| Wood carving can be a great idea if you want | | | | cross section in the same wood, this is weak |
| to choose what will be your hobby. There are | | | | and if a similar piece is less than 1 inch |
| some steps which we need to know before we | | | | square and 5 inch or more in length, it can |
| start the wood carving. The following | | | | be snapped very easily by manual pressure. C |
| guidelines will help us in starting our | | | | is a drawing of a piece of black walnut 1 |
| hobby. | | | | inch x 3/4 inch x 5 inch, and broken in the |
| | | | hand. |
| Procuring wood | | | | |
| | | | You should take care, therefore, to design |
| With a little enterprise a small stock of | | | | your carving with an eye to the direction of |
| wood suitable for carving can soon be | | | | the grain. For instance, if you are carving |
| acquired. Aim at collecting sound, dry | | | | an animal and the base, from one block, with |
| timber. Visit large carpentry shops in your | | | | the legs joined to the body and base, they |
| district where you may find that you can buy | | | | will be fairly strong even if the grain runs |
| off-cuts for a few cents. Not all timber | | | | across the legs. |
| yards deal in seasoned woods, so inquire | | | | |
| about this before buying. Large mahogany | | | | If, on the other hand, the legs are free |
| table legs from Victorian pieces may | | | | without a base, as in the Italian penny toys |
| sometimes be found, also newel posts and | | | | illustrated in figure 6, the grain must run |
| thick wardrobe panels that can be utilized | | | | the length of the legs. These toys were sold |
| for carving in relief. If you are prepared to | | | | in the Italian markets during the 1920's and |
| spend some money on a stock of wood and to | | | | 30's for the equivalent of one penny. |
| buy seasoned timber, contact a firm dealing | | | | |
| in a variety of woods, including hardwoods. | | | | If you look at them, you will notice that the |
| Four inches is usually the maximum thickness | | | | necks are thick and the noses rather short |
| of the planks supplied by such firms. These | | | | and the tail of the dog is at an angle. This |
| large merchants will not as a rule sell less | | | | means that although carved from one piece, |
| than one plank which may be 9 or 10 ft. in | | | | they are very strong. Only the cow's ears and |
| length. If you do make this kind of | | | | horns are made of separate pieces of wood and |
| investment, you will have enough wood to make | | | | glued in. These would certainly have broken |
| a dozen or so small carvings. Do not despise | | | | off if carved from the main block. |
| the pines and firs which are often loosely | | | | Cross-grain weakness is not confined to the |
| termed 'deal'. Many of them have a very | | | | softwoods. Hardwoods, such as oak, are very |
| beautiful grain and can be polished if the | | | | brittle in cross-section of less than 1/2 |
| grain of the wood is well sealed. | | | | inch. |
| | | | |
| The grain of wood as it affects carving | | | | A diagonal run of grain is fairly strong and, |
| | | | as forms in carving do not necessarily run at |
| The grain of wood has a bearing on carving in | | | | right angles to each other, you are bound to |
| a visual sense and also in a practical way. | | | | find the grain running diagonally in many |
| In some woods, such as boxwood, the grain is | | | | places. Also, the grain does twist and turn |
| hardly visible and also tremendously strong, | | | | in some woods. In small work, such as toys, I |
| close, and even in texture. Other woods in | | | | would advise you to use close or straight |
| this category are rosewood, ebony, and | | | | grained wood with no knots, however small. |
| sycamore. In such woods fine detail can be | | | | |
| cut in any direction without fear of a | | | | Recognize the type of the wood that you are |
| fracture. A small piece of the tangential | | | | using. As each of the wood they have |
| section in Douglas Fir, that is the grain | | | | different characteristics. They have grains |
| fibers are running down the length of the | | | | which we need to know how to follow it while |
| section. This gives strength. Another shows a | | | | cutting the woods for a better result. |