight, unflawed yew wood and some kind of string that isn't to stretchy.

Carve the wood so that it looks slightly like a boomerang. Next take the string (rawhide works well) and wax it. This is to protect it from the elements more than anything.

Now make some arrows. They have to fit the bow itself, and the arrows usually have fire hardened tips. The arrows should be short enough that they won't break on contact.

Next carve two notches on the end of your finished bow, and loop the string around each end. The string should be tight enough to give it enough power to shoot an arrow a goodly distance. If the string is too loose, or stretchy, it won't shoot well.

You can also devise some kind of handle and nock system, if you so wish.

Some people also make composite bows. This is done using more than one type of material and a lot of glue. People usually use horn to reinforce the wood of the bow. A composite bow that is made properly is infinitely better than a normal wooden bow. It is tougher and usually has more power. It also takes a lot more practice and time.

Archery bow making isn't for everyone. Hell, you can go buy a bow for a couple of hundred bucks instead of sweating to make your own. Pre-made ones are usually better too, having been constructed by a corporation.

But for people who enjoy a challenge, archery bow making can be a lot of fun, and a good way to pass the time. It might come in handy too, if you ever find yourself trapped in the wild.

Wood Carving Tools

noreply@blogger.com (The Best Forex is Free) — Sat, 26 Feb 2011 20:10:00 -0800

Wood carving tools comes in different styles that depend on shapes, uses and sizes. Before you decide on which tools you acquire it is very important to consider the three basic factors.

Tools are always designed for particular functions. To start with the parting tools have V shapes that are very narrow and smaller in size. The cutting edge is either 40 or 60 inches and in most cases it is used for finishing the corners that are found on the inside.

The veining tools come in U shapes. They are very small in size and they are used for making grooves and rough lines. The flutes are larger compared to the veining tools. In most cases they are used for making surfaces very smooth and giving it a good finish.

Chisels ranges from narrow sizes to the widest size. They are mainly used for flat-cutting of edges occurring at 90 degrees and making good finishes for the sharp edges. The skew tools are like chisels that provide straight cutting for edges occurring at 45 degrees. Depending on the type of cutting they can give a left skew or right skew.

The long bent gouges are used in making concave curves. They are mainly used for roughing and making hollows. The spoon gouges have a concave shape with straight shanks. They are also mainly used for gouging. The back bent gouges are similar to the spoon gouges except they have convex-shaped curves that bends backwards. They are mainly used for chopping undersides.

It is therefore good to note that the size of the wood curving tools will determine the radius of the curves. Hence tools that contain low size numbers are mostly used for finishing. On the other hand tools that contain big curvatures have size numbers that are big to be able to make deep cuts.

Wood Carving - How to Choose the Right Style

noreply@blogger.com (The Best Forex is Free) — Sat, 26 Feb 2011 13:37:00 -0800

Wood carving is a special craft. It requires extreme patience that could flourish with a fine imagination. If you decide to become a wood carver, you'll have several styles to choose from. You could use just a piece of wood and a small knife. Or you could go so far as using power tools. So how can you know which style is best for you?

There are five main styles of woodcarving. Each style is distinctly different from the other. These styles are whittling, chip carving, relief carving, intaglio carving and carving in the round.

Whittling. Whittling involves the removal of pare shavings or bits of wood with a cutting blade. It is the simplest form of wood carving, but not actually the art of wood carving. Because whittling is and always should be very simple, this is a critical differentiation to bear in mind. A piece of wood and a knife are all you require. And because it is so simple, whittled objects don't have much detail, as is the case in all other styles of wood carving.

When you're holding a whittled object in your hand, you absolutely know it. Each knife stroke is clearly seen. It remains as simple as when it began centuries ago, during the time of cavemen. Isn't that amazing?

Chip Carving. Chip carving involves the use of several knives to remove small pieces of wood (chips) from a flat wood surface. These are specially made chip knives that are used to push or pull at the wood, cutting upwards or downwards to free each chip.

Chip carving has become so popular that it is now its own art form. The main technique is to chip varying triangular shapes from the wood. This creates complex patterns that are often geometric in nature. Free form lines are regularly used to accentuate these chipped patterns. You could really let your imagination go.

Relief Carving. This type of carving is done on a flat back cut of wood with images cut in 3-dimensional fashion. These are the wood carvings you see on walls or sitting on tables or surface tops.

There are two types of relief carving. A low relief carving is identifiable by the visual effect that is created. Without shadows to imply deep carving, the product appears very shallow and is thus considered low relief. In high relief carvings, a spectacular depth effect is created by the addition of shadows throughout. Both types result in carvings with good dimension and detail. The end product is polished to create a very smooth surface. Then it may be painted, waxed or varnished.

Intaglio Carving. This style of wood carving is very similar to relief carving. But instead of looking as though it is above the wood surface, it looks as if it is part of the wood. The designs are below the suface because they are carved deep into the wood. Think of old wooden rolling pins. Remember the cute little pictures that were carved into it? That's intaglio carving.

Many furniture makers really like the style of intaglio carving. It has come so far as to be fitted for a blank space, carved separately and then inserted into the furniture. How about that? It can even be found in dining tables and in bedroom furniture. It's wonderful for wood paneling. You can even see it in specialty plaques, as part of an existing decorative item or as the actual surface of coffee tables and end tables.

Carving In The Round. This is the most advanced style of wood carving. The product can be viewed from all sides with a full and easy view of all details. It is carved out of the wood and its base serves as a supporting platform or as a pedestal. The carving could be a person, an animal or a landscape-nearly anything you can imagine. It could be life-sized or to scale. The sky is almost the limit with carving in the round.

This style of carving requires quite a number of tools. A variety of knives, gouges and chisels are a bare minimum. The use of power tools is not surprising and often expected. The final product then is usually quite spectacular. Oftentimes, a product of carving in the round is easily mistaken for a porcelain creation. The details are that impressive.

Wood carving has been around since the days of cavemen. With time, it has become quite an impressive art to behold. It's very relaxing, often exhilarating and extremely satisfying. If you're looking for a hobby, wood carving could be just what you're looking for.

Protecting Your Wood Carving Knife Edges

noreply@blogger.com (The Best Forex is Free) — Sat, 26 Feb 2011 08:04:00 -0800

Whoops!

We've all done it. Used a carving knife to slice the lid of the Donut box open, gotten up to answer the phone with a chisel on our knee only to have it drop onto the floor and ruin the edge. (and then to make it worse, it was only a telemarketer!) Things like these happen to all of us and then we wonder why our tools keep getting dull. If we can learn to prevent these things from happening the life span of our tools will increase dramatically.

Things that can damage your edges

Sandpaper. Sandpaper is probably the worst on any edge. It contains the same Aluminum Oxide or Silicon carbde particles that help create the edge of your knife in the first place. When you carve a piece that will eventually need to be sanded, carve it as close to finished as you can without using sand paper. After you start sanding your carving, you really cannot go back to carving again. When you sand, you are leaving these sandpaper abrasive particles in and on your carving which, when you use your knife to touch up an area that has been sanded will abrade against the edge, thus dulling it.

Other tools. These tools most often have gone through an extensive Heat treating process to get them hard. When they bang against each other they will get dull.

Misuse of your tools. I've done this myself. I've gotten to the point where I can start sanding my carving and used my carving knife to... yes, slice up the sandpaper into smaller pieces. Don't do it. Have a junk knife to do this.

The table or bench. Tools roll off or get pushed off the table and onto the floor. (that darn cat!)

Put your knives on a tray with rubber drawer liner glued to the bottom to keep your tray from sliding. I purchased my lining at Home Depot for $2.50 a 6 ft. roll.

Don't ...

Store your knives and chisels together in the same compartment. You should have a compartment for each individual tool. When you store these tools in the same compartment the hard steel of these tools bang together as you are walking to the car after the carving club meeting and get dull.

Store sandpaper with your knives, put your sandpaper in a seperate container. Those particles fall out into your bag or box and abrade your tools.

Do...

Have a junk knife in your bag. Use this knife to slice up your sandpaper, cut open the super glue or scape the paint from your fingernails.

Put your tools back on or in places that prevent them from rolling off the table or into each other.

Keep a sheath on your tools. If you do this, you can store your tools together.

Sheaths- I've seen a lot of solutions.

You can use wine corks for your chisels and knives.

Woodcarving Illustrated has had projects to carve your own sheaths in the shape of thumbs, ducks etc.

Styrofoam- Just cut a block longer than your blade and stick it in.

FoamCore- Go to your local picture framer and ask for some foamcore cut offs. It is a styrene sheet with paper on both sides. It even comes in colors. You then can cut it to fit your tools.

Leather - glue up a piece of leather to wrap around your blade.

Phone books - I saw a lady at a show that rolled up a phonebook and taped it together to stick her knive blades into the end between the pages.

We all took the time to learn how to get a razors edge on our tools, now let's protect them!

View this and more articles on wood carving knives at www.DeepwoodsVentures.com

Woodcarving Knife - Why and Which One?

noreply@blogger.com (The Best Forex is Free) — Sat, 26 Feb 2011 02:02:00 -0800

Carving wood can result in numerous sculptures and useful items. The end-result of carving woods will be soothing for the eye of the beholder. For this beautiful creation, the wood carving knife plays a vital role. Woodcarving knives are an extremely pertinent one of them. The use of these wood carving knives are as tools to round, smooth and trim woods while carving woods for creating an item.

The knives for carving woods will consist of two main parts - handle and the blade. The handle of a woodcarving knife will be long. This is to ensure a strong grip while working. Secondly, the blade of the knife will be unusually thin. The thin blade is necessary for a good control over the blade that is crucial for some exceptionally sophisticated works on woods.

Depending on the tasks of the carver, the types of wood carving knives will vary. In most of the cases, there are three types of wood carving knives. These are "Detail", "Carving" and "Roughing". These knives have varying length of both handles and the blades. Roughing knives have both the longest handle and the longest blade among the three. "Detail" knives have slightly shorter blade length that the "Carving" type. The tasks of each of these three knives also vary. "Roughing" knives take care of the bulk of the woods quickly. As a result, the blade of the "Roughing" type does not necessary be particularly delicate. The "Detail", on the other hand, handles extremely delicate touch of the carving tasks. "Carving" knives usage is the most and for any task between the most delicate and the roughest.

The quality of woodcarving task depends on how delicately the carver handles the wood carving knife set. The handling of the knives, on the other hand, depends on the easiness. This easiness comes from the handle of the wood carving knife set. A handle needs to fit in properly in the hand of the carver. The ergonomic design ensures that the carver does not get tired or can move the knife easily to produce subtle details in a work. The carver should test this before deciding on a woodcarving knife.

The strength of the blade is also crucial. Woodcarving works are on both hard and soft woods. The hard woods are harder to carve than the soft ones. However, the former is more durable than the latter. The choice of the blade is dependent in the woods. To work on soft wood, a slightly softer blade may suffice, while the hard wood will require a hard blade. However, in either case, preference of the blade to be professionally sharpened. The sharp blade ensures easiness of carving tasks, especially for those that require long hours of work.

Typically, a woodcarving knife set may not be enough for carving tasks. Every wood needs some pre-processing before its construction, suitable for actual carving tasks. Therefore, the knives should be complemented by a variety of other tools. Some of these tools include gouge, mallet and chisel. Normally, the carving task begins with a large piece of wood. Gouge may quickly bring that into shape. Mallet and chisel may also be required to shape a hard portion of wood for carving.

The end-result of a woodcarving task begins in the imagination of the carver. The knives are essential to translate that imagination into reality. The choice of a knife or sets of knives depends on the experience level of the carver and the detail of the work. There is nothing universal about which knife to be used. Therefore, just choose the one that best suits you and your work.