The Woodworking Shelf
Sharpening Carving Tools for Beginners
Lora S. Irish
Fox Chapel Publishing Company
1970 Broad Street N., East Petersburg, PA 17520
www.FoxChapelPublishing.com
9781497103122, $9.99, PB, 32pp
https://www.amazon.com/Sharpening-Carving-Tools-Beginners-Woodworkers/dp/1497103126
Synopsis: It is an axiom among wood workers every where: Keep all your woodcarving tools and knives sharp and safe!
If you're new to the craft of carving, knowing how to properly sharpen your tools is a crucial, fundamental skill. "Sharpening Carving Tools for Beginners: Learn to Keep Your Knives, Gouges & V-Tools in Tip-Top Shape"is condensed and illustrated instructional guide by wood working expert Lora S. Irish who offers clear, step-by-step guidance to walk beginners through the basics of sharpening knives, gouges, V-tools, and chisels.
Also included are informative sections on safety, basic sharpening techniques, what to keep in your sharpening kit, sharpening both double-edged and single-edged blades, tool storage and cleanup tips, protecting sharp edges, cleaning stops, and sharpening stones.
Critique: Thoroughly 'user friendly' in organization and presentation, "Sharpening Carving Tools for Beginners: Learn to Keep Your Knives, Gouges & V-Tools in Tip-Top Shape" is essential and invaluable reading for all novice wood workers -- making it an especially and unreservedly recommended addition to personal, community woodworking and wood crafting instructional reference collections and school wood shop class curriculums.
Editorial Note: Lora Irish is an internationally known artist and author who is also a frequent contributor to Woodcarving Illustrated and Scroll Saw Woodworking and Crafts magazines.
Complete Guide to Bird Carving
Woodcaring Illustrated Editors
Fox Chapel Publishing Company
1970 Broad Street N., East Petersburg, PA 17520
www.FoxChapelPublishing.com
9781497102774, $19.99, PB, 128pp
https://www.amazon.com/Complete-Guide-Carving-Beginner-Advanced/dp/1497102774
Synopsis: "Complete Guide to Bird Carving: 15 Beautiful Beginner-to-Advanced Projects" is comprised of 15 step-by-step projects drawn from the pages of Woodcarving Illustrated. This edition of the "Complete Guide to Bird Carving" includes wood carving patterns for a variety of recognizable birds, including woodpeckers, chickadees, owls, blue herons, goldfinches, and more.
From simple whittled songbirds to realistic hummingbirds, the "Complete Guide to Bird Carving" is a DIY project guide featuring various techniques on how to carve wood birds such as whittling, relief carving, and power carving. This thoroughly 'user friendly' combination of instructional guide and how-to manual is perfectly adaptable to any skill level, from beginner to advanced. Also included are helpful overviews on materials, tools, adding texture, painting, and finishing.
Critique: Profusely and effectively illustrated throughout with full color photography and step-by-step DIY instructions, "Complete Guide to Bird Carving: 15 Beautiful Beginner-to-Advanced Projects" will be a welcome and enduringly appreciated contribution to personal, professional, and community library Woodworking & Woodcarving collections.
Editorial Note: As the leading how-to magazine for woodcarvers, Woodcarving Illustrated promotes woodcarving as a fun pastime and recognized art form. Whether you're just getting started in the world of woodcarving or have been making chips for decades, Woodcarving Illustrated is designed to help you make the most of your carving time. Each quarterly issue is jammed with projects, instructions, photos, tool reviews, tips, and techniques. Expert guidance from the world's most talented carvers helps you to complete more projects and hone your skills.
Whittling Workbook
James Ray Miller
Fox Chapel Publishing Company
1970 Broad Street N., East Petersburg, PA 17520
www.FoxChapelPublishing.com
9781497102705, $17.99, PB, 112pp
https://www.amazon.com/Whittling-Workbook-Publishing-Flat-Plane-Woodcarvings/dp/1497102707
Synopsis: Comprised of 14 simple projects to carve,"Whittling Workbook" by James Ray Miller is an ideal instruction manual and 'how to' guide for anyone seeking a range of easy wood carvings they can accomplish with just one knife -- including the roughing out stage!
All that is needeed is a copy of the "Whittling Workbook", blocks of wood and one knife to achieve the 14 exciting projects featured within these pages (no band saw needed).
The projects range from a simple strawberry and a whimsical wand to a sea captain, Martian, pig, sunflower, princess, dinosaur, and more, each approachable project includes detailed step-by-step instructions photography, a pattern, reference photos, and helpful tips to walk you through the entire process from start to finish.
Also included are insightful overviews on a wide range of fundamental topics and techniques to equip you with the skills you need before you begin a project. The helpful opening sections cover tools, types of wood, basic carving cuts, painting and finishing techniques, safety notes, and how to join a carving community.
Critique: Profusely illustrated and thoroughly 'novice friendly', "Whittling Workbook" will have special appeal to anyone who would like to learn this ancient woodworking craft -- making it an ideal and unreservedly recommended addition to personal, professional, community, and school wood shop instructional reference collections. It should be noted that the "Whittling Workbook" is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $11.49).
Editorial Note: James Ray Miller is a protege of decorated Scandinavian-style carver, Harley Refsal. A young and up-and-coming carver, James has been a regular contributor to Woodcarving Illustrated since 2010 and published his first book, Whittling Flat-Plane Animals, with Fox Chapel Publishing in 2020.
Learn how to create projects with elements of classic flat-plane carvings, but that also offer a fresh, contemporary style, with Whittling Workbook!
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