Carving Robots from Wood "Proper Paraphernalia"

Every hobby one approaches requires the use of specialized tools. There is no getting out of this and of course, "deciding how much money to spend" is aways lurking in the back of one's mind. It will be up to you to make that decision, but for now I will introduce the tools required for carving wood robots. I promise to keep it to a minimum.

The first and most important tool is the knife. I cannot stress the importance of a good solid made carving knife. There are numerous examples out there and if you are fortunate enough to live in the vicinity of a woodcarver or maybe a woodcarving supply house or store, then you may want to explore all those possibilities. Brands and other commercial factors are not as important as how the knife feels in your hand. Also, the blade for a beginner should not exceed an inch or an inch and a half. After carving a bit you will appreciate a small blade rather than too much steel. I suppose I should warn you that handling a sharp knife requires patience, skill and concentration.

Sometimes knowledge and experience sure help. Let me save you hours of work by recommending the next tool you should invest in: the coping saw. Coping saws are a life saver to a beginning student. You don't have to spend a small fortune on an electric scroll saw or even a bulky band saw. With a coping saw you may begin experimenting with forming shapes which eventually lead to your first blank. You see, when an old carver sees a piece of wood, whether it is a small block or a thick twig, he foresees the basic shape of what he intends to finish. Later on if you continue the quest to carve a wood robot, you will acknowledge this fact as very useful. Using a coping saw saves you precious time in the long run. You don't want to spend senseless time carving when a coping saw can remove unwanted wood faster. You will also see that a well shaped blank can save you time and frustration.

So far I have briefly informed you of two tools which are essential to carving a wood robot; the carving knife and the coping saw. Believe me, a masterpiece can be formed using only these two tools, and of course, some wood and your desire.

Carving Article on Carving Wood Robots

Well, it was inevitable that someone would eventually come up with a blog on carving of all things, wood robots! Most of the time old timers are carving far more interesting subjects such as cowboys and Indians or furry little creatures from a forest. Wood Robots? What was this carver thinking? Let's analyze this for a moment: What shape would allow the beginning student or not too experienced carver the best success? Aha! The stick figure! Remember when you were a child in Kindergarten or perhaps First Grade when the teacher drew on the old chalk-board, a stick figure? You were fascinated! I know I was because that same day after school, I ran home and decided I would be an artist. Mom kept those stick figure sketches for a long time, and she was really proud of me.

My original blog, "Carving Wood Robots" will attempt to inspire you into doing what has given me unlimited pleasure, carving wood robots. I will let you in on the secret to all of this carving wood robots craze. If you haven't quite figured it out, it is really simple: A wooden robot is just like that old stick figure the teacher drew for me on the black board. Now think like a carver and imagine that in carving a wood robot, the challenge would be a lot easier that carving a human face, or the face of a bear or even a winged angel. If you study art, you realize that the more detail in a project, the more difficult it is to pursue. Carving a wood robot can be seen as a very simple way of accomplishing a wood carving.

To conclude this article, let us take a moment and visualize a carved wood robot. Close your eyes now and try to imagine how you would cut this robot shape to imitate the stick figure I have previously mentioned. Professional wood carvers begin their projects with a blank, which in carving circles means the basic shape of the desired wood for a particular project. A blank can be previously prepared with a band saw or a coping saw. Later, I will explain this in great detail, but for now, think about what I have discussed in this article. The last thought would be to envision a rectangular piece of wood standing in front of you on a table, standing upright of course, the long side in its vertical position. This is a humble beginning to carving a wood robot.

Carving Wood Robots

Greeting Earthlings. In an attempt to further your imagination, I will demonstrate the art of carving robots from wood. Carving wood robots is a simple way of learning wood carving techniques using simple shapes, and in no time you will be hooked!

Just how does one start creating a masterpiece from a piece of wood? Well, allow me to explain; keep it simple while expressing yourself using your mind first, your hands and finally, your heart. Like all masterpieces, yours creation must convey a part of you to your public, even if your audience is limited to your family and friends.

Before going on, you must understand, or at the very least, be aware that most people consume years of practice before they reach optimum levels of carving. Patience is an understatement when it comes to mastering the art of carving. It has been my experience to find that most adequate sculptors of wood have certainly taken their time in acquiring their skills. This is not to say that it will take you longer than most to hone your skills, however, I have seen more mature carvers than those in the youth category. Once in a long while I have had the honor of meeting a few youngsters, but most of the time, old timers rule!