If you’ve carved wood before, you can try using hardwoods, like maple, cherry, or red oak. When you use hardwoods, you will need to carve slower and use more force to chip pieces off.
Don’t press too hard with your pencil since it could dent the wood or be hard to erase later on.
You can buy carbon paper at an office supply store or online. Avoid rubbing the paper with your hand since you could leave smudges on your wood. You can also trace pre-made stencils if you want.
Right-angle chisels can be purchased from your local hardware store. Chisels come in many widths so be sure to use one that’s similar in width to your outlines. If you’re carving out a block letter, place the point of your chisel just inside the outline. If you want a beveled edge, put the chisel directly on your outline.
Never put your other hand in front of the chisel blade since you could get hurt if the chisel slips.
Flat chisels work great for making straight edges and vertical cuts.
If you’re too nervous to use a mallet, try hitting the handle with the palm of your hand first. Some hardwoods, such as white oak, can’t be carved unless you use a mallet.
Go slowly around curves so you have the most control. Use your right-angle chisel for more precise cuts and shaping your wood, and use your flat chisel to remove larger chunks of wood.
If your letters aren’t deep in the wood, sanding them too much could make them lose detail. Make sure to remove any pencil or carbon marks when you’re sanding.
You can purchase a rotary tool from your local hardware store. A standard rotary tool set has 3-4 rounded cutting bits in different sizes. Otherwise, you can buy new sets or bits from your local hardware store. Make sure your rotary tool is unplugged before changing the bits. Pick larger bits to make wider cuts and smaller bits for precise, narrow cuts.
Wear safety glasses while working with your rotary tool to protect your eyes. Keep your fingers away from the end of your rotary tool while it’s spinning.
Work in one direction while you carve your wood or else it might look inconsistent. Change the bit you’re using to change the size of your carve. Use smaller bits for finer lines and larger ones to carve more wood from the area.
Some rotary tools also have a sanding bit that you can use.
