Not all chisel blades are created equal. Any wood carver who has experience using a professional quality gouge versus a "Harbor Freight" alternative knows that. So what's the difference? Or more specifically, why do the two cut and feel so different? The steel holds the answer. In this article, we explore how professionals Joe Dillett and Dick Belcher test the metal of their wood carving tools (literally), as they demonstrate on Schaaf Tools gouges. The Spark Test When Wood Carving Illustrated first got their hands on our 12 piece beginner carving chisels, they sent the set to Dick Belcher, of Belcher Carving Supply, to test the steel quality. I remember hearing the chisels passed the spark test, and Dick was...
Schaaf Tools Community Spotlights feature a new wood carver every week. Learn about your carving community, pick up beginner wood carving tips, and get Inspired! In this week's Community Spotlight, read about wood carving artist Tim Collins, and his fantastic wood spirit carvings. Learn more about wood carving today! "The spirits have always been hiding inside the wood, but it's my job to bring them out." We spoke with Tim Collins, who has The Carving Artist business in Forked River New Jersey where he lives with his wife Megan and his 4-year-old Twin boys, Tighe and Seamus. After 25 years in the restaurant business, Tim picked up carving in May, 2019. Now he says he couldn't live without his chisels!...
If you don't know Lora Irish, it's worth taking some time to get to know her. I'm calling Lora the Queen of Carving Patterns, and it will become apparent why after about five minutes sifting through all the goodies on her website. This holiday, Lora received the gift of Schaaf Tools, and she was kind enough (and excited enough) to write about it. Here's an excerpt from her blog article, My Christmas Stocking was full of Schaaf Tools this morning; Stuffed to over flowing with precision, quality, premium wood carving joy: "I use beginner quality wood carving tool sets because I teach beginning wood carving. I don’t use tools that are super cheap from the local big box store, and I...
Gift shopping for the woodworker in your family? We took the time to come up with some thoughtful, unique wood carving gift ideas for any budget. Here are our 2020 favorites.
For both safety and precision, every wood craftsman, woodworker or wood carver needs to know how to sharpen wood-carving tools properly. Whether you are a beginner or an expert, your tools’ condition can make a significant difference in the carving process and the final product. As you master your artistic skills, you must also learn to correctly care for your tools and to help them last longer. Use the tips below for sharpening wood-carving tools to get started. How Do You Sharpen Wood-Carving Tools at Home? There are two primary stages to use when sharpening carving tools at home. The first stage uses a stone that is designed for this purpose. This technique is for when your blade has become extremely dull and needs quite...
