- There are many types of wood carving tools to choose from.old woodworkers vise image by Jim Mills from Fotolia.com
Wood carving tools are ideal for making small crafts, and several types are available to choose from. Some may seem foreign to novices, but some guidelines can help carvers distinguish which tools are most appropriate for which project. With some tips, woodworking with carving tools is simple and rewarding. - Chisels are a traditional type of carving tool and are also one of the most basic tools a woodworker uses. These tools are good for scraping off rough spots on a wood piece and making fine lines for a statue. Chisels come in a variety of sizes. They have different shaped heads and can make patterns like deep grooves or crisscross patterns. While many types of chisels are on the market, the German style are often considered top of the line.
- A brass mallet is a common carving tool as it is typically regarded as giving the woodworker good balance. The heavy head of the mallet is used to pound softer woods into rounded shapes and is used on projects like large wooden bowls or smaller wooden doll heads. As such, larger brass mallets are used for projects with larger surfaces, and smaller mallets are used for small-scale items. No matter the size, brass mallets give the user a firm, balanced swing, keeping the woodworker in control of where the mallet lands.
- A whisk broom is an important finishing tool for wood projects. Whisk brooms smooth out any leftover debris from the carving and can remove any stray or frayed ends from the project. This tool is also necessary to burnish the finished project by running the whisk over the wood to give it a high sheen, similar to the final step of burnishing a leather product.
