Skillful hands can work wonders. Those who have not taken the first steps in this direction, but really want to try, are invited to start with simpler options. Uncomplicated wooden figures will help to acquire initial skills in handling such an interesting and pliable type of material.
Preparatory stage
Before you cut a figure from a tree, you should decide on its appearance. Ideas can be different. Sometimes an image arises after reading an interesting book, going to a movie or an exhibition, and a lot of information can lead to the creation of your own original idea. The option of full copying of works already created by the masters is also taken into account.
An idea requires a sketch. It can be embodied on paper in the form of simple sketches. It is recommended to consider the dimensions and clearly outline the details. This will greatly simplify the process and allow you to make it phased. Already experienced craftsmen begin work with direct processing of wood, a product with simple forms requires minimal detail and is much simpler.
Material selection
In accordance with the plan, a tree should be selected for work. The final result completely depends on its quality, so immediately exclude materials with loose structures and give preference to the following options:
- linden is one of the best options for beginners, it is easier to make wooden figures of this breed, thanks to the soft structure of the material, it lends itself perfectly to processing, often used for small plastic and ornaments;
- aspen - similar in basic characteristics to linden, another good option for making small figures;
- pine - can be folded, but if you arrange its growth rings correctly, the product will look especially impressive;
- maple - has a good density, it’s a little more difficult to process such wood, but miniature animal figures are especially well made from it, chess is often made from a tree of this breed;
- Oak is especially good, dense wood is difficult to process, but high-quality polished and varnished looks attractive, products made of this material are very expensive.
All these types of wood are soft in processing, they will not blunt the instrument and will make it possible to manufacture a product of any shape. The main thing to consider when choosing a material is its quality, it must be whole, dry, not damaged by rot and bugs.
Essential tool
Before you cut a figure out of wood, you need to choose a quality tool. If desired, this material can also be processed using a conventional penknife. But it’s much easier and more enjoyable to work with a number of specialized devices.
- The cutter is the main tool for all work, it features a beveled short blade (36 degrees) and is used for initial rough processing.
- The jamb helps to form the desired type of ornament, suitable for work on planes, the blade is usually beveled at 60 degrees.
- Chisels - there are several options, they can be angular, semicircular and flat, they can be used for high-quality processing of wooden figures, creating an in-depth relief on them.
- Rivets - an important tool for hard-to-reach spots, has a sharp end that allows you to work out even the smallest details.
In addition to the main set, it is worth stocking up with a grinding machine, rasps, gimlets, a drill with a number of nozzles and a saw. All these tools will greatly facilitate the work and will allow to realize even the most intricate idea.
The working process
Having prepared everything you need, you can begin such a responsible occupation as wood carving. We start tinkering the figures with the manufacture of the draft blank, with a pencil, outline the main parts of the future product, cut off the excess, leaving only a small supply of wood along the edges. Experienced craftsmen do not remove all surpluses at once, it is more convenient to hold the figure in the right position with them.
- In the resulting simple figure, we make small cuts, this is a hint for subsequent work (trunk, limbs, head).
- Using a cutter, we begin to form the necessary parts of the workpieces, smoothly cutting the corners and each time removing the chips thinner.
- We form all the small details with additional incisors, achieving complete similarity with the sketch.
- We proceed to fine carving, apply the contours of future elements, work out all the recesses in a quality manner. The smaller the wooden figures, the more difficult it will be to work out small details on them, so for the initial work it is worth choosing larger and simpler sketches.
Pay special attention to the processing stage, it is from him that the durability of the finished product will depend. Thoroughly sand the work with fine sandpaper, trying not to grease the relief, apply a stain or other wood treatment. On top of the figure is varnished to protect it from moisture.