Wood carving tools are used to shape wood by removing unwanted wood,leaving a wood object,or a design on wood,that meets the specifications of the designer.Wood carving has been done for centuries throughout the world.It has been used for religious or ritual purposes as well as aesthetic reasons.Basic bowls and kitchen utensils,as well as works of art,are a result of wood carving.

Wood carving tools were designed primarily for production-oriented carving of furniture and architectural details.The many shapes,widths and bends featured in these tools were all developed to carve decorative motifs with a minimum number of cuts.Although carving hand tool designs have changed little since the industrial revolution,power carving tools and handpieces have become popular among woodcarvers for their high-speed grinding,chiseling,and polishing capabilities.

Any type of wood can be carved,but some types are better than others.Wood should be chosen based on what the carving is intended for and what finish it will have.Will the item be decorative or will it be used for food;is it a toxic wood that should be used for decoration only?What are the grain characteristics the wood has,what is the texture,and will it split and crack easily during carving?What level of difficulty will it take to carve a specific type of wood? Some wood are used for carving are popular,basswood,pine,oak,and walnut,as well as boxwood,chestnut,maple,rosewood,and ebony.

Wood for carving may be obtained locally from lumberyards,landscape gardens,or tree surgeons.Also look for seashore driftwood or a felled fruitwood tree from a local farmer.Choose wood with no knots,an even grain,and one that is quarter sawn without the center wood. It should be seasoned before carving it.

Soft basswood blocks are frequently used for carving because of their even grain and dimensional stability.But many other types of wood are subject to warpage,splitting,or cracking;in these cases laminated wood blocks are used instead. For most woods,boards are less expensive and easier to obtain than blocks of wood,and they are less likely to warp,split,and crack when laminated to form blocks.

Wood clamps are used when laminating wood blocks from individual boards.The stacked boards are glued together with white wood glue and then clamped tightly with several wood clamps for about 24 hours.A woodworking vise or clamp is also needed to hold the wood block stationary while carving it. Of course,the size and shape of your developing sculpture will determine the number,type and usage of the clamps.