The Complete Book of Woodcarving: Everything You Need to Know to Master the Craft (Fox Chapel Publishing) Comprehensive Guide with Expert Instruction, 8 Beginner-Friendly Projects, and Over 350 Photos
The Complete Book of Woodcarving: Everything You Need to Know to Master the Craft (Fox Chapel Publishing) Comprehensive Guide with Expert Instruction, 8 Beginner-Friendly Projects, and Over 350 Photos book cover

The Complete Book of Woodcarving: Everything You Need to Know to Master the Craft (Fox Chapel Publishing) Comprehensive Guide with Expert Instruction, 8 Beginner-Friendly Projects, and Over 350 Photos

Paperback – Illustrated, June 1, 2008

Price
$23.80
Format
Paperback
Pages
288
Publisher
Fox Chapel Publishing
Publication Date
ISBN-13
978-1565232921
Dimensions
8.58 x 0.76 x 10.97 inches
Weight
1.88 pounds

Description

The Complete Book of Woodcarving If you're a woodworker expanding your talents, a seasoned carver brushing up on your technique, or a beginner newly introduced to this fun and fulfilling craft, you only need one carving book: The Complete Book of Woodcarving . In this comprehensive and fully illustrated reference, Everett Ellenwood, a popular and nationally known carving instructor, packs 40 years of carving "know how" brimming with expert instruction, insightful tips, and practical advice. With The Complete Book of Woodcarving as your guide, you will learn everything there is to know about carving, including: How and why to select certain wood for your projects How and why to select certain wood for your projects Carving tools and how to use them Carving tools and how to use them Sharpening your tools like an expert Sharpening your tools like an expert Designing a carving workspace Designing a carving workspace Every classic carving style, from incised to chip to low relief to flat plane Every classic carving style, from incised to chip to low relief to flat plane Fundamental and complex carving techniques, including the push cut, pull cut, stop cut, slicing cut, and chip cut Fundamental and complex carving techniques, including the push cut, pull cut, stop cut, slicing cut, and chip cut The basics of power carving The basics of power carving Paints and finishes and how to properly use them Paints and finishes and how to properly use them How to develop an idea into a finished carving How to develop an idea into a finished carving The Complete Book of Woodcarving also includes a valuable resource section and eight classic projects that will confidently build your skills and refine your talents. Everett Ellenwood has been a carving instructor for more than 25 years. He has made two best-selling videos, Beginning Woodcarving and Sharpening Simplified .

Features & Highlights

  • From making the first cut to applying the finish, this comprehensive resource covers every aspect of woodcarving!
  • Eight classic projects that will help you confidently build your skills and refine your talents
  • Eight classic projects
  • that will help you confidently build your skills and refine your talents
  • How to sharpen your tools like an expert, and how to fix improperly sharpened tools
  • How to sharpen
  • your tools like an expert, and how to fix improperly sharpened tools
  • Fundamental and complex carving techniques, including the push cut, pull cut, stop cut, slicing cut, and chip cut
  • Fundamental and complex carving techniques
  • , including the push cut, pull cut, stop cut, slicing cut, and chip cut
  • Tools and shop setup: Learn the available carving tools and how to use them, plus how to design your carving workspace
  • Tools and shop setup
  • : Learn the available carving tools and how to use them, plus how to design your carving workspace
  • Learn every classic carving style, from incised to chip, to low relief, to flat plane
  • Learn every classic carving style
  • , from incised to chip, to low relief, to flat plane
  • Wood, paint, and finishes: Learn how and why to select certain wood for your projects; learn about the available paints and finishes and how to properly use them
  • Wood, paint, and finishes
  • : Learn how and why to select certain wood for your projects; learn about the available paints and finishes and how to properly use them
  • Expert instruction from author Everett Ellenwood, a nationally known carving instructor with nearly 40 years of carving experience
  • Expert instruction
  • from author Everett Ellenwood, a nationally known carving instructor with nearly 40 years of carving experience
  • If you're a woodworker expanding your talents, a seasoned carver brushing up on your technique, or a beginner newly introduced to this fun and fulfilling craft, you only need one carving book:
  • The Complete Book of Woodcarving
  • !
  • Inside this comprehensive and fully illustrated reference, Everett Ellenwood, a popular and nationally known carving instructor, has packed 40 years of carving "know how."
  • The Complete Book of Woodcarving
  • is brimming with Everett's expert instruction, insightful tips, and practical advice.
  • Everything is here for the beginning or advanced woodcarver, from choosing the appropriate wood; setting up a shop, selecting, using, and sharpening tools; and performing all the fundamental techniques, such as the push cut, pull cut, stop cut, and slicing cut.
  • Every general carving style—from classical to whimsical to rustic—is detailed, as are the basic steps of power carving, which can be used in addition to, or as an alternative to, hand carving. The author will also teach you how to develop your ideas into finished carvings, by taking you through the various items and techniques that will help you visualize and solidify your idea and prepare you to start carving it.
  • Eight projects designed to help newer woodcarvers build proficiency are included, along with the plans for the beautiful rocking horse featured on the cover. A handy resource section and a glossary round out this fully illustrated, must-have guide for all woodcarvers.
  • Whether you're a woodworker expanding your talents, a seasoned carver refining your skills, or a beginner newly introduced to this fulfilling craft, this is the only carving book you need!

Customer Reviews

Rating Breakdown

★★★★★
60%
(286)
★★★★
25%
(119)
★★★
15%
(71)
★★
7%
(33)
-7%
(-33)

Most Helpful Reviews

✓ Verified Purchase

excellent for a beginner like me

Excellent for a beginner like me. I have hobby skills, but no carving skills. This book provided excellent advice to get me started. For instance: Do not but buy a kit of tools; buy these (specific) tools to get you started. Buy high quality tools. Buy and WEAR a safety glove....one has no idea how razor sharp these tools are ...and MUST be to enjoy carving. Species of wood to buy and carving characteristics. Carving methods. Sharpening methods. Finishing methods. And , of course, a few projects from extremely basic to hot shot.

Know that this book is heavy in hand carving and light on rotary application.

I complimented this books on wood chipping, and carving a Blue Teal. I had four projects of various skills going on at one time to keep my interest, apply new learning, and get instant gratification.

Highly recommend the book.
121 people found this helpful
✓ Verified Purchase

A Fabulous Carving Resource

This book is incredible!! It covers a great variety of information in exceptionally clear prose and the numerous photos are fabulous. All in all, this is a once-in-a-lifetime reference book.

For example, the 50-page sharpening "chapter" (treatise) is a masterpiece of practical, useful tips on bringing out the best in your tools. No needless fluff, no pitching of over-priced gadgets, nothing but good, solid information about sharpening properly and with a minimum of expense, time and trouble. Not interested in a pair of $100 diamond stones? No problem; the author describes which grits of wet-dry paper will do the same job- for a whopping $2- and how to use them so they won't damage your tools. Problems with a gouge not reaching into the corners? Here's how to re-shape it properly. Etc, etc, etc; the sharpening chapter is absolutely amazing!

Each and every other chapter is similarly thorough and wonderfully practical, and I couldn't be more pleased or impressed. The sample projects are well chosen and make me want to start several of them immediately. Thank you ever so much, Mr. Ellenwood, for such a fine encyclopedia of all things carving-related! Your book will undoubtedly cause generations of carvers to enjoy their hobby a great deal more, and you are to be commended.
60 people found this helpful
✓ Verified Purchase

Great Reference For Woodcarving

This is an excellent reference book for those getting started in woodcarving. Everett helped me understand the different kinds of woodcarving, the tools required and sharpening systems available. Importantly, he provides a pro's and con's comparison of the different techniques that proved very helpful in generating an understanding of what is required.

By the time I started meeting other woodcarvers at clubs and shows, I had a good working knowledge of what I wanted to do and what I needed. Plus, I had a good understanding of the language of the woodcarving art. This guide helped me make the best choices for the tools I needed to get started.
38 people found this helpful
✓ Verified Purchase

Highly recommended

The book is beautifully illustrated. Has many interesting projects in it. Reads like a trade manual from a carver's school. Has everything needed for a successful carving experience.
26 people found this helpful
✓ Verified Purchase

Worth every penny.

This book is well sub-titled: "Everything you need to know to master the craft". Because it's true. I can't think of anything overlooked, missed, or misrepresented. This book should almost be classified as an instruction manual/encyclopedia. I'm a beginning carver, and this had everything I wanted and needed to know. One more thing, it's exhaustive. It covers everything in quality detail and volume. The author didn't try to leave anything out here (unlike other unmentionable books I have looked at).

6 Stars! Worth every last penny. I doubt you will find one used, because I'm sure other people are like me: I'll never be letting go of my copy.
25 people found this helpful
✓ Verified Purchase

WOW! When they say conplete, they mean it!!

I will try to make this short and sweet. This big, paper-back book has just about everything but a human hand in it to give you "hands-on-lessons".... I opened the book at a random place and was shocked by the great, clear photos and understandable print. I started going through the entire book...skimming... and was so impressed with all and every proceedure you might encountner in woodcarving.

For a beginner this book should be a must. For a more experienced carver...this is great for tune-ups.

Thank you for this book!
19 people found this helpful
✓ Verified Purchase

An excellent, step-by-step introductory guide

By the time I worked my way through this excellent book, I felt I'd been carving for months instead of days. I can't imagine a better introductory guide to the craft of woodcarving than this one.
18 people found this helpful
✓ Verified Purchase

Buy This Book

Last October, I won Best of Show with one of my carvings. Then I received this book for Christmas. It was my favorite gift. I'd recommend it highly - whether you're a beginning or you've been carving for a while. It's thorough, well-written and nicely done.
17 people found this helpful
✓ Verified Purchase

An excellent book!

As a relative beginner, I was looking for something that could take me a long way into carving. I looked at many, many books and this one seemed, by other's reviews, to be the one for me. Indeed, I am very pleased with my purchase! It is detailed enough and has ideas enough to keep me busy for a long while. I'd highly recommend this!
11 people found this helpful
✓ Verified Purchase

Very useful book

I've bought many books on various styles of wood carving. This one has the very best descriptions and pictures regarding precisely how to sharpen the various carving knives, chisels and gouges and how to correct improperly sharpened V-tools and gouges. This alone was worth the purchase to me. There's a nice assortment of project plans with directions and patterns in the back covering several different styles of carving. I think this is a great book for both beginners and folks who've been carving who might want to check out other styles of the craft. The author covers in great and practical detail the tools and safety aids needed.
10 people found this helpful