Carving Wood with Knives
Experience Level: ANY
Instructor: Ryan Barnard
Class Size: 10 Students
Sessions: 2 sessions at 4 hours each
This course will be via Zoom.
Course Description
There are many ways to shape and carve wood into beautiful patterns and sculptures in both round and flat surfaces based on different traditions from around the world. This course is intended to introduce students to carving with knives in the whittling and spoon carving traditions with decorative techniques for embellishment.
Day 1
Module 1: Introduction to Sharpening (45-60 Minutes)
In this module students will learn how to sharpen carving knives using diamond sharpening stones and leather strop with a brief overview of different sharpening mediums (Water Stones, Oil Stones & Diamond Stones as well as stropping techniques for honing).
Module 2: Carve a Moravian Star (45-60 Minutes)
In this module students will carve a Moravian Star from HDU foam learning how to make both slicing and chopping cuts safely in both hands.
Module 3: Carve a Wooden Ball (60-90 Minutes)
In this module students will learn how to read the grain direction in the wood, how to carve with the grain, against the grain, across the grain, and to carve end grain. Students will be introduced to rasps, files, rifflers, and sanding curved surfaces for further finishing and refinement.
Day 2
Module 4: Introduction to Spoon Carving (60-90 Minutes)
In this module students will learn to carve a spoon from pre-cut blanks using a hook knife and gouge. Students will be introduced to different embellishment techniques to decorate their spoons.
Module 5: Carve a Wood Spirit (120-150 Minutes)
In this module students will carve a wood spirit using carving knives and detail sanding sticks.
Tools & Materials Needed
Tools:
-Set of carving knives (Sloyd knife, detail knife, geometric chip carving knife, chip carving knife, stab knife, hook knife, and bent gouge, like this set)
-Detail sanding sticks (like this or this you don’t need both)
-Sharpening Stones (300-600 grit and 1000-1500 grit. Like this)
-Leather strop and compound (like this or included in the knife set linked above)
-Drafting tools (compass or dividers, protractor, ruler, and 0.5mm mechanical pencil. Like this set)
-Cut resistant gloves (like this or included in the knife set linked above)
Please click HERE to download the tool list with images of the different knives and more links to different styles of the above.
Materials are included in the course:
-2 = 2″ x 2″ HDU Foam Block
-2 each of = 2″ x 2″ x 2″ and 1″ x 1″ x 4″ Basswood Carving Blocks
-2 Spoon Blanks
-4 Black Pearl Beads (Used for eyes)
-1 Tube of E6000 Adhesive
Course Dates
March 22nd and 23rd, 2025 from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. EST (10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. CST)