Beginner's advice to another Beginner - Tiki Carving

G ganthis Member Honolulu, Hawaii Joined: Mar 22, 2008 Posts: 10	G ganthis Posted posted on Tue, Mar 25, 2008 11:38 AM Hi everyone, I'm fairly a new member, but have been bitten by the tiki bug for a while. It's spring break so I decided to try my hand at carving a tiki. Here's what I learned from my personal experience, which may be hopeful to other newbies. By all means if you have anyother suggestions, please add them. When starting off instead of buying your own set of tools, ask around ie friend, neighbor if they have a set of carving chisels to loan to you. This way you wont have to dish out $$$. Good tools are costly. When borrowing chisels try to get 45 degree gouge flat chisel U shaped gouge These are the basics and will help you create basic shapes and details. Always keep your chisels sharpened well. A dull chisel will only give problems and may cause accidents. *Note most tools when bought new do not come pre-shaprened. Look around your neighborhood for cut lumber to carve out of. Of course some prefer to dry the lumber before carving. It's up to you. For a beginner one should start off with a soft wood like basswood to familiarize oneself with carving and chisels. Basswood blocks can be found not only in lumber specialty stores but in craftstores also. Choose a simple tiki to carve first. I know it's tempting to start off with a fancy, wicked subject. After a first failed attempt, I carved a Moai. See pic below. He's carved out of mango wood. Hope that helps. By all means, please input your tips. I would like to read them.

Hi everyone, I'm fairly a new member, but have been bitten by the tiki bug for a while.

It's spring break so I decided to try my hand at carving a tiki. Here's what I learned from my personal experience, which may be hopeful to other newbies. By all means if you have anyother suggestions, please add them.

When starting off instead of buying your own set of tools, ask around ie friend, neighbor if they have a set of carving chisels to loan to you. This way you wont have to dish out $$$. Good tools are costly.
When borrowing chisels try to get

45 degree gouge
flat chisel
U shaped gouge
These are the basics and will help you create basic shapes and details.

Always keep your chisels sharpened well. A dull chisel will only give problems and may cause accidents. *Note most tools when bought new do not come pre-shaprened.
Look around your neighborhood for cut lumber to carve out of. Of course some prefer to dry the lumber before carving. It's up to you.
For a beginner one should start off with a soft wood like basswood to familiarize oneself with carving and chisels. Basswood blocks can be found not only in lumber specialty stores but in craftstores also.
Choose a simple tiki to carve first. I know it's tempting to start off with a fancy, wicked subject. After a first failed attempt, I carved a Moai. See pic below. He's carved out of mango wood.

Hope that helps. By all means, please input your tips. I would like to read them.

Post #369190 by ganthis on Tue, Mar 25, 2008 11:38 AM