{"id":773,"date":"2020-09-08T20:00:29","date_gmt":"2020-09-08T17:00:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/woodiswood.com\/?p=773"},"modified":"2022-09-07T12:01:09","modified_gmt":"2022-09-07T09:01:09","slug":"log-carving-with-hand-tools-step-by-step-guide","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/woodiswood.com\/log-carving-with-hand-tools-step-by-step-guide\/","title":{"rendered":"Log Carving With Hand Tools – Step By Step Guide"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Carving large wood logs is no easy task with non-powered tools, however, of course, it is possible and very rewarding if done correctly. In this article, we will cover in detail, the right way to carve logs prepare and carve logs from scratch.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To carve large wooden pieces such as logs, you need to have a strong wood holder such as a bar clamp, an axe, and your preferred carving gouges and chisels with a carver’s mallet. To start carving you must clear the bark using a peeling spud and shape out the outline of your log using an axe.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is best that you have a fully equipped workshop with an adjustable workbench where you can work with your log. Getting the log there might take a little bit of effort, but it will be worth it as the wood will feel better inside and the convenience of your tools nearby will be very pleasant. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now that you have a rough understanding of how things will shape, we can start with our step by step guide on how to carve a log using hand tools.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Saw The Wood<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Very often you will not need the full length of the log that you have available. While you can leave it as it is, put some thought into how much of the log you are looking to use, and make a decision if you want to reduce the size of the log.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sawing a log (especially if it large) is a long and hard process. If it’s your first time doing it, be patient, you probably are doing everything right, but it just takes a long time to saw through the whole log.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The log should not<\/strong> be lying on the floor, this will make it extremely difficult for you to saw it and the final cut will probably crack the wood in a few places. Make sure you are doing it on an elevated surface.<\/strong> You should also calculate the way the log will fall after you cut through it, you have to be very sure it will not break falling or damage someone or something.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A tip to consider when sawing is that you always want to “work”. There is no point moving the saw if you are not pushing down and cutting through the wood. Take breaks, give it a few tries but make sure you work when you saw. Trust that this way will be much faster.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. Split The Wood In Half<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Depending on what you are planning to carve, more often than not, you may need to split the wood in half. If for your project you need to keep the log in one piece, be sure to skip this step, otherwise, here is the way that we would recommend doing it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Unlike the image above suggests, don’t split the wood in half by using your avarage sized axe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This can be done using a few wedges. If you have metal wedges that’s probably best, in theory, you could also use wooden wedges that you crafted yourself, but that’s a little more difficult to use.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The trick to making a clean cut down the middle with a wedge is picking the right spots for the wedges. For that, you need to inspect the log’s surface for clues on what is the best place to start.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you are relevantly new to using a wedge with a sledgehammer, you can watch this short 4-minute video for a very informational tutorial on splitting the log. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=kJocASm_V8Y<\/a>