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Q: How long does it take you to carve a wizard?
A: It depends on how large it is going to be, however the small hanging ones can take up to three hours to carve. Because I work with found wood, I have to clean the wood before I carve. When I’m finished carving, it could take a few days to apply and dry several coats of finish.
Q: How do you decide what to carve into a piece of wood?
A: I like to look at a piece of wood and the grain, then imagine a project that would look good, including the finishing, in my consideration.
Q: How much space do you need?
A: This will depend on what you want to carve. For small carvings, I have a small bench in my basement which is only 36 x 30 inches. When I want to do larger carvings I move to my garage or sit on my patio where I have more room. I have also brought a few small projects upstairs to work on while watching television with my wife.
Q: What tools would someone need to get started and where would they get them?
A: A couple of good knives and some basic carving chisels is enough to start. I do a lot of small items and find the Flexcut™ chisels and knives very satisfactory. They have a very sharp edge and are easy to keep that way.
I would recommend:
- a cutting knife
- a fine-point detail knife
- a small gouge chisel
- a v-cut chisel
- a safety glove and thumb guard
If you want to look at them and other options check out the adds in carving magazines or visit a web site or supplier such as Lee Valley.
Q: Is it best to focus on one project at a time?
A: I like to have two or three projects on the go at a time, and in different stages. This allows me to move on with another project if I need to think about how to proceed with the first.