The Complete Book of Woodcarving, Updated Edition

Your ultimate resource to every aspect of woodcarving, from making the first cut to applying the finish!

Complete guide for woodcarvers of any level to practice, build, and refine their skills
Essential techniques that are crucial to the craft of woodcarving, from beginner to advanced
10 step-by-step projects and patterns with helpful photography and tips
Carving styles, techniques, choosing wood, sharpening tools, painting, finishing, and more
Updated power carving section in this new edition, plus newly added projects with painting tips, and updated photography
Author Everett Ellenwood is an award-winning carver and nationally known carving instructor with nearly 40 years of wood carving experience
Whether you're an experienced woodworker expanding your talents, a seasoned carver brushing up on your technique, or a beginner newly introduced to this fun and fulfilling craft, you need The Complete Book of Woodcarving!

Inside this comprehensive, must-have reference is packed decades of carving know-how from author Everett Ellenwood, an award-winning carver who specializes in carving realistic human faces. He has over 40 years of wood carving experience and 30 years of teaching experience throughout the United States. He is also a contributor to WCI, Carving Magazine, and Wood Carving. These 304 pages are brimming with Everett's expert instruction, insightful tips, and practical advice.

Everything is here for the beginning or advanced woodcarver, from choosing the appropriate wood, setting up a shop or workspace, selecting, using, and sharpening carving tools (plus how to fix improperly sharpened tools), to performing all the fundamental techniques, such as the push cut, pull cut, stop cut, slicing cut, and chip cut, and finishing your completed work.

Every general carving style—from classical to whimsical to rustic—is detailed, as are the basic steps of power carving. The author will also teach you how to develop your ideas into finished carvings, by taking you through the various items and techniques that will help you visualize and solidify your idea and prepare you to start carving it.

The ten included step-by-step woodcarving projects are designed to help newer woodcarvers build proficiency, and they come with plans, including for the beautiful rocking horse featured on the cover. A handy resource section and a complete glossary of terms round out this fully illustrated, must-have guide for all woodcarvers.

This new edition includes an updated power carving section, newly added step-by-step projects of a simple spoon and a Santa face along with patterns and painting tips, and updated photography. Learn everything there is to know about carving, including:

How to select wood for your projects
How to use various carving tools
How to sharpen your tools properly and safely
How to create a carving workspace
Every classic carving style, from incised and chip to low relief and flat plane
Fundamental techniques, including the push cut, pull cut, stop cut, slicing cut, and chip cut
A newly updated section to the basics of power carving
How to paint and finish your projects
How to develop an idea into a finished carving