I’ve been advocating the use of walnut oil on your wood carvings for quite awhile. Most people are not as familiar with walnut oil as they are with its combustible counterpart, boiled linseed oil. Here, then are some questions and answers about the use and qualities of walnut oil you might find helpful. Walnut OilContinue reading “Walnut Oil – Questions & Answers”
Category Archives: Articles & Stories
Painting Tips for Wood Carvers
Painting Tips for Wood Carvers Synthetic Brushes vs. Natural Brushes Paint brushes can be divided into two categories: Natural Hair(animal hair) which is broken down into bristle and soft hairs, like red sable and camel (which is actually a broad term for a group of hairs including ox, goat, pony, and squirrel), and Synthetic Hair,Continue reading “Painting Tips for Wood Carvers”
Five Myths About Woodcarving
Five Myths About Woodcarving from “The Complete Woodcarver’s Handbook” by Graham R. Bull Myth 1– You Need to Be Artistic If ever there was a myth about doing woodcarving it is this one. Being artistic may well be a natural part of some people’s makeup, but it is not a prerequisite to being able toContinue reading “Five Myths About Woodcarving”
Wood Properties of Red Oak
Wood Properties of Red Oak OAK, NORTHERN RED Quercus rubra (rubra – red) Northern red oak is known also as CANADIAN RED OAK, GRAY OAK and RED OAK. This tree grows across the mid-eastern part of southern Canada and the eastern section of the United States as far south as Alabama and Arkasas, and itContinue reading “Wood Properties of Red Oak”
The Stories of Halloween & the Jack-O-Lantern
This month (October) is my annual Halloween Special issue where I’ll be telling some Halloween and Wood Spirit stories. Long-time subscribers may have seen a couple of these but I’m posting them again for the benefit of all the new subscribers who just joined this year. However, I’m sure you will all find something newContinue reading “The Stories of Halloween & the Jack-O-Lantern”
How to Measure and Use a Cane
How to Measure and Use a Cane How to Determine Proper Cane Height and Length Before you start using a cane or walking stick it is important to measure it to find your proper cane height so it is the right length for you. These factors should be considered up front before you start makingContinue reading “How to Measure and Use a Cane”
Learn Through Experimentation
I‘ve been carving for close to 60 years now and I’m still learning. That’s the thing about carving, you never stop learning. The more you look around, the more you find new ways of doing things, whether it’s how to carve eyes or how to antique your carvings. There’s always something out there that youContinue reading “Learn Through Experimentation”
Time Flies
Congratulations to Wood Chip Chatter! This issue marks the second anniversary of my blog. I began two years ago in July, 2021 as a small publication with only a handful of subscribers, and today Wood Chip Chatter has grown to a monthly newsletter with nearly 1,000 subscribers bringing woodcarving and whittling information and news ofContinue reading “Time Flies”
Illustrated Guide To Carving Tree Bark
Illustrated Guide To CARVING TREE BARK by Rick Jensen and Jack A. Williams A Book Review The “Illustrated Guide To CARVING TREE BARK” is the most comprehensive book on cottonwood bark carving I have ever seen. Published in 2004 by Fox Chapel Publishing Company this 75-page guide is chock full, from cover to cover, withContinue reading “Illustrated Guide To Carving Tree Bark”
Wood Properties of Cottonwood
COTTONWOOD, EASTERN Populus deltoides (Populus – ancient Latin name; deltoides – triangular in reference to the leaf shape) This tree is known also by several other names, including ASPEN COTTONWOOD, CAROLINA POPLAR, RIVER POPLAR, WATER POPLAR, YELLOW COTTONWOOD. The tree grows to a height of 100 ft. or more, with a diameter from 5 toContinue reading “Wood Properties of Cottonwood”
Wood Chip Chatter 