Every expert today started as a beginner once upon a time. You may have just developed a real love for wood carving, maybe even as a hobby, and want to achieve those smooth finishes you have always admired.
The truth is that Rome was not built in a day. You have to start somewhere. To set you on course for this amazing choice of hobby, there are detailed but easy-to-understand wood carving books out there. Here are six of the best wood carving books to start with. All of these books were written by well-known woodworkers that have spent almost all their lives wood carving, not as a hobby, but as a vocation.
You will be thrilled to know that these books contain step-by-step procedures with diagrams that illustrate what to do and how you can sharpen your skills. Eventually, you will understand that wood carving is an incredible craft to learn.
Our Top Picks for the Best Wood Carving Books
Are you already thinking of buying one of these books? We understand that there are many of them available, with some that are not as detailed as others. To help you choose the best, we have come up with a list of recommended wood carving books that will help you improve your newfound hobby.
1. Relief Carving Projects & Techniques
The models in this carving book are easy to understand, including comments and opinions by the experts, and the instructions are crystal clear.
The opening chapters of the book delve into the measuring techniques you can follow when working on various wooden models. The other chapters explain in clear, simple terms how to make home decor and other designs.
All this and more is packed into the 144 pages, making this book a great choice for beginners.
Specifications
- Product dimensions: 8.5 x 0.5 x 11 inches
- Item weight: 1.23 pounds
- Paperback: 144 pages
- Language: English
- Publisher: Fox Chapel Publishing
- Customer reviews: 4.7 out of 5 stars
Pros
- Contains step-by-step instructions
- Well-illustrated diagrams to consult
- Contains experts’ opinions
Cons
- May not contain all modern patterns
2. Chip Carving: Expert Techniques and 50 All-Time Favorite Projects
Beautiful illustrations are there to open your imagination and belief in what you can create if you follow the instructions in the book. You will also find the best chip carving projects that are meant for both beginners and professionals alike.
With this book, you get an exclusive front row seat to various methods and innovative approaches that you can mimic, from measurement standards to different finishes to enhance your projects.
Specifications
- Product dimensions: 8.5 x 0.32 x 11.06 inches
- Item weight: 1.19 pounds
- Paperback: 127 pages
- Language: English
- Publisher: Fox Chapel Publishing
- Customer reviews: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Pros
- Colorful diagrams are there to drive home vital points
- Experts’ opinions to help you through your beginners’ course
Cons
- Available only in the English language
3. Handcarved Christmas: 36 Beloved Ornaments, Decorations, and Gifts
You will also find workable techniques like how to add texture, how to weigh your carvings, and so on. When these techniques are implemented, you will find that you can handle any project, from measuring to the actual carving, down to the luxurious finishing touches.
The book follows a normal gradual increase from simple to complex techniques, and it’s wise to learn the basics first before moving on to more complex designs. You will need to remember this if you are just starting out with the hobby.
This book is also a good gift idea for family and friends who love to experiment with wood carving and love the holiday season.
Specifications
- Product dimensions: 8.5 x 0.6 x 10.9 inches
- Item weight: 1.34 pounds
- Paperback: 144 pages
- Language: English
- Publisher: Fox Chapel Publishing
- Customer reviews: 4.7 out of 5 stars
Pros
- Easy to understand instructions
- Basic skills are discussed before complex designs
- Good choice for beginners
- Beautiful Christmas-themed designs
Cons
- Available only in the English language
4. Carving Faces Workbook & 4-Piece Wood Carving Tool Set
Going through the book will help you become skilled in different projects. Along with the set of professional techniques are colored diagrams clearly depicting all the written instructions.
The second part of this package is the wood carving tools. Each of the blades is made from heat-treated steel that is durable and reliable for making good cuts. The wooden handles, made from high-quality wood, are all ergonomically-designed and feel comfortable to hold.
If you want good value for your money, and you want to learn more about wood carving at the same time, you can trust this recommendation.
Specifications
- Product dimensions: 8.82 x 4.8 x 1.69 inches
- Item weight: 15.8 ounces
- Manufacturer: Ramelson
- Customer reviews: 4.0 out of 5 stars
Pros
- Set of tools included with the book
- Great diagrams for easy comprehension
- Tools blades are sharpened for making easy cuts
Cons
- Fewer patterns are explained in the book
5. Easy Woodcarving: Simple Techniques for Carving and Painting Wood
The next section goes over various techniques on making cuts, painting, and finishing your wooden projects. In this section, you will find several detailed instructions with diagrams to help you understand the explanations presented.
You are also given around 10 exercises to practice your skills with, as well as 6 different projects to test your understanding about what you’re learning.
The book also goes over what you need to do when maintaining each of the tools you use. The clear instructions and diagrams make this book another great choice for a beginning woodcarver.
Specifications
- Product dimensions: 8.52 x 0.41 x 11 inches
- Item weight: 12 ounces
- Paperback: 152 pages
- Publisher: Fox Chapel Publishing
- Customer reviews: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Pros
- 6 projects to complete
- 10 exercises to practice
- High-quality photos of patterns
Cons
- Experts may not find this book as detailed
6. The Beginner’s Handbook of Woodcarving
The book offers you a feel for various carving techniques, as well as going into the background of each of the models common among woodcarvers today.
It is the only book on this list that extensively explains chiseling, and also highlights how to use several other tools and how to properly maintain them. Overall, this book is a contender for one of the best wood carving books out there.
Specifications
- Product dimensions: 8.5 x 0.5 x 11.25 inches
- Item weight: 1.17 pounds
- Paperback: 192 pages
- Language: English
- Publishers: Dover Publications
- Customer reviews: 4.3 out of 5 stars
Pros
- Contains lots of illustrations
- The instructions match the provided diagrams perfectly
- Over 60 patterns to choose from
- Various techniques covered
Cons
- Beginners may find some of the instructions difficult to follow
Wood Carving Tips
While wood carving is an intricate activity, it shouldn’t feel tedious – we want you to enjoy every minute of it! In order to make the craft more satisfying and less frustrating, we have a list of carving tips that can make your projects more fruitful and productive.
It is especially important to follow these tips if you are a beginner.
Learn to handle a knife properly
You might think everyone can handle a knife. While that might be true in general, it is a completely different thing to handle a knife for carving wood. You want the finished project to be smooth, detailed, and stylish, not full of nicks. Since you’ll probably be working on your projects for a while, the way you handle a knife can either add to your comfort or your strain.
Choose a knife with a handle that will limit the level of fatigue your hands will feel. The best knives are usually the ones that are ergonomically-designed and comfortable to hold.
Never forget your gloves
Many beginners make the mistake of not wearing gloves while carving. Others claim that not wearing gloves offers more control over the knife, but it’s wise to think of work hazards. Wood carving is an activity that requires you to work with and work around sharp objects.
Just one simple miscalculation and you could end up cutting yourself. It’s imperative to always wear gloves to reduce any risk of injury during your projects. Especially if you’re just starting out with wood carving, do not forget to put on a pair before picking up your knife.
Importance of sketching
While many might think that this is a time-wasting step, remember that you are a beginner and that wood carving is an art. Pick up a pen and some plain paper, and sketch what you would like your finished project to be like. Once you’re done sketching, start carving your material and try to stay as close as you can to the rough sketch you have on your paper.
This way, you can achieve the same precision professionals always target. If you find that you’re not much of a sketcher, don’t worry. You can always look up a pattern in one of your wood carving books!
Follow the grain
The easiest way to carve wood is to carve following the wood grain. This is especially so when working with hardwood like oak and mahogany. When carving softwood, you should more easily be able to carve in a direction that may not follow the wood grain, but it’s a good rule of thumb nonetheless.
Conclusion
Are you already feeling like a pro? Well, that’s to be expected after going through this guide and reading all about the best wood carving books out there! Any one of them would make an excellent addition to your library.
Before you master your new hobby, understand that you will make some mistakes. But the more mistakes you make, the better you will get. Practice makes perfect!