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Welcome to Black Duck Studio's Tips n' Tools. Here we hope to offer you some sound advice about carving,
tools and maybe even a bit about plain old life in general.
If you have any questions or concerns about carving, please feel free to drop us a line.
We may not have all the answers, but we just might be able to pull a few suggestions out of our hats.

 

CARVING'S FOR KIDS!

Pretty much anyone can pick up a tool and begin carving - in fact at some point we've all carved our mark into something or other. That being said, get caught up in the passion of creation, but be sure to understand that the tools a carver uses are sharp and unforgiving. If you're teaching any child about carving, ensure they are of a good age (13 is a good measuring stick) and that they learn to respect the tools they're using. Aside from that, what a great way to share many moments of creativity with a child!

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B E G I N N E R S . . .

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GET THE RIGHT TOOLS!

As a novice carver, your first important purchase should be a reasonable quality carving knife and strop. Once you have them, learn how to use them properly. Your next important purchase should be a good quality burner.

Brushes! Brushes! Brushes!

1) All beginnners can learn from the Intermediate and Professional advice to carvers. In the early stages of carving, concentrate on your technique and when you get the chance, watch the masters at work. Buy the brushes you can afford and work within your means.

All things are created equal!
(and if not, make them equal!)

1) When you've got your carving piece, put it in front of a mirror and see if both sides are equal. Step back for a closer look and try to get symmetry inyour piece.

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I N T E R M E D I A T E ...

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Brushes! Brushes! Brushes!

1) Invest in a good carrying case for your brushes to ensure they don't get rubbed together. This will ruin the quality of your brush hairs and give you less delivery in your stroke.

Feel the Burn!

1) When you're starting out on a new project, remember that all the wood has different properties. Find an area on the bird that can't be seen and test your settings before you begin burning into the bird.

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A D V A N C E D ...

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Brushes! Brushes! Brushes!

1) In the bigger picture, you'll get better results by spending good money on good brushes. Spend the cash to buy 1 good brush as opposed to many different cheaper ones.

2) When using rounded brushes, always set your brushes in water and flick them to regain roundness.

Feel the Burn!

1) Burning can sometimes be a challenge if you're not using the right tip. Try to use a smaller tip and make sure to insert the tip first, then drag it along your path, always using a low heat. It's better to repeat a line twice then try to fix a bad burn.