Introduction to Woodcarving: Your First Cuts

Duration: 2 Hours

Student: 18-year-old homeschool student

This lesson provides a hands-on introduction to the satisfying craft of woodcarving, focusing on safety and foundational skills.

Materials Needed

Greeting: Express excitement for starting the woodcarving journey! Briefly discuss the appeal of shaping wood by hand.
Goals: Outline the lesson objectives: learning safety, tool basics, first cuts, and a simple project.
SAFETY BRIEFING (Crucial!):
- Always wear the carving glove on your non-knife hand.
- Always wear the thumb guard on the thumb of your knife hand (if applicable/comfortable).
- Always wear safety glasses.
- Rule #1: ALWAYS CUT AWAY FROM YOUR BODY AND HANDS. Never draw the knife towards yourself. Keep your non-knife hand behind the path of the blade.
- Work in a clear, well-lit area.
- Know where the first-aid kit is.
- Sharp tools are safer than dull tools (less force needed), but require respect. We won't sharpen today, but will discuss it briefly if time allows (using strop).
Tool Introduction: Show the whittling knife. Identify the handle, bolster, and blade edge/tip. Explain its purpose for slicing/shaping wood. Briefly show V-gouge if using.
Wood Introduction: Introduce the basswood block – explain why it's good for beginners (soft, even grain).

Demonstrate putting on the glove and thumb guard correctly.
Show how to secure the wood block using either a bench hook (preferred) or a C-clamp (ensure it's tight but doesn't damage the wood excessively). This keeps both hands away from the cutting edge.
If not clamping, demonstrate a safe way to hold the wood firmly on a stable surface, ensuring the non-knife hand is always behind the wood piece relative to the knife path.

Demonstrate: Using a practice piece of wood, demonstrate the following basic cuts slowly:
- Stop Cut: A vertical cut to define an edge where another cut will stop.
- Push Cut/Paring Cut: Using the thumb of the knife hand as a pivot/brace on the wood, push the blade forward to slice off thin shavings. Control is key. Cut with the grain where possible.
- (Optional V-Gouge/Knife V-Cut): Show how to create simple V-shaped channels.
Student Practice: Guide the student to practice these cuts on their piece of wood.
- Emphasize: Thin shavings, control over force, keeping glove hand safe.
- Provide constant supervision and specific feedback (e.g., "Try holding the knife at a slightly lower angle," "Remember to keep your left hand further back").
- Encourage questions.

Design: Choose a very simple design the student can draw lightly on the wood block. Ideas: Rounding off the corners of the block, carving simple initials, a basic leaf outline, or simple geometric notches along an edge.
Guidance: Guide the student step-by-step.
- "Let's start by making stop cuts along your pencil line here."
- "Now, use the push cut to remove small chips up to that stop cut."
- Remind about safety and technique frequently.
- Celebrate small successes!
Focus: The goal is not perfection, but applying the learned cuts safely and gaining a feel for the wood and tools.

Tool Care: Briefly explain that tools need to be kept clean and sharp. Show how to wipe the blade (carefully!) and store it safely. If using a strop, briefly demonstrate honing (optional).
Workspace Clean-up: Use the dustpan and brush to sweep up all wood chips.
Review:
- What were the most important safety rules?
- What were the basic cuts we practiced?
- What did you enjoy? What was challenging?
Next Steps: Briefly mention potential next projects (e.g., simple animal shape, comfort bird) if interest continues.
Admire the Work: Congratulate the student on their first woodcarving project!