Woodcarving

Sharpening Your Wood Carving Tools

Sharp carving knives, gouges, and chisels are a must for any wood carving project, whether it is a 3-dimensional little cowboy, relief landscape, or a whittled animal.

If your bench knife seems to drag through the cutting stroke or if it leaves behind fine, thin scratch marks in the cut it is time to get out your sharpening stones, leather strop, and rouging compound.  Dull knives and rough cutting edges can be dangerous as they cause you to apply excess pressure to make the stroke.

I start every carving session by first checking the sharpness of my tool edges.  You can do this several ways.  First, make a few cuts on a basswood practice stick.  Your tool should push through the cut smoothly, if it seems to drag or hang-up on the wood it needs sharpening.  You can also look at the cutting edge of the blade under a bright light.  If your tool is dull the cutting edge will appear as a white line or you may see white spots where there are dings or dents.

I also check my sharpening stones on a regular bases as they can become bellied or bowed in the center from use.

Let’s look at the simple steps to sharpening your wood carving knives, gouges, and chisels.

irish

Recent Posts

Five Styles of Relief Wood Carving

Since I was rambling on yesterday about tonal values / shadows and light, I thought…

6 days ago

Tonal Values Add Depth to Your Project

Tonal Values in all crafts - wood carving, wood burning, colored pencils, and painting If…

7 days ago

Six Common Mistakes in Chip Carving

Do you make these common mistakes in your chip carving? Too often a chip carved…

1 month ago

Simple Guide to Wood Craft Finishes – Free PDF

Simple Guide to Wood Crafting Finishes The when, why, and how each sealer product is…

3 months ago

Free Carving and Pyrography Patterns

I have two Freebie Alerts for you today. Our Bird House Sign has two full…

5 months ago

Free Beginning Wood Carving Project

Beginner Wood Carving Project - 'No Vacancy' Birdhouse Let's have a little fun!!!!  I am…

6 months ago