Carlo From Italy

[Carlo83]

Hi
I'm Carlo from italy 38years old, I'm totally new to this world and as everyone in the beginning a lot confused on where start. I'm waiting for my first knives set, and will begin from some project that I saw on yyoutube, every advice on very start project that I can do are accepted. Thanks and cross finger

[Nebraska]

Welcome to the forum Carlo, looking forward to seeing your work.

[Randy]

Hello Carlo and welcome to the forum. We all felt the same when we started. There is a lot of information here and every one likes to share. You may fine this helpful, http://woodcarvingillustrated.com/ Click on "How To" there is a lot of information there.

[John Smith]

welcome aboard, Carlo.
when you get your knives, that is the first step. learning how to sharpen them and keep them sharp is the 2nd step.
do you have a sketch, pattern, or drawing for your project ?

[JJF]

Welcome to the forum Carlo

[Tom Ellis]

Welcome Carlo, Youtube is an excellent source for beginner carver. Other carvers as well.

[joepaulbutler]

Welcome Carlo, I disagree with Randy, heck I knew it all! If you believe that, I've some property to sell you. In reality, I consider the WCI the Book of Knowledge for carvers. There is NO question that should not be asked, Now get busy and make something to post on the site. Again Welcome.

[Glenn Jennings]

Hi Carlo
Welcome aboard. You will find the tutorials very helpful and all the guys will chip in with advice when you need it. happy carving!!!

[Carlo83]

welcome aboard, Carlo.
when you get your knives, that is the first step. learning how to sharpen them and keep them sharp is the 2nd step.
do you have a sketch, pattern, or drawing for your project ?

Thanks everyone for the moral support.
John not really i've focused on two video:
- simple santa:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fdom15Mbfrg

but i think is to hard as first carve

then i moved on a
- simple fox:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QI-Qu1FNUio

that seems better for a very first try. Any advice on what could be a first ones project to follow are really accepted

[John Smith]

Carlo; my first "carving" was at 8 years old with a pocket knife that my uncle gave me that had a broken blade.
that blade was very similar to a chip carving blade and my mother drew a simple flower on a piece of wood for me and I did a relief carving from that. and from then on, my candle was lit. the flame sometimes went dim, but never went out.
look through the internet for simple items, print out the one you like, and just have it. (a photo of your knives will help a lot when you get them).
and - it is not "unmanly" to have a big box of band aids in the cabinet.

5905.jpg

[woodburner807]

Welcome to the group, Carlo.

[Claude]

Welcome to the Forums, Carlo!

Gene Messer has a lot of step-by-step videos for beginning carvers: https://www.youtube.com/results?sear...carving+videos

Arleen Zomer also has a lot of beginning carver videos: https://www.youtube.com/results?sear...r+wood+carver+

Assuming your new knives arrive sharp, to keep your knives sharp, they need to be stropped. Do not use a whetstone. Take a piece of cardboard from a cereal box, and tape or glue it grey side up to a flat surface (glass, a tile, MDF shelving, etc.) Rub some 0.5 micron honing compound on the cardboard - does not have to cover it completely. Drag the knife blade along the strop, moving it away from the cutting edge. Do not roll the blade over at the end; lift it straight up. Do this about 15 times on each side, and do it every 15 minutes of carving to keep your knife sharp.

If your new knives are not sharp, look through this forum for initial sharpening steps: https://forum.woodcarvingillustrated...ogy-sharpening

Claude

[Carlo83]

Welcome to the Forums, Carlo!

Gene Messer has a lot of step-by-step videos for beginning carvers: https://www.youtube.com/results?sear...carving+videos

Arleen Zomer also has a lot of beginning carver videos: https://www.youtube.com/results?sear...r+wood+carver+

Assuming your new knives arrive sharp, to keep your knives sharp, they need to be stropped. Do not use a whetstone. Take a piece of cardboard from a cereal box, and tape or glue it grey side up to a flat surface (glass, a tile, MDF shelving, etc.) Rub some 0.5 micron honing compound on the cardboard - does not have to cover it completely. Drag the knife blade along the strop, moving it away from the cutting edge. Do not roll the blade over at the end; lift it straight up. Do this about 15 times on each side, and do it every 15 minutes of carving to keep your knife sharp.

If your new knives are not sharp, look through this forum for initial sharpening steps: https://forum.woodcarvingillustrated...ogy-sharpening

Claude

Thanks Claude,
You forecasted this point, yesterday i have started, and.....wow my knife doesn't cut. I saw some video and everyone say something of different, and i dont know what i have to buy or need, for the moment i have a strip of leather and a green Rub. I tried to put the green rub on the leather and sharp then, better but not I think should be. In the video the knife enter like a knife in the butter, mine is like have hit of axe on surface, ill read the article that you suggested thanks.

Are you using only the rub and the leather to sharp your kinfe?

Thanks a lot to everyone you are really fantastic.

[Claude]

...

Are you using only the rub and the leather to sharp your kinfe?

...

Not any more. Now, my strop is just the cereal box cardboard with the green Chromium Oxide compound rubbed on it. If your knife is really dull or wasn't sharp when you bought it, you can get some sandpaper to sharpen it. Start with about 600 grit, then go to 1000 grit. After that, you can strop the blade to get it carving sharp.

Claude

[Mark N. Akers]

Welcome to the forum.