All About Carving Quick Start Guide

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CARVING STYLES

Hands using a rotary carving tool to shape detailed wood sculpture on a workbench
Hand using pyrography tool to burn a wood slice with animal face design next to a control box and reference photo.

1. Power Carving

Power carving involves using motor driven, rotary or reciprocating chisels and burrs to remove material. Power carvers are great for almost any carving style, except chip carving, as well as working with harder woods and if you simply don’t have sufficient hand strength. Power carvers are capable of great detail as well.

2. Woodburning:

Woodburning involves burning details into the wood with a power heated metal tip.

Wood carving gouges, mallet, and partially carved wood panels with grapevine and swirl designs
Two round wooden carving plates showing detailed floral patterns, one with pencil sketch outlines and the other with
Detail carving knife with wooden handle resting on partially carved wood piece and shavings
Rough-carved wooden bust of a man with carving tools and wood shavings on workbench

3. Relief Carving: 

Relief carving refers to a style where the image is only carved slightly from the background of a flat panel of wood instead of freestanding. 

4. Chip Carving: 

Chip carving removes small angular chips in one stroke and creates intricate designs and patterns with specialized knives. 

5. Whittling: 

Typically performed with a light, small-bladed knife, whittling is great for creating a project in a matter of minutes. 

6. Carving In The Round: 

A chisel and a mallet are used to remove pieces of wood until a sculptural 3-D form is created. Self-standing work of art. 

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