I'm gonna be a Star!! #3: Chip carving #1

well done …

-- work from your heart and your spirit will live forever

so thats what they call chip carving… i like its looks simple to do but in the right place you can a good buck for it….nice job

I like the use of the pocket knife, you have good skill. A true chip carving knife will be thinner and allow for cleaner cuts. They are real cheap. With your steady hand and great eye, the knife would take you to a whole new level.

Marco, I have a chip carving knife and it’s great for carving soft woods like pine and basswood. Which I suppose is typical carving material for most carvers. However, I was making an urn for a friend out of maple and it had a lot of chip carving. The thin blad of my chip carving knife wasn’t strong enough for the material and the tip broke off. It takes a lot more force on that type of material. So I started using the pocket knife and haven’t looked back. I think it really has to do with how comfortable you are with your tool. You will find one that works for you. My knife is kept razor sharp and gives just as clean lines. In my next video or tutorial I may show the difference between the knifes. Thanks for the comments guys.

-- ~ Inspiring those who inspire me ~

So, that’s how it’s done. I liked just that you focused on the carving, not the history of chip carving, etc. Maybe have Norm on in the background next time ; ) Great job!

-- a little bit of stupid goes a long way

Well kolwdwrkr, you got me thinking. I’m going to try the knife idea for harder woods. The blade on the chip knife is real fragile. Thanks for the tip.

I am just getting started into chip carving, mostly on bass wood. a friend gave me a piece of poplar to do a humming bird on. he showed me, then gave it to me to take home. dang hard stuff. my knife was strong and sharp enough. but I was not good enough yet. the wood just crumbled and shattered under my knife. I had heard about moistening the wood to make it softer. but my pattern disappeared .
I am curious, does your knife lock? that would worry me. if it didn’t. your knife looks very sharp. I just can’t emagen chip carving maple. gosh maybe I will get there yet. I think If I tried a hard wood like that, I just might go to my skew chisels, thanks for sharing . Evie

-- If you don't learn from the past, your doomed to repeat it.

Well done Keith. Thanks for the insight.

-- Grumpy - "Always look on the bright side of life"- Monty Python

Great stuff! Always can learn from others practical experience. I love it you use a common knife. Sometimes too much emphasis is placed on a luxury tool when a common one will work just as well.

Thanks….........

-- mtnwild (Jack), It's not what you see, it's how you see it.

Hey Keith
Good Job You could chip carve juggle and film if you had a mind to.

-- Jim from Heirloom Woodshop Southern Oregon

I can’t believe you did that while holding a camera in one hand!

-- ~ Debbie, Canada (http://www.execulink.com/~yohan)