Woodcarving

Years ago, as a teen, I worked in a hobby shop where we sold a wide variety of things to support people’s hobby and craft interests.  While working there, I learned a bit about stamp and coin collecting, tried my hand at ceramics, and fell in love with model rocketry, which consumed a good portion of my meager income!

Although never using one, I had interest in the Dremel tools and accessories we sold.  These were priced well beyond my means, and really were overkill for anything I would use them for in model rocketry.

Nevertheless, over the years, I have had a few projects for which I thought a Dremel would have been useful, but never felt the expense was justifiable.  

Until now!

It started with a ceramic casserole dish that was chipped in a way that I couldn’t easily smooth out with sandpaper.  I also had a door that wouldn’t close well during humid times of the year.  I had worked on the door in a crude way with a drill and grinder bit, but it didn’t fully fix the problem.

As a recent retiree, with some time on my hands, and in the hunt for some projects, I looked on YouTube for things you could do with a Dremel rotary tool.  BINGO!  I found lots! Not everything was of interest, but woodcarving caught my eye.  With a little more research, and a sale on a basic Dremel starting package at Lowes, I felt it was time!

The day I bought the tool, I quickly smoothed out the rough edge on the dish, fixed the door that wouldn’t close well, and turned my attention to a piece of old wood.  After trying out the bits in the kit, I returned to YouTube and found some simple beginner woodcarving instructions.

Over the next several days, I tried a few carving techniques and purchased some additional attachments and materials.  I watched and rewatched the videos, going back to see what the “masters” were doing, where I was struggling.  Then back to Amazon or Lowes to get something else.

I think I am hooked!  I can get lost on a project and time flies!  I get into the flow, much like I did when I was doing surgery.  I have a long way to go to perfect my techniques, but the challenge is invigorating!

I see an interesting spiritual parallel, which might explain the attraction and enjoyment.

The project begins with a shapeless piece of wood. (Yes, it has a basic shape, but no detail.) I have claimed it and determined an outcome for it. I (the creator) see a possibility for the wood, and trace a stamp (with carbon paper) of the desired outline onto the wood.  The wood now bears the image I have chosen for it, but needs much work to make it visible in three dimensions.  Extra wood, that hides the image, needs carved away.  Sometimes, the carving is pretty vigorous, to remove a larger amount of wood fairly rapidly.  But as the image begins to appear, the tools and the work get finer and more detailed.  The work gets more delicate.  

I have not yet “completed” a project.  I am awaiting some additional carving burs and sanding tools to help with the finer details.  Kind of like life; the work is not done yet!