Re: Good Morning Monday
Originally Posted by
Mups
->
Perhaps you're right Zulu.
Where would I get the wood from though?
We used to buy it off the tutor before?
To some extent it depends on the sort of things you want to make-
small figures to put on a shelf
larger birds and animals
a fantasy face to hang on your wall
a trivet for your table
a sign for your door
the easiest way is to buy it - Search Google for 'wood carving supplies' and 'wood for carving'
general timber merchants tend to supply wood for building, fencing, etc. but they usually have a pile of oddments and damaged pieces that they don't bother listing on their website. Phone and ask them, you'll probably need to visit and choose what you want
The same sort of thing applies to reclaimed timber
Search google for timber merchants; hardwood timber merchants; reclaimed timber
I've Searched Google for 'reclaimed timber northamptonshire' and there are several references
Don't be afraid of the suppliers
Phone them up, explain what you want, and take it from there
After all, it is in their interests to help you
You can get timber free or more cheaply by using your imagination; what's the saying - 'chance favours the prepared mind'
though you might have to do a bit more preparation
Ask around friends, neighbours, relations, for anyone throwing out old & broken furniture, doing building work
Ask at secondhand furniture dealers, sale rooms, house clearances
Never skip a skip! - old doors, broken furniture, etc
My neighbour dug out his lilac tree last summer, and I got the wood
Keep your eye out for people doing tree work; I got a load of hawthorn for nothing
and I often see people cutting down silver birch or sycamore
I heard of someone where their local working men's club was being refurbished, and they were offered an entire snooker table
Ask tree surgeons, your local parks department, and so on They usually just dump it or chip it, and you can have a few pieces for free
It's a lot easier to just ask the blokes doing the job rather than getting bogged down with head office or council officialdom
A local kitchen outfitters sells offcuts as hobby packs for £10 a bag
See if you can find a traditional carpenter of furniture maker; the small offcuts aren't much us to them, but OK for making a little gnome
Here are some websites, but also Search around on Google & YT
www.communitywoodrecycling.org.uk
www.northantswoodrecycling.org.uk
www.exotichardwoodsukltd.com
most wood carving is done with knives & gouges, but you can also use fine rasps. This supplier has Japanese carving rasps and fine handstitched rasps. They are expensive, but as I don't use power tools I don't mind buying good quality hand tools
www.workshopheaven.com
Don't forget YouTube; play around with the Search box for things like -
Wood carving for beginners
Carving small wooden figures
How to sharpen wood carving tools
and anything else you want to know