Purchased a carving kit and don't know how to start creating? We suggest trying to carve a wooden bowl, which is an ideal project for beginners to learn wood carving. Don't worry about not knowing what to do, we will provide you with this detailed guide to carving a wooden bowl.
The process of carving a wooden bowl
Step 1: Design Inspiration
Carving is a free artistic endeavor and you can draw the shape style of the wooden bowl you want to carve based on your design inspiration. You can also refer to the wooden bowl shapes shared by other carving enthusiasts online or refer to natural elements.
For example, if you like the natural and simple style, you can refer to the carving of Japanese wooden bowls, and if you like unique shapes, you can refer to the bird bowls and abstract wooden bowls created by artists. However, beginners are advised to learn to carve a simple round wooden bowl first.
Step 2: select wood
Recommended wood: It is recommended that beginners prefer walnut (delicate, good-looking), basswood (soft, easy to carve), pine (straight grain).
Suggested size: you need a block of wood with a size of 10cm x 10cm x 5cm.
Step 3: Carving tools
Beginner carving does not need to buy too many carving tools, there is a set of basic introductory engraving tools can be, the following is the relevant recommendations:
Carving knife: a semi-circular knife for digging depressions, a flat knife for trimming, a V-shaped knife for carving details
Shaping tools: a wire saw, a chisel
Sanding tools: a wood file and several sheets of sandpaper of different grits.
Protective tools: work gloves, goggles and a dust mask.
Step 4: Marking and planning
Following your design, use a pencil and a compass to draw on the block of wood the areas to be carved as well as size markings. First, use the compass to draw concentric circles above and below the block, with the outer circle being the diameter of the mouth of the bowl and the inner circle being the diameter of the bottom of the bowl. Next, use a pencil to mark the location and length of the vertical lines and the thickness of the bowl.
Step 5: Carving
Carve the shape
The wood block needs to be clamped with a vise, or in the bottom of the wood block pad non-slip pads flat on the workbench, to avoid sliding when carving. Then use a wire saw to saw a circular outline along the outer circle line, keeping 1~2mm margin outside the drawing line (for subsequent trimming). After cutting away the excess wood, use a chisel to slowly carve along the marked lines, and perform multiple shaping.
Note: The carving force should not be too strong when shaping to prevent the block from cracking.
Roughly digging the bowl cavity
Use a semi-circular knife to carve the center of the wooden bowl with a deep depression. Tilt the knife from the center of the inner circle of the marked concentric circles outward and remove the wood in layers, each digging depth of about 3-5mm. walnut grain is clear and delicate, the blade of the semi-circular knife along the direction of the wood grain, to avoid the reverse grain resulting in burl. Keep the thickness of the bottom of the bowl 1-2mm, remember not to dig too much into a hollow bowl.
Trimming the bowl
This step is very test of the carver's knife work, the prototype of the wooden bowl has a lot of need to use the carving knife to trim the place. First, use a flat knife to flatten the edge of the bowl mouth, so that the outer contour is smooth. Next, scrape diagonally along the inside of the bowl to adjust the curvature. You can open your palm and touch the bowl wall with your fingers to make sure it is symmetrical. Finally, use a V-shaped knife to carve a groove on the outside of the bowl mouth, which is non-slip and beautiful.
Carving Patterns
Once the basic shape of the wooden bowl is complete, you can add your favorite carving pattern to make the piece more special and beautiful. Use a marker to draw a simple pattern of flowers, plants and trees on the outside of the bowl, and then use a pneumatic engraving machine to carve the pattern quickly and accurately.
Step 6: Sanding
After the above steps, the finished bowl will have many uneven carving marks and will need to be finely sanded. First, use a file to smooth out the obvious edges. Then the sandpaper wrapped in sponge, according to the “inner wall → outer wall → bowl bottom” order of the wooden bowl for sanding.
Step 7: Waxing
We recommend using food-grade wood wax oil (safe and non-toxic) for this step. Dip a cotton cloth into the wax oil and spread it evenly on the surface of the wooden bowl, leave it for 20 minutes to wipe off the excess wax, and finally wait for the wax oil to dry into a film.
Safety and Tips
Safety First
There are many hidden dangers in the carving process, such as splinters and sharp carving tools. When carving, always push the carving knife outward and keep your hands away from the blade. Wear goggles before you start carving to prevent splinters from getting in your eyes.
Solutions to some common problems
Wood shavings clogging the knife groove: use an old toothbrush to clean it out.
Chipped edges: fill with wood flour + glue, sand after drying.
Conclusion
The key to carving a wooden bowl is to patiently chip away at it in layers, gradually approaching the design shape and finally completing the carving of the bowl. You can take photos of each step to record the different stages of change and feel the healing feeling of hand carving! Carving wooden bowls has a low entry threshold, interested carving enthusiasts quickly buy a set of simple carving tools to try!