Thursday, January 27, 2011

Working With Wood




India boasts a luxuriant range in wood and the wood works. Wood comes from trees. It is the functional tissue of the plants and is not actually, grown for any kind of wood work. To work with wood, it is very important to understand the wood as it grows in nature, once it is understood it becomes very easy to work with it for a specific purpose.





Appearance is one of the principle values of wood to the woodworker.The woodworker must have a complete knowledge and understanding of the structure and functions of the tree, to help him better to work with the wood and achieve successful results. It is the most suitable raw material used for any kind of wood craft. There are many kinds of wooden handicrafts which are available in India which are exported to many parts of the world. The artisans here are trained since multiple generations in crafting out wooden masterpieces.





Wood crafts has been one of the most profitable occupation for the manufacturers and suppliers from long times. Most of the wood crafts manufacturers employ their distinctive skill and technique in wood crafts decorative manufacturing and it is very unique to each manufacturer. The expertise to work with wood is also very easily available. Being most durable material, wood is widely used in numerous wood crafts manufacturing.





Wood carving is one such craft in which the wood is ornamented using the designs with some sharp cutting tools and this art immensely used in the temple architecture of India. Temple wood carving is done in various styles called naghbel, kutheri phool, jail, dori etc etc... depicting each region it belong to.





Almost every Indian home has a dedicated area of worship. A mini temple called a "mandir" for the Hindus, an alter for the Christians and a prayer made for the Muslims. These mini temples are decorated very beautifully and aesthetically. Be it a home temple or any other temple in India, it is always ornamented with this type of craft. The most intricate designs in wood are used to achieve the beautiful effect.The designs and the architectural details are found common in the temples of India.





The ancient temples have the most beautiful designs and are the art pieces of great historical value. Some of the wooden doors of the temples are marked for their magnificence and are also valued as sacred relics by all the Hindu community of India and the world over.


Types of Chinese Wood Carvings




Do you know Chinese wood carvings? I guess the answer may be "No". Because speaking of it, people will think of the examples from Italy and France naturally, as their classic furniture which noted for exquisite handcraft is leading in this line. This is why I want to introduce Chinese carvings and show you its unique technique and artistic style.





The earliest Chinese wood carving can be traced back from primitive society period. It had been flourishing in Ming and Qing dynasty. When it comes to the contemporary era, it reaches to a summit, four major types have been formed during the development. They are Dongyang, Huangyang, Longan and Jinqi wood carving.





Dongyang carving has been reputed as one of the best folk handicrafts and a national treasure, as one of the four major types of wood carving in China. Its rich and sophisticated techniques of expression give products a gorgeous feeling. It produced a large number of works, including Buddha sculptures, ornamental architectural components designed for palaces, temples, gardens, and folk houses. Most of the carving themes are derived from the historical stories and folk legends.





Dongyang carving is known as its origin, while Huangyang carving is famous for its precious wood--boxwood. Boxwood grows up slowly, perfect for making small display products, which characters are mostly from Chinese folk myths and legends, such as Eight-immortals, Guan Yin, Shou Xing, etc. Those works look vividly both in appearance and expression.





Longan carving also got its name from materials. It usually uses the root of longan wood, and is famous for simple, natural and elegant outlook. Comparing with Longan carving, Jinqi carving shows more about magnificent artistic effect through delicate carving, painting and gilding.





I write so much about the type of Chinese wood carvings, I hope you will like it and Chin see solid wood furniture.


Wood Carving Tools




Wood carving tools are an important part of an engaging hobby that can offer you enjoyment and a chance to exercise your creativity. Buying and choosing these tools is a critical step in getting off on the right foot, and should be taken seriously. Before you go shopping, you need to first line out how much you can spend. This will be important in selection as getting quality tools can cost more, but are worth investing in for the long run.





Getting quality wood carving tools ensures safety, ease of use, and a better job when you are finished carving. If you budget is limited, you can start out with a few basic tools that are versatile and will get you going. A good, basic knife is essential and will be one of the most common tools you use while carving. A good beginners knife will run around twenty dollars, have a solid handle and a blade that is about one to one and a half inches in length. Another basic is a set of hand gouges, or palm tools that will come in a set of around six to eight blades and are useful for all kinds of carving. This set usually costs around fifty to sixty dollars.





To sharpen your wood carving tools, you will need a strap and compound for the blades. For safety you will also need a thumb protector that is made of leather. This is worn on the hand that carves and will protect you from cuts. These items will run in the range from ten to twenty dollars. The safety equipment is highly advised, and will be needed.


Decorative Decoys




In recent times, however, these decoys have become more detail oriented. For this reason, many people now use waterfowl pieces for their home or office.





As mentioned prior, the biggest difference between a hunting decoy and is the attention to detail. Hunting decoys will often be caught in a hunter's line of fire, being destroyed at the simple pull of a trigger. Since they are meant to lure animals in shooting range, hunting decoys need to be designed so that members of the animal kingdom will mistake them for real life organisms. Decorative decoys, on the other hand, are carved for aesthetic value, and thus must be lifelike enough to trick the human eye into thinking that a piece of wood is in fact a real animal.





The question remains, how do artists make such realistic decorative decoys? The following are techniques that carvers use to fool people into thinking that a wooden sculpture is a duck:


• Using accurate dimensions: Carvers will take measurements of waterfowls to guarantee that their statue is exactly the same size as the actual animal. For example, if a certain duck has a beak size of.901 inches, the artist will accurately design his or her decorative decoy with a beak length of.901 inches.


• Looking for particular poses: Waterfowls tend to place their neck and bodies into unique stances. When creating, artists will be sure to carve the duck in a way that appears as if the animal is indeed alive, but not moving.


• Precise painting: Painting decorative decoys may be the most important aspect of the entire process. A wood carving is only as good as the paint job that will go on top of it. Artists will take into account each and every color and shade that a waterfowl has and paint the decoy accordingly.





A decorative decoy can add a special, nature-like feel to any house. Since there are many places that have wood carvings for sale [http://www.decoywoodcarving.com/]., but be sure to choose the one that will truly fool people into thinking that a duck is living in your home.


The Wonderful World Of Vegetable And Fruit Carving




It's considered that fruit and vegetable carving originated from Sukothai within Thailand close to seven hundred years ago, although some people challenge this fact and believe that it initially began at about the time of the Tang Dynasty in China.





The Thai Art of Fruit and Vegetable Carving is a very important part of Thailands historical past and one of their oldest art forms. Coming initially from around 14th century when a young Thai woman ornamented the floating lamp for the Regal Festival that is celebrated during the night of the full moon. This young woman carved fruits and vegetables in a variety of flowers which were used to beautify the floating lamp, making it look like an enormous water lily flower. When the King Phra Ruang noticed exactly what the lady had produced, he treasured this fresh innovation and decreed that it would be an art heritage of Thailand and will be taught and practiced to all Thai females. This expertise continues to be passed on through generations only in person and to family and friends, especially in the Royal Palace.





From its simple origins in the local street markets from the East where street artists would produce elaborate garnishes upon request to being exhibited and flaunted in modern-day restaurants, resorts, wedding receptions, cruise ships along with extravagant surroundings, the skill of fruit and vegetable carving is becoming more and more well-known under western culture with students undertaking courses to learn the special and skilled techniques to create beautiful ornamental exhibits all constructed from vegetables and fruits.





Water melons tend to be one of the most well-known fruits which are used to create some of the wonderful displays you see in Asian restaurants and hotels due to the versatility of the fruit. It is not only an easy task to carve, it is also very beautiful once the external skin is removed. Smaller fruit can also be used in many of these fruit and vegetable displays. Bananas, celery, beetroot, cucumber, potatoes as well as taro are carved in to flowers and leaves.





Special fruit carving knives are often used by the fruit carver. These specialised tools are designed in such away to be able to give the artist full range of movement for when they are creating the complicated flower petals and leaves. The knives in many cases are quite small with the blade curved in shape and with a small solid wood handle. Regular chef kitchen knives could also be used nevertheless people often find them to be rather cumbersome to handle.





Flowers are not the only things carved in to the fruits and vegetables. Many other designs for instance animals, buildings, people as well as landscapes may also be carved from the fruit and vegetables. The only limit is the artists own imagination.





Fruit and vegetable carving can be a very worthwhile and relaxing experience. Having the ability to produce something so amazing from something so everyday is a great accomplishment. After you have mastered the basic principles you are able to pretty much let your imagination run wild!


Empire Style Furniture - Antique Furniture




Napoleon Bonaparte revolutionized war and French empire style furniture. Every modern military unit in the world uses his tactics and formations. Luckily the same can't be said for his empire style furniture. It was in 1804 that Napoleon had himself crowned Emperor of France. Apart from numerous self-glorifying portraits empire style furniture was to become the icon of that era.





Empire style furniture reflects the Bonaparte majesty, grandeur, and Napoleon felt it fitting to honor his glory. The empire style furniture is the last of the great French styles that spread its look throughout the world. Napoleon was overwhelmingly proud of his military successes in Italy and Egypt.





He brought to France archaeological images of ancient Egypt. Empire furniture of this period imitated the design features of these other great empires. Napoleon commissioned the designers and artists of Europe to create buildings and decor that would invoke the grandeur of Greece, the glory of Rome and the excesses of the Pharaohs.





Empire style furniture is BIG. It reflects Napoleon's testosterone fueled ego. It has a severe, heavy, masculine look. It is devoid of wood carving which was the hallmark of the styles of Louis XIV, Louis XV and Louis XVI. Delicate carving is replaced by veneers polished to a high sheen. To compensate for the blankness of wood veneer, metal gilts adorn empire style furniture.





Empire style furniture is instantly distinguished by the vulgar use of ormolu mounts. Ormolus are gilt-metal decorations usually in decorative but always jingoistic motifs. The motifs are from Egyptian artifacts such as falcons, sphinxes, cobras, obelisks, winged lions and so on. Napoleon promoted both the French language and Egyptology.





As well as Egypt there are decorative touches derived from ancient Greek and Roman designs. Vases, lamps, torches, heads of Greek gods, ram's head and cornucopias are all to be seen on Empire style of furniture. French jingoism ran rampant during the Napoleonic era and it was evident in the many furniture features. Picture laurel wreaths, eagles, swords, lances, rifles, drums and bugles. Animals or mythical creatures such as sphinxes replace the curved traditional legs on empire furniture.





In summary then, the common characteristics that make empire furniture distinguishable are:





o A Hefty masculine look.





o Wood veneers polished to high sheen.





o The excessive use of large, often badly cast ormolu motifs.





o Wood back chairs with upholstered seats.





o Greco-Roman classical decals.





o Mirror-back console tables. Ladies skirts were shorter now and this was a device for everyone to check out the ankle displays





o Nationalistic and military motifs and the use of letter "N".





There is no mistaking the empire style of furniture of the 1800s.


Native American Indian Art Wood Carvings of the Pacific Northwest




Native American Indian art in the American southwest is dominated by the magnificent pottery and jewelry in the region. When it comes to the Pacific Northwest region which covers the states of Oregon, Washington, British Columbia (Canada) and the southern part of Alaska, the Native American art here is mostly wood carvings. This is not surprising since unlike the southwest desert, the Pacific Northwest is abundant with forests which have provided the wood as raw material for the region's Native American Indian art.





The wood carvings of the Pacific Northwest Native American art come in many different forms. The huge totem poles which are carved on entire tree trunks are probably the most famous. Certainly the most common form of contemporary Pacific Northwest Native American art is the plaque wood carving. The entire range of Pacific Northwest Native American Indian art subjects including eagles, ravens, thunderbirds, bears, killer whales and salmons are carved as plaques to be hung on the wall. A more complex project and usually higher priced would be the masks which are also carved out of wood. The Pacific Northwest Native American artists make some of the most striking aboriginal masks in the world.





Creative artists and carvers from this region have also used wood to carve out bowls, paddles, rattles and boxes which are all expertly decorated with Pacific Northwest Native American Indian designs. Some carvers have even carved more day to day objects such as letter openers out of wood again decorated with the region's Native motifs. Although not restricting themselves to just wood, the Pacific Northwest Native American artists also do art prints, paintings and precious metal jewelry but overall wood is still the most common material used in their artwork.





The Pacific Northwest style of Native American Indian art is still unknown to many parts of North America and the rest of the world but this will definitely change as the 2010 winter Olympics in British Columbia approaches. The world will see British Columbia and as visitors to this Canadian province have already noticed, there are fine examples of Pacific Northwest Native American Indian art everywhere one goes in the west coast of Canada.


Wooden Toys History




Many people love to work with wood and when they do it is called Woodworking. Woodworking is anything that involves working with wood in any way, whether it is carving, painting, sawing, or anything else. It has been done as long as man has been on the face of the earth. The first man did make weapons out of wood, so this involved carving. Early man also made crude statues from wood that were to help the tribe win the favor of the animals that they were going to hunt; and later to please the gods which they believed in.





Wooden toys have been objects for children's recreation since very earliest times. Archeological excavations and discoveries have located different types of wooden dolls from as early as 1100 BC. Ancient Greeks, Egyptians and Romans made miniature versions of all the things they were using in wood. These were obviously play things for their children. Some of these toys were miniature animals like crocodiles with movable jaws, carved horses, wooden dolls, chariots and spinning tops.





Production of wooden toys for sale started as early as the 1500's in Germany. German artisans started selling their toys across Europe. Initially, European royals placed orders for such toys to commemorate any special royal occasion like a royal anniversary or birthday.





Educational wooden toys, like wooden alphabet blocks, appeared during the 1700's in England. By the 1800's, humble wooden toys became more elaborate and intricate. In addition to miniature animals and dolls, elaborate and decorative dollhouses, fire engines, trolley cars, decoratively painted soldiers, wooden trains that could be moved along grooved tracks and jack-in-the-boxes became popular.





The 1900's saw a huge growth in the American toy industry. Charles H. Pajeau and Robert Petit invented Tinker Toys in 1914 with many different toy sets of spools, rods, spokes, and sticks. Children could build their own wooden toy kingdoms of people, animals, vehicles and buildings using these wooden accessories.





John Lloyd Wright created Lincoln Logs in 1916. These wooden accessories went a step further; you could create an entire town with them.


One of the world's largest producers of wooden toys, Brio (Toy Directory), have an annual production of more than 3.5 million cars, trains and trucks today. This is even more than the annual car and truck production of the Ford Motor Company of the United States.


Wednesday, January 26, 2011

The Art of Making Wooden Roses




If you have an eye for floral gift items, you are among the new age shoppers who can appreciate bouquets, baskets or corsages made of wooden roses. But making one such decor is not everyone's cup of tea.





Wooden roses are usually made by wood carvers. In business terms, they are special type of wood carvings. However, they are also very different in terms of manufacturing process from the usual wooden work like a statue or furniture. Items like wood furniture are used as storage places and have to be strong and sturdy. On the other hand, these wood roses are decorative items and need to be appealing to eyes. They are for a different class of customers.





Different trees woods can be used to make wood roses. However, the most preferred choice in North America is the Birch wood. Carvers almost unanimously agree that shavings from a birch tree wood are the best to make any intricate wooden items such as roses. Using a good quality plane, one can shave off thin layers of the wood. And then those can be bent and given shape of a rose bulb. Once this is done, the same wood can be used to make petals.





Finishing is the next step before you start gluing together the different parts of a wood rose. Sharp edges, if any, need to be smooth to avoid any skin cuts while handling the same. One has to be careful while applying the glue. Same glue can be used to stick leaves to the stems or stick together the green calyx to the base of the rose. Special carving tools are available to make wooden roses. Many universities and independent institutes impart certified training courses on wood carving. Also one can learn new techniques from local carvers association.





Wooden roses making is an art of the new generation and it is now turning into a flourishing business.


Kashmiri Wooden Arts




The rich craft heritage of Kashmir is as unique and as diverse as its customs and traditions. Each part of the country has its own unique cultural ethos, which is manifested in the crafts of the region.





The wood carving industry in Kashmir thrives on the walnut wood that grows in the valley. The Kashmiri walnut wood has a fine texture and smooth grain patterns, making the wood expensive. Add to that the fine workmanship of the wood carvers and the finished product becomes unattainable for most buyers. The price of the wooden piece of craft depends on the grain pattern of the wood used, the detailing of the carving and the part of the tree used.





Kashmir woodworkers continue to work in the style of their ancestors with the simplest of tools. The skill of the wood carver is not restricted to small objects of domestic use, but extends to the fashioning of wooden boxes and intricate art work.





The wood is preserved simply but effectively, such as by rubbing oil of bel-a-fruit. Wood has had the longest relationship with humans apart from stone. Our ancestors used it to clothe themselves, to shelter themselves and to feed themselves. With different ways of cutting and using different types of wood, Kashmires started to recognize such skills as necessary for the survival of mankind. And so various types of carpentry such as wood carvers and furniture makers came into being in Kashmir.





Kashmir has a very long woodcraft history with its prime time during Vijayanagar Empire (1336AD). Wood craftsmen then were highly respected by the royalty because woodcraft was considered an art and a trade. Woodcrafts can be found everywhere in Kashmir, on wooden doors, posts, walls, in remote villages, in cities, in modern buildings, in temples, and one will be impressed by the wide variety of styles of this craftwork.


Raised Letter Engraving For Your Luxury Pen Box




After crafting luxury writing instruments for several years, many of my customers inquired about the possibility of engraving some of the exotic wood pens that I create and offer on my web site. I answered this frequent request by researching a variety of engraving techniques and related tools necessary to accomplish it. My research revealed that a greater number of options were available by engraving the wood pen box rather than the pen itself. The balance of this article describes what raised letter engraving is, the approaches to accomplishing it, and a few engraving source ideas.





Raised letter engraving is described as the process of removing material from the item to be engraved, in this case wood, to reveal letters or a design that protrudes above the surface. This method of engraving can be accomplished by hand carving or a rotary engraving machine. The method I use, described below, is the rotary method.





The rotary method of engraving involves the use of a computer numerical controlled (CNC) machining tool. This tool moves a cutting head, typically a router, in a three dimensional or X, Y, Z axis. The path the cutting head follows is designed in a software program and is translated into a CNC machine code, often referred to as G-Code. The advantages of this method over hand carving are many. They include time, precision, intricate detail and the ability to preview a variety of design changes before actually making cuts in the wood.





Raised letter engraving is not typically a process for the do-it-yourselfer unless you have developed hand carving skills and have several hours available to dedicate to the job. The investment in machinery and software is also prohibitive and probably not justified for the occasional CNC project. For that reason, I suggest you use your favorite internet search engine to locate a business that can provide this service for you. Search words that will likely yield good results include engraving, sign making, or wood carving. You may want to want to view a few samples of engraving on pen boxes to better understand the various engraving methods used for wood items.





Raised letter engraving is one of several methods used to decorate and personalize a variety of gift items. As described, it results in a design or letters protruding above the surface of the engraved item. Results are beautiful, even stunning when done properly. Consider this decorative option to make a lasting impression and reflection of your thoughtfulness.


The Wonderful World Of Vegetable And Fruit Carving




It's considered that fruit and vegetable carving originated from Sukothai within Thailand close to seven hundred years ago, although some people challenge this fact and believe that it initially began at about the time of the Tang Dynasty in China.





The Thai Art of Fruit and Vegetable Carving is a very important part of Thailands historical past and one of their oldest art forms. Coming initially from around 14th century when a young Thai woman ornamented the floating lamp for the Regal Festival that is celebrated during the night of the full moon. This young woman carved fruits and vegetables in a variety of flowers which were used to beautify the floating lamp, making it look like an enormous water lily flower. When the King Phra Ruang noticed exactly what the lady had produced, he treasured this fresh innovation and decreed that it would be an art heritage of Thailand and will be taught and practiced to all Thai females. This expertise continues to be passed on through generations only in person and to family and friends, especially in the Royal Palace.





From its simple origins in the local street markets from the East where street artists would produce elaborate garnishes upon request to being exhibited and flaunted in modern-day restaurants, resorts, wedding receptions, cruise ships along with extravagant surroundings, the skill of fruit and vegetable carving is becoming more and more well-known under western culture with students undertaking courses to learn the special and skilled techniques to create beautiful ornamental exhibits all constructed from vegetables and fruits.





Water melons tend to be one of the most well-known fruits which are used to create some of the wonderful displays you see in Asian restaurants and hotels due to the versatility of the fruit. It is not only an easy task to carve, it is also very beautiful once the external skin is removed. Smaller fruit can also be used in many of these fruit and vegetable displays. Bananas, celery, beetroot, cucumber, potatoes as well as taro are carved in to flowers and leaves.





Special fruit carving knives are often used by the fruit carver. These specialised tools are designed in such away to be able to give the artist full range of movement for when they are creating the complicated flower petals and leaves. The knives in many cases are quite small with the blade curved in shape and with a small solid wood handle. Regular chef kitchen knives could also be used nevertheless people often find them to be rather cumbersome to handle.





Flowers are not the only things carved in to the fruits and vegetables. Many other designs for instance animals, buildings, people as well as landscapes may also be carved from the fruit and vegetables. The only limit is the artists own imagination.





Fruit and vegetable carving can be a very worthwhile and relaxing experience. Having the ability to produce something so amazing from something so everyday is a great accomplishment. After you have mastered the basic principles you are able to pretty much let your imagination run wild!


Tuesday, January 25, 2011

Wood Carving - How to Choose the Right Tools




If you're going to be a wood carver and not just a whittler, you'll need to select a number of tools. There's just no way around it. So what are the right tools for wood carving?





Tools for Sharpening. Before the carving tools, it seems appropriate that tools for sharpening them should come first. After all, if they aren't sharp, what's the use? You'll drive yourself mad.





At the very minimum, you should have a sharpening stone and a strop. The sharpening stone is used to get your edges to sharpness. Many sharpening stones come in different shapes and in different sizes. Some are very accommodating to the typically short blade lengths of wood carving blade edges. There are diamond coated slipstones that work very well to sharpen an edge. Some sharpening stones can even be found on a key chain or as small as a credit card. So very convenient.





A strop is meant to remove the burr and all micro-bits still clinging to your well-sharpened blade edge. This is very important in wood carving. If anything still clings to the edge, it'll really affect your progress. You've got to get everything off. If you prefer, you could use a honing compound or a honing board to smooth out your edges.





If you're really serious about becoming a wood carver, it is highly recommended that you learn how to sharpen and strop a knife. Once you've learned that, you'll also be able to sharpen most other carving edges. The need for smooth sharp edges is a constant in wood carving. When you can achieve them, you'll be worlds ahead of the rest. No kidding.





Tools for Shaping. Each type of carving tool that is meant to shape wood has a specific function. At the very minimum, you should have carving knives, wood chisels, wood gouges, wood rasps and rifflers, a mallet and maybe even a power drill.





æ Carving knives. This is your most basic of all carving tools and there are many kinds. There are straight-edged knives, skewed knives, bent knives, chip knives, detail knives, special pocket knives modified for carving and folding knives with lockable blades. And these aren't all of them. There are even micro-knives or micro-tool kits, if you'd like.





It's a matter of functionality. Each edge is target specific. When you've learned what each type of knife can do, and you've considered the carving project ahead of you, then you'll know which knives are best for that job. The best knives used for one specific task may not be the same knives that are best for another. That's why you've got choices.





æ Wood chisels. Most chisels are ground on both sides but it is possible to find them with a bevel on only one side. The head may be slanted or square in shape. They may even be bent forward or backward. You'll have quite a selection.





æ Wood gouges. This is one of the most used tools in wood carving. There are many shapes and sizes. Some are very short and stout while others extend for a few inches with an extended blade edge. You'll probably end up with several kinds. That's not a problem. Surely, you'll use each one at some time or another.





æ Wood Rasps or Riffler files. Shopping for these tools could be a bit confusing. Really. Some stores call it a rasp, others will call it a riffler. And yet another will call it a rasp riffler. How to know, how to know. Well, the majority of merchants appear to agree that a rasp is a very coarse, straight file. The tool itself may be thick and rectangular like a sharpening file but don't be surprised to find those that are slender with a curving head, looking just like a riffler.





Rifflers, on the other hand, are usually slender with a curved head. Many times these curved heads can be found on both ends of the riffler. You can even find kits that offer you different shaped heads and at different sizes.





æ Mallets. These little hammers are invaluable in the right circumstance. They are a must for chip carving, relief carving and intaglio carving. (What am I saying?) Mallets are a must for all wood carving. You may need just a few millimeters off of here and no more, maybe add a little notch there, an indent over here, maybe create a shadow. It really is such a valuable tool.





æ Power tools. There are some pretty nice power tools for wood carving. There are power drills, rotor saw burrs, power chisels and mini grinders. You can even find power carving kits. There's even a wood carver's kit that offers its own selection of power grinders.





These tools are quite extraordinary in how much time and labor they can save wood carvers. Many consider them only for life-size or extremely large carvings. It's all up to the carver. Hey, how about a carving created entirely by power tools? (... Wonder how big that'd be.)





Tools for Sanding and Smoothing. When all the wood carving and shaping is done, you'll want to sand and smooth all surfaces. This is an important step that precedes any painting or varnishing. In doing so, you'll remove any remains from any previous finishing process and you'll also prepare the wood to bond with any non-penetrating chemicals. Sanding can be done using sand paper, sanding clothes or sanding sticks.





æ Sanding is often accomplished using sand paper. There are many grades, from very, very coarse to very, very fine. There's quite a selection. Something very similar to this is the defuzzing pad. It does as it sounds. It removes all fuzz still clinging to the wood surface.





æ There are sanding clothes that come in a roll and are available in varying grit sizes. Sections may be cut from the roll and rolled or folded as you wish. Best thing is, you don't have to worry about it cracking or falling apart on you.





æ Sanding sticks may also be found in varying grit sizes. You can also find sanding stick kits or sanding detail kits that can remove glue or minute remains of your finishing products. Mini-belt sanding sticks or sanding belts may be used for large sanding jobs.





Wood carving is an amazing craft to develop. You could use just a handful of tools and work with small projects. Or you could use a bunch of tools, including power tools, to work on really large projects. Either way, it's very relaxing, oftentimes exhilarating and extremely satisfying. Have fun!


Chainsaw Carving Tips




Safety should always be the first concern on any project. Proper safety equipment such a goggles, gloves and sturdy scaffolding are very important. The scaffolding should always be moved to the right height and position for safe carving. If your arms feel uncomfortable holding the saw to cut, adjust your scaffolding or you can be seriously injured. Never cut above the waist unless it is with a small electric saw and your arms are fully extended.





Before making the first cut, draw out the main shape of your carving from the front view. Leave about a foot at the bottom for the base. Be sure your saw is as sharp as it can be. A sharp saw makes the job so much easier. A 16 to 24 inch blade will usually do most carvings. Make your wedge cuts by cutting a down angle first and then a straight or slightly upward angle to chunk it out. Once you have made all of your wedge cuts from your markings, it is time to mark the sides.





You have to imagine the profile and be sure to not cut off too much especially from the head. When you have all the main chunks cut out, it is time to start carving with your saw. A 12 inch electric saw is great for shaping out the smaller chunks. Be careful not to cut too deep. You can do much of the final saw work by applying the blade lightly on the wood and raking it back and forth. This will take layers off.





If it is a human carving, you will need to finish it by sanding. You can use a palm sander for the large areas and a die grinder for the smaller areas. You can use the edge of the sanding disk to cut beards, hair or fur. On animal carvings, turn the saw slightly sideways and carve out fur lines with the tip. Some other handy tools to have are wood rasps and wood chisels.





When you have finished carving and sanding, it's time to coat your project with a mixture of half shellac and half mineral spirits. You can leave it natural or paint it. If you don't think you can carve a human or bear, try a mushroom. Above all, keep your mind on safety and have fun. You may be really surprised at what you can do!


Hawaiian and Polynesian Tiki Statues




Tiki sculptures hold significant value in Hawaiian and Polynesian cultures. A Tiki statue is a large wood carving that represents a Polynesian tiki god or a specific "mana". The gods or the "mana" were conveyed through the face of the sculpture or through the other symbols included in the sculpture. Although the sculptures are not evaluated on the same level as other arts, they are still considered valuable for what they represent.





The Tiki is one of the most defining symbols of the Polynesian culture. It has been used for many centuries for a number of purposes including worship and marking boundaries of sacred sites. Today, Tiki sculptures remain popular among the Central Eastern Polynesian cultures. They are also growing in popularity outside of the aforementioned culture, as art and also as functional sculptures.





As art, Tiki sculptures are used to decorate living spaces and other areas. Good Tiki artists really put a lot of thought into the design and the process of creating wonderful Tiki Sculptures so the sculptures add both texture and warmth to the home. Tiki Sculptures can also be used for Luau parties, Hawaiian restaurants and Tiki Bars to enhance the ambiance of the place and to provide an authentic Polynesian experience.





There are also people who value Tiki Scupltures for the good fortune and blessings they provide. These sculptures are said to bring good fortune, long life, fertility, health, or safety depending on the Polynesian god depicted on the carving. Some Tiki sculptures may not depict a specific mana or good fortune but simply depict a Polynesian god.





There are different kinds of Tiki sculptures available for collectors from Tiki figures to Tiki Masks. One of the most popular Tiki art is the Tiki carving. Tiki statues can be used to decorate indoor spaces and also gardens, patios and other outdoor areas. The sizes of the Tiki statues range from 8 inches to over 12 feet! With the range of designs and sizes, it is easy to find the right Tiki statue to meet your needs.





When choosing a Tiki statue for your home or any other place, make sure to get authentic Tiki statues. Authentic Tiki statues are made of Acacia and other hard woods. This makes the Tiki durable; standing the test of time even when they are placed outdoors exposed to various elements such as rain and sun light. They are also carved by real artists who understand the meanings of the facial expressions and symbols used in the Tiki culture. These artists are able combine aesthetic value with symbolism and functionality. These authentic Tiki statues require a lot of hard work to create because they are carved and not created using a mold. The whole process takes a lot of knowledge, patience and dedication.





Another thing you must remember when choosing Tiki statues is to make sure you understand the meanings of the designs so that you get the kind of statue that has a relevance in your life, this will make the statue even more important for you.


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




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.


Making Wooden Fishing Lures For Beginners




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.


  © Blogger template The Professional Template II by Ourblogtemplates.com 2009

Back to TOP