Wood carving for beginners - create unique wood products with your own hands using video master classes

There is such a type of thread as through or openwork - it is divided into, in fact, through and overhead, it has two subtypes: slotted thread (through sections are cut with chisels and cutters) and kerf thread (actually the same thing, but such areas are cut out with a saw or jigsaw ). The most productive tool, of course, is the jigsaw. It makes it easy to do slotted carving, which is great for woodworking!

Openwork carving is called openwork, because, as you can see in the photographs, products made using this technique look incredibly light, like the most delicate lace. The essence of slotted carving is to saw through a pattern in a thin piece of wood. This type of carving has gained incredible popularity in the field of design and interior decoration. The most striking examples of carved carvings can be considered house carvings - decorations for frames on windows and doors, carved railings, pediment decorations have been created in Rus' since time immemorial and many of them have survived to this day.

The main difference between slotted threads is that the background of the product is completely removed. But sometimes, for better perception of the pattern, it is nailed or glued to a solid background of a contrasting color. This technique is called overhead threading.

Types of thread

There are the following methods of wood processing:
Let's consider the first of them. It is not used often, since it is a special technique; training lasts several years. In fact, in the process of work, the background, background or backdrop is completely removed. Therefore, the finished product has an airy pattern. Fir, linden, pine or spruce wood is used as a blank. And the execution technology depends on the chosen tool.

This technique is considered easy, but its implementation may result in inaccuracies and errors.

Bench for a summer house made with slotted carvings

You can also use an electric hand router, which will qualitatively process the edges of the ornament, but this requires certain knowledge and experience. But this type of carving is applicable not only on small-sized products, as there are masters of this craft who work with chainsaws.

Rules for drying wood

It should be remembered that for slotted and other types of carvings, you should use only well-dried wood, so as not to watch with regret later how the finished carved product, as it dries, warps and cracks. Drying of workpieces should not be carried out in the sun or near heating devices. The wood should dry randomly in a warm room with good ventilation. It is better to place the boards on their ends, placing strips under them to ensure air access to all sides. By the way, you can dry small pieces in the microwave in several sessions.

Technology of carving along the finished contour

DIY wooden swing.
380 drawings, photos and step-by-step master classes When the drawing is transferred to the workpiece, the most difficult part of the work begins, namely the process of wood processing.

Making starting holes for through threads

• If our task is through threading, then first we need to make a starting hole in each element. This is done using a drill with a drill whose diameter corresponds to the width of the blade of the saw or jigsaw used for wood.
• After this, a saw is inserted into the hole and part of the wood is cut out. The edges of the hole are then smoothed out either with a knife or using files and abrasives.

Flat and volumetric threads are performed differently:

We start work by cutting the outline

First, the contours of future recesses are cut with a sharp knife.

• Then, using the edge of the jamb or cutter, we make a central cut into the deepest part. After this, we begin to form the recesses, choosing wood between the outline and the central recess.
• We form small details and textures using a chisel. Ideally, it should be sharp enough to cut the material without using a mallet, but sometimes (especially if you have to cut oak, beech or maple) additional effort is necessary.

Selection of main recesses according to the sketch

• It is convenient to select deep grooves with chisels with a curved blade - the so-called cranberries. In this case, you need to try to ensure that the cutting edge does not plunge below the selected level.
• After completing the carving, you should once again go through the contours with a knife, restoring smooth edges. When this stage is completed, you can proceed to sanding the surfaces.

Preparatory stage

Prepare the necessary tools and materials for slotted carving:

• planed edged boards from coniferous trees with a thickness of 18 - 20 mm;
• a simple pencil;
• carbon paper;
• jigsaw

Instead of a jigsaw, you can choose a set of chisels and knives, but an electric hand tool has a number of advantages:

• house carving is performed quickly, accurately, and with high quality;
• compact dimensions;
• light weight;
• the ability to make straight and curved cuts;
• making round and rectangular holes with different diameters.

Professional carvers note that a universal jigsaw is convenient and easy to use. When choosing a tool, power is of paramount importance. Using a household jigsaw, you can cut wooden trims for windows with a thickness of less than 70 mm.

The professional model has more capabilities: a jigsaw cuts wood with a thickness of 80–135 mm. The cost of high-performance tools is influenced by the presence of additional functionality. What equipment is required to work with a jigsaw?

The following items are often included with a jigsaw:

• replaceable files;
• several screwdrivers;
• lubricating fluid;
• storage case.

The master will also need a table on which the tool will be mounted at the workplace. This handy tool allows you to move the material instead of the jigsaw. This is necessary when processing small parts. By attaching a replacement plate to the support platform, optimal gliding can be achieved.

We make platbands for windows on a wooden house ourselves - a step-by-step process

Decoupage for beginners: step by step with photos, 7 master classes, video instructions, list of what you need to get started

Before you start creating a platband, you should select and print a sketch. We have already talked about this in detail in the section “Templates for carved platbands for a wooden house.”

How to create patterns correctly? Two main methods have found widespread use:

1. Carved carving - involves the creation of a through ornament, which in appearance resembles lace.
2. Overlay carving - the key difference is that all the elements that make up the window casing are made separately and placed on a pre-prepared base.

To make your own carved frames from boards for windows you will need:

• jigsaw - necessary for painstaking work that requires special care;
• hacksaw;
• knife, chisel;
• milling machine - used to give products small edges.

Making carved window frames yourself is quite simple:

1. Take preliminary measurements of the windows. Make sure your measurements are accurate; it is best to take them several times. This will avoid time costs and damage to materials.
2. Select the wood - its width should be in harmony with the dimensions of the window openings. If we are talking about making slotted carvings, it is necessary to use wood with a thickness of at least 30 mm. If preference is given to applied threads, the original blade must have a width of at least 10 mm. Under no circumstances should you use damp or slightly damp wood when making platbands. The canvas must be completely dry.
3. Start cutting out the blank for the future platband from the boards using a special stencil. It is best to attach stencils to the surface of the board using glue. The resulting workpiece must be treated with a protective compound.
4. Cut out parts and small overhead elements - it is best to use a jigsaw for this work. First you need to cut out the external and then the internal parts on the board.
5. For sharpening, you can also use a special electric sharpener with a stone: you can easily give the desired shape to almost any element. The procedure requires special care, so there is no need to rush. Use different types of files for elements of different sizes - this will allow you to get neat parts.
6. Sand the resulting small products - it is advisable to use regular sandpaper. Be sure to treat the carved parts with a strong impregnation. In order to remove the characteristic whiteness of wood after sanding, professional solutions based on chromium, iron and copper are used.
7. If necessary, you can coat the components of the casing with varnish - this way the products will be protected from exposure to the sun and temperature changes.

Proceed to direct installation connecting all elements. Here you can use both nails without heads and spikes - protruding fastener elements. It is best to make them from hardwood. The normal spike size is from 6 to 25 mm.

Installation of the platband on the window can be carried out in two ways:

For deaf type:

1. On the surface of the window frame and trim, use a pencil to mark the locations of the tenons - elements for installation.
2. Using tools, in accordance with the markings, recesses for tenons are created on the window frame - grooves. The diameter of the grooves should exceed the size of the tenons by approximately 2-5 mm.
3. The adhesive is applied evenly to the spikes. The tenons with glue applied are carefully inserted into the groove - a pre-prepared recess for the tenons in the frame, after which the platbands are placed on them.

This fastening method is notable for the fact that it allows you to protect the manufactured platbands from the adverse effects of moisture, dirt and dust. It is quite complex and requires care, but allows you to get the most reliable connection.

Using a through tenon - during installation, the joints should be covered with transparent or colored varnish, and then proceed to installation with glue.

To facilitate the installation process, it is best to frame the window opening with a special strip. It will eliminate possible unevenness of the wall and create a reliable foundation. The thickness of the slats should not exceed 10-15 millimeters.

Important: during installation work, the direction of opening the windows should be taken into account. If the windows in the house open outwards, the installation of platbands should be carried out at a distance of at least 3 cm from the sashes

Carving wooden frames with your own hands

Carved platbands serve as an incredibly beautiful decoration for wooden residential buildings. The owner can make such elements with his own hands, which will add individuality to the residential building. The part has its own characteristics. One side of the casing is straight. The second is a figured carving.

DIY carved wooden frame

The framed windows on the façade evoke memories of grandma's house in the countryside. The structural element - the platband - serves as reliable protection from drafts, noise, rain, snow and dust. It completely covers the gap formed between the window frame and the opening. The carving gives the part an attractive appearance. The whimsical pattern can be modern or borrowed from ancestors.

Sketches for various ornaments

Artistic wood carving for beginners

Stencils for carving on wood surfaces are quite varied in their subject matter. Certain variants of them are used in a narrow direction, and some of them can be found on all interior elements. I would like to give several sketch options that can be used for a specific purpose:

1. A wooden pattern will serve to decorate the façade of a house. It will look perfect both on the door surface and on the wall.
2. Artistic type cutting is used to decorate pieces of furniture and tableware.
3. Particular honor is given to those products made using intricate openwork cutting. Most often it is used for household items.

Please note that a well-chosen template helps you carve wood accurately and quickly. For each type of cutting there is a specific processing technology that can withstand detailed elements

In certain cases, several different techniques are used simultaneously, which are later transformed into a three-dimensional canvas with the presence of the smallest fragments. This will characterize a good specialist

For each type of cutting there is a specific processing technology that can withstand detailed elements. In certain cases, several different techniques are used simultaneously, which are later transformed into a three-dimensional canvas with the presence of the smallest fragments. This will characterize a good specialist.

Advantages and disadvantages of the tool

Any technique is imperfect. Of course, using an electric jigsaw is much easier than using a hand saw. Before you decide to purchase such a tool, you need to understand for what purposes you will use it, as well as understand the pros and cons of the device.

1. Nowadays it is possible to purchase high-quality devices at a relatively low cost.
2. The simplicity of the equipment allows even a beginner to cut the material.
3. As a rule, manufacturers focus on universal models with large cutting depths.
4. You can purchase various accessories that will make your work easier.
5. The thin blade allows you to cut real masterpieces.

1. When working with thick canvas, it is difficult to remove sawdust.
2. When working, you must follow safety rules, since the saw is not equipped with a safety mechanism.
3. Because the saw is fixed at only one end, it cannot be made thin enough.

Let's look at wood carving templates for beginners

In stores you can find wood carving kits in a variety of configurations. To create your very first works, you can be content with buying a children's kit. Typically this beginner's kit includes:

1. One knife;
2. Knife case;
3. Work beam or workpiece;
4. A piece of rough wood for training;
5. Transparent varnish to cover the working surface after cutting;
6. A stencil or sketch that will help you apply a pattern to your work surface.

With a little experience, you can purchase a small set of knives of different widths and shapes, which will allow you to diversify the designs you apply. Of course, there is still a long way to go to become a professional, but to get the hang of it and work with different types of wood, to feel their structure and the difference between them, this is what you need.

Over time, in order to achieve more and more new goals, your toolkit will gradually be replenished, and you will learn new ways of processing wooden surfaces, learn how to work with new equipment and diversify the patterns that you can cut out yourself.

When you can create beautiful and neat carved furniture yourself, your toolkit will already have:

• Bogorodsk knife for sculpture carving;
• A jamb knife used in many types of carving;
• Cutter knife, a very convenient auxiliary tool;
• Straight chisels of different widths;
• Chisels are semicircular, sloping, medium and steep;
• Cranberry chisels. These chisels are very convenient to use so as not to touch the surface being processed with the handle, thanks to their curved blade. There are flat chisels, cranberry chisels, corner and semicircular;
• Ceramic chisels, corner chisels or geismus chisels;
• Stichel;
• Studs with three types of sharpening - knife, leaf and nail;
• Spoon knives, or spoon knives;
• Punches and coins.

In addition to simple flat-relief carving, there is another very beautiful type of carving - slotted. Its essence lies in the fact that the wooden blank is cut through with a pattern.

Unfortunately, slotted carving is not used as often as other types, but not at all because it is not in demand, but rather because there are not so many truly good masters of this craft. Creating a neat openwork pattern from wood requires some effort, skill and the use of additional tools.

To create the simplest work using the slotted carving technique, you will need a jigsaw, familiar to everyone from school labor lessons.

For those places where very fine, careful manual processing is not required, or for already experienced craftsmen with a steady hand, there is a jigsaw, the use of which can greatly facilitate and speed up the work.

A router will also be useful in your toolkit - once you get used to working with it, you can expand the possible patterns, make it easier to work on each detail, and simply process the working wood faster and more accurately.

By the way, a milling machine can also be very helpful in making flat-relief wood carvings.

Templates and drawings

It can be more difficult to find a jigsaw and high-quality files than to figure out what exactly you want to do - the variety of options makes your eyes wide open. You can cut out anything: from butterflies to complex floral patterns. When making wooden furniture, scalable diagrams are useful.

Once you have found a sketch you like, all that remains is to print out the template for cutting it out of plywood with a jigsaw. The next task will be to transfer the drawing to the work surface . This can be done in several ways:

1. Cut out a stencil from paper and trace it. This option is good when you need to make many identical parts. In this case, it is better to make the pattern from cardboard.
2. Transfer the drawing using carbon paper.
3. Use glue. The diagram is printed in a mirror image. Apply PVA glue to the drawing and let it dry. Plywood is also coated with glue, but before that it must be sanded well. Place the design face down on the selected location and smooth it out thoroughly. After complete drying, the drawing is moistened with water and the paper is removed. The method is suitable for images printed on both inkjet and laser printers.
4. Iron the image. The principle is the same as with glue: the mirror pattern is applied face down to the plywood, secured and thoroughly heated with an iron.

Openwork cutting with a hand jigsaw looks great, drawings and patterns for which can also be found on the Internet or come up with yourself.

Carving tools and techniques

For slotted carving, you can use a variety of cutting tools, in particular, various chisels and knives.

However, the most effective are the following tools:

• A rotator is a hand tool for making holes. Moreover, holes with a diameter of 10 mm or more are made with perks - special flat drills.
• Trigger saw – is a hacksaw with a narrow wedge-shaped blade. At the tip the width of the blade is usually a few millimeters, and at the handle it is a few centimeters. The teeth of such a saw are small and often spaced, which allows you to cut out miniature patterns.
• Jigsaw - usually used when cutting out external contours with your own hands. If the pattern is large enough, then you can use a jigsaw for wooden surfaces to cut out internal holes.

In addition, slotted threads can be made using the burning method. To do this, heat the nichrome wire to the required temperature, and then burn the wood with it along the drawn contour. On an industrial scale, such threading is performed by expensive machines with numerical software.

It must be said that the final result largely depends not only on the tool and skills of the carver, but also on the quality of the wood. As a rule, boards one and a half to two centimeters thick are used for these purposes, and the material must be well dried and of high quality - without knots, cracks or other flaws.

As for breeds, you can use:

• Alder;
• Aspen;
• Pine;
• Spruce;
• Fir;
• Birch.

Examples of patterns for slotted carvings

After selecting the appropriate material, further instructions for making carvings are as follows:

• A pattern is applied to the workpiece. To do this, it is not necessary to have any artistic skills or know the theory.
• You can find suitable patterns for wood carving online. Ready-made templates should be printed and then transferred to the workpiece using carbon paper.
• Next, holes are drilled. To prevent chipping during this operation, the hole is drilled only until the tip of the drill appears from the outside. After this, the workpiece is turned over and a hole is drilled from the reverse side.

Sawing out a large part with a jigsaw

• Then a hacksaw blade is inserted into the hole, and patterns are cut out according to the drawn contour. During the sawing process, the workpiece must be pressed firmly against a flat surface - a table or workbench - to avoid cracking.
• Then the part is cut out along the outer contour; for this you can use a jigsaw or a trigger saw.
• To make the edges of the patterns look smoother and neater, as mentioned above, they need to be rounded with a needle file.
• To complete the work, the finished product needs to be varnished or even painted.

This is, perhaps, all the basic information about slotted carving, after reading which you can try your hand at this decorative and applied art.

Creative process

Woodworking begins with transferring the design to the workpiece. For this purpose, all templates were prepared at the preliminary stage. When the drawing is applied to the part, the stage of drilling holes next to the drawn lines begins.

Experienced craftsmen advise using saws with fine teeth, otherwise the edges of the slots will have a ragged outline and the product will lose its aesthetics. It is advisable to drill with feather drills, having prepared a thin hole in advance.

Gluing thick paper to the back of the workpiece helps prevent torn edges when cutting through plywood. For beginners, it is better to try simple patterns with large details and a minimum number of corners.

Technology

When all the preparatory steps are completed, you can begin the carving process itself.

1. The prepared pattern template on paper is firmly attached to the workpiece.
2. After this, you need to transfer the drawing onto the wood with a pencil. You don’t have to use a template and come up with a pattern yourself, create your own drawing.
3. Next, holes are made in the wood in order to insert the jigsaw.
4. After completing the pattern, you need to completely process the edges by sanding them.
5. The finished product is varnished. Painting with a spray gun will make the process easier and save product thanks to the technology of uniform application.

How to make wooden frames for windows with slotted carvings with your own hands, watch the video.

Openwork platbands

Carved shelves, lampshades, photo frames, various candy dishes and tea houses, boxes, office supplies (paperweights, paper holders) - this is not a complete list of cute little things that will create comfort and a special atmosphere in the house.

Elements for external decoration can also be made independently. So, for cornices or trim, as a rule, solid pine is used, but plywood of sufficient thickness (up to 12 mm) is also suitable.

Armed with a jigsaw for carving and a trim template, they get to work. Beginner carvers should prefer simple motifs, with a minimum number of closed areas. However, if there are such in the template, then you will need a drill. Procedure for cutting out complex elements:

1. A drill or a brace is used to make a hole inside the area with a closed contour.
2. Unscrew one of the wings on the jigsaw and release one end of the file.
3. The blade is inserted into the hole and secured in working position.
4. The cutting line is carefully brought to the contour and circled completely.
5. Having untwisted the lamb again, the file along with the cut element is carefully pulled out of the design.
6. The unnecessary part is removed, the file is returned to its place and work continues.

DIY wood products for children

It's no secret that teenagers benefit from creative activities. They develop creative thinking, imagination, and perseverance. Let's learn with our children how to create small crafts from roots, twigs and other little things, and beautiful handmade items will definitely decorate the interior of a teenager's room.

Master class No. 1 - fairy-tale gazebo

For a cute gazebo you needed a plastic cup, cardboard, twigs, pebbles and hot glue. How to assemble it? It's very simple, look at the pictures.

Master class No. 2 - garage for cars

Boys will love the following fun lesson. The young master uses all sorts of twigs and sticks to assemble a garage for a cool car. Dear guys, look at the photo, delve into the step-by-step process and also create beauty from waste material.

Master class No. 3 - furniture for a dollhouse

The third interesting lesson is dedicated to little princesses. Objects for doll use are created from branches, cardboard, and pieces of fabric. Dads or mothers, looking at the photo, will be able to create wonderful things from small pieces of wood together with their child.

Blind carving: applying relief

Once you're done with the shaping, it's a good idea to vary the remaining flat elements with simple designs or floral patterns. Here are the simplest working methods:

1. A groove (branch, groove) is made with a narrow chisel or cutter with a square, triangular or concave blade shape. The carving is carried out strictly along the line, the relief is selected with small shavings and then polished.
2. The leaf has several small grooves imitating veins, trimmed with a disc knife. From the center between the veins to each of them, small notches are made with a semicircular chisel, imitating the body of the leaf, then the outer contour is drawn with a thin cutter.
3. The flat areas adjacent to the descent can be diversified with blind carvings of small ornaments. For example, cut two furrows from the edge, forming a triangle with it, and punch an asterisk in the center.

Tips for the sawing process

Of course, it will take a lot of time to create serious works. A good jigsaw that can be used for both artistic cutting and simple construction work. To ensure that the work process runs smoothly, follow these rules:

During work, it is recommended to focus on the lumbar region. This way you can saw both while sitting and standing. In addition, you can hold the canvas in this position. To cut a small area, you need to make a hole in the part into which the saw is inserted. It's easy to make a hole in plywood using an awl. But in a strong beam you will have to drill a hole. All your movements should be smooth

Take your time with your work. For figured cutting, when changing the angle, it is important to rotate the blade itself, and not the tool. After you have finished sawing, you need to process all the edges of the part. As a rule, many unevenness and roughness remain during the work process. To create a complex openwork pattern, you will need to work a lot

It is easier for beginners to start with simple figures that do not require serious effort.

You can decorate many things with such a product, for example, a box, a photo frame, interior items or furniture.

Sawing with a jigsaw: inspiring examples and interesting information. Part 1

Many people begin their journey in carpentry by sawing with a jigsaw. With this safe and simple tool you can do very, very beautiful and difficult things.

And what is needed for this, we will try to figure it out.

Let's start directly with jigsaws. The simplest jigsaw is most often a metal frame with a stretched file (copier saw), known to many (or perhaps not many) from labor lessons at school.

Now it is used in rare cases when joining shaped profiles, and by hand tool enthusiasts for some other operations.

For curved cuts on large workpieces, electric jig saws of this type are used.

They are used to cut out holes for sinks in countertops, etc.

For small workpieces and, dare I say it, delicate work, desktop jigsaws of this type (scroll saw) are used. In Russian, all these rather different tools are called jigsaws; I give their English names in parentheses. You may ask why. For a correct search on the Internet, since translators give out who knows what.

It is for these jigsaws that a huge number of stencils for cutting, many different techniques and techniques have been invented. I will write about them in the next publication.

In the meantime, I want to mention two more types of saws that are very similar to jigsaws. This is a band saw for working with thick workpieces (band saw).

And a special French saw for marquetry.

And, of course, in our time in production, and already in some workshops, such work is performed by CNC laser machines

Final processing of the carved product

After removing the background, the product is finished in order to obtain smooth and clean edges of the design. For stripping, use steep and sloping chisels of medium and small size. Places of the ornament that are difficult to reach with chisels are cleaned with a sharp knife. Using these tools, the edges of the image are rounded by cutting a thin chamfer or selecting narrow fillets.

It is recommended to place the chisel at a slight inclination in relation to the surface being processed, moving it down and slightly to the side. This technique facilitates the finishing process and allows you to achieve cleaner threads.

Processing of slotted openwork products is carried out on both sides. After trimming the contours with chisels, the cut out pattern is cleaned using needle files, sanding blocks and emery cloths.

The ornament is modeled in accordance with the carving used – relief or flat-relief.

The technique of flat-relief slotted carving is used, as a rule, to make decor for furniture, cornices, window frames, shutters, etc. Relief openwork carving allows you to get more elegant products, so it is used to create women's jewelry, screens, fillers for cabinet doors and etc. By the way, openwork furniture doors look even more impressive if you stretch bright fabric from the back, against which the ornamental composition will look clearer and brighter.

Stencil and ornament

Not used as often as other types. But not at all because it is unclaimed. This is a technique that has been studied for years, although if you try to formulate what it is in a nutshell, then everything will turn out to be simple - this is a type of carving when the background, background, and substrate of the image are removed during the processing process.

Thanks to this, the design and ornament become airy, openwork, and the products amaze with their fabulous lightness. Moreover, this type of carving is not always performed on miniature planes. There are masters who do this with chainsaws.

In principle, among all types of carvings, which are conventionally divided into several groups, it is difficult, and there is no point in setting clear limits on technology, since the methods for manufacturing a particular product can be combined in any way you like. But for orientation, it’s worth mentioning some common wood processing methods:

Of course, this division is conditional, so we will not consider this type separately. Stencils, sketches and drawings of finished products, as well as photographs of striking works by masters, combine several processing techniques. For example, some textbooks highlight the cutting technology using jigsaws or saws, as well as the one that is performed with cutters and chisels.

Carving with a jigsaw

The process of manufacturing carved elements is carried out in several stages:

Making a sketch

House carving with a jigsaw begins only when the master has prepared the templates. Prepared carving stencils will help you accurately create the desired carving pattern on wood. Take your time to get to work on wood as quickly as possible. Let you have not one sketch, but several. Sculpt the pattern to feel its volume. When choosing a design, you can start with simple elements of an openwork pattern, characteristic of slotted carvings in Russia.

Look for inspiration in the contemplation of immortal masterpieces of folk art. You can look at samples if you look at furniture in the Baroque or Rococo styles. Select a sketch of a baroque ornament used by Russian master carvers. The pattern depicts national characteristics. Rococo motifs include motifs of plant elements, small birds, curved shells, and fancy curls.

A sketch for carving in any of the above-mentioned styles involves preparing and executing complex compositions for window decoration. House painting contains all the richness of traditional patterns. Any woodwork is available to skilled craftsmen today.

Modern CNC machines do an excellent job of bringing a sketch to life. With the help of high-precision equipment, any design idea can be easily realized.

Multifaceted and sophisticated elements can cause admiration among others. House carving can be represented by a combination of different types. In order not to spoil the future product, be sure to use templates or stencils to make markings. House paintings from the past are a rich source of inspiration, in which you will find all kinds of Russian ornaments.

Creating a template is the best option

In the process of making a template, the following steps are distinguished:

1. Measure the window dimensions correctly. Be sure to account for protruding edges that extend into the walls. The casing has a standard width of about 30 cm.
2. Take cheap smooth wallpaper according to the sketch you choose to make the required life-size template from a roll.
3. Make 3 patterns - for the side, top and bottom.

4. Fold the strips in half. The center of the pattern should correspond to the fold.

Wood carving stencils

Let's look at what stencils for wood carving are, how they can be used and what they are. Today this ancient craft fascinates many, but it is a rather complex and painstaking task that requires not only talent, but also artistic skills. If everything necessary for this task has been acquired and you know how to work with each of the tools, then determine the drawing.

Stencil pattern for applying a design to wood

But it is not always possible to choose and draw the one you need. In this case, purchase stencils for wood carving, which help the novice craftsman do everything correctly.

Where to buy wood for carving

There are many places where you can get material for work, the main thing is to find high-quality and dry wood. For example, good blanks for carving are sold in specialized stores for handmade fans and art salons. In addition, you can buy suitable boards at building materials stores or lumber yards. And small furniture manufacturing enterprises and carpentry workshops are a real treasure trove of dry wood scraps of various sizes. For carpenters, such waste is no longer valuable, so, as a rule, it is given away for free.

Another option is wooden packaging (boxes, pallets). From one such product you will get one and a half to two dozen blanks.

Patterns for cutting. Wood carving lessons for beginners

Volumetric, contour and geometric wood carving are some of the most ancient techniques for decorating a wide variety of products. By and large, the work requires nothing more than a wooden blank and a fairly sharp knife: with the right skill, you can get a carved frame, a beautiful toy, or any other product.

Of course, you will only achieve masterpieces after many years of practice. But you can start mastering carving with the simplest details: just study this article and understand the basics.

Types of carving

Despite the fact that the simplest tools are used when working with wood, and the processing techniques are not complicated, the result can be very different. Depending on the appearance of the treated surface, the following types of thread are distinguished:

1. Contour carving
   is perhaps the simplest (in appearance, not in terms of execution technique). The pattern is applied to a flat surface using shallow lines, forming the contours of the design.
2. Geometric carving
   is the most common due to its ease of learning. Unlike contour patterns, patterns are formed not by lines, but by a combination of geometric shapes, most often wedge-shaped notches.

1. Flat grooved carving is
   a technology for applying an ornament or pattern to a flat board. In this case, indentations are cut out on a flat background, which form the pattern we need.

Sculptural carving (volume) is the most complex technique. A piece of wood, a branch or a root is taken as a blank, after which the part is given the desired shape

What is important here is not only the skill of the carver, but also how well the wood is selected.

Of course, this classification is very arbitrary, but it gives an idea of ​​where you can strive to improve your skills.

What do you need for work?

Carver tools

To make wooden toys, carved frames, frames and other decorative objects, the craftsman needs the right tools. In addition to the usual carpentry tools (saw, drill, file), you also need to use special tools:

Wood selection

Artistic carving requires the formation of a fairly clear relief. And for this you need not only suitable tools, but also appropriate material. Not all wood is suitable for carving, and if you are just starting to master the technique, then you need to be very picky about your choice:

1. Linden
   is an ideal option for a beginner. The material is soft and homogeneous, so it is better to master the most complex designs for wood carving on linden.
2. Alder (red and black)
   is also a very good option, albeit denser. Cuts perfectly, almost does not warp when drying. The main disadvantage is that it is difficult to find!

1. Birch
   is harder and more elastic, but at the same time quite suitable for learning the basics of carving. It can become deformed when drying, so small products are usually cut from birch.
2. Oak
   is an excellent option, but only for an experienced craftsman. The relief is perfect, but you need a very sharp tool and a confident hand.

1. Pear
   is a wood with high density and good uniformity. The structure of the material allows the production of the thinnest products.

From the wood of these species, it is first necessary to cut blanks, dry them, and, if necessary, rough them. Only after this are drawings and sketches applied to them, according to which the carving is carried out.

Techniques and techniques for geometric carving

In fact, all work on a carved part comes down to three operations:

1. Preparation
   - selection and rough processing of the workpiece, transfer of the design.
2. Carving itself
   is the application of a relief pattern.
3. Finishing
   - eliminating defects, grinding, varnishing, etc.

Instructions for performing basic carving operations are shown in the table:

templates, with photos, on plywood with a jigsaw according to the drawing

You can make so many decorative items and useful little things from carved wood and plywood that it is stupid to limit the scope of the work. In fact, it can be absolutely anything that your imagination can handle: boxes, covers for decorative and collectible books, lampshades, panels, shutters, furniture elements, trim, cornices... But the most attractive thing about creating exclusive works is that anyone can do them willing, if he puts in a certain amount of effort.

Wood carving: photographs, drawings and sketches

The main key to success in creating interesting things with slotted carvings is the choice of pattern. It is he who conveys the overall concept and sets the aesthetic tone for the entire product.

The easiest way for beginners is to make geometric patterns, as in the photo.

Carved designs of floral and animal themes are classic ornaments for any field of application.

Inscriptions are a modern option for using wood and plywood carvings. At the same time, you are unlikely to be able to find drawings and sketches on the Internet - they will have to be compiled purely individually according to personal requirements for sizes, fonts, and words.

Stencils for slotted threads

However, unlike cut-out inscriptions on plywood, drawings with plant, animal and fantasy themes can be found on the Internet. So feel free to choose the stencils you like for your album, and you’ll have plenty of ideas for creativity for a long time!

The simplest sketches are suitable both for training at the very beginning of product manufacturing, and can become individual elements of a complex design. For example, this is how carved houses are decorated.

More complex templates will require some skill and patience, but the results are worth it. Such pictures can serve as an independent product, even as a gift.

Entire compositions with an idea and meaning usually serve either as a separate work or form the basis of a work.

Tools for slotted carving: jigsaw or router

However, choosing a design is only a third of the success. Another important aspect that must be considered before starting the work itself. Namely, the choice of tool that will be used to carve wood or plywood.

Depends on the equipment:

• how thin the thread will be;
• complexity of pictures;
• cutting speed;
• accuracy of work.

Therefore, it is important to evaluate all the pros, cons, capabilities and limitations of each of the traditional sawing tools:

A jigsaw is a device for shaped cutting of parts. Working with a hand tool is quite labor-intensive, but it allows you to cut very accurately according to the drawing.

Power tools allow you to quickly produce shaped plywood products, but require caution

A milling cutter is a tool thanks to which a flat-relief slotted thread takes on a thinner and more complete appearance. It is with its help that you can round edges, remove chips, make valances, and carry out the most complex cutting.

Theoretically, a milling cutter can do the same work as a jigsaw, and even more, but in fact, such handling of the tool is fraught with its rapid failure and frequent replacement of the frieze.

Materials for slotting threads

In most cases, plywood is chosen for this type of work - it is uniformly thin, has a pleasant color and structure, and does not suffer from further use or storage, unlike solid wood. It is the choice of material that becomes the third pillar of successful work.

The modern market is replete with different types of materials, so it’s easy to get confused. For this work you should choose:

• FC plywood – harmless to humans and the environment, durable, easy to cut, practical;
• FB plywood is also safe for humans, but resistant to aggressive environments, since it undergoes special processing and receives a protective coating, which is why it can cost an order of magnitude more.

Photos of carved wooden houses

For Russia, slotted carving is of particular importance as a decoration for building facades. Since ancient times, ornaments carved on birch bark and other similar materials have been decorating huts, bathhouses, and churches, as photographs colorfully demonstrate.

Video of wood milling with a hand router

If you have just decided to try your hand at curly slotted carving, it would be a good idea to watch a video with a master class. It will help you better understand how drawings are created and how such home beauty appears.

Geometric carving master class

As mentioned above, geometric carving is considered one of the simplest, so it is ideal for teaching beginners. A minimum set of tools is required for work. During the cutting process, only precision matters. The elements of the drawing must have clear symmetry. The images themselves consist of repeating zones that form a single elegant composition.

Technology and sequence of geometric carving

The design using the geometric carving technique is based on various simple shapes: circles, triangles, squares, rectangles, trapezoids and rhombuses, which are complemented by straight and broken lines. Contrary to the misconceptions of ordinary people, the finished compositions are devoid of angularity and roughness. The play of light and shadow emphasizes the relief of the image. Geometric carvings have no subjects, as such. It conveys the mood and clearly demonstrates the author's skill. The finished product can amaze with the complexity and subtlety of the work, and sometimes adheres to the principles of laconicism, which does not in any way affect its perception. Very often, the composition is based on traditional Russian ornaments, which were previously considered “amulets” against evil forces. The process of working in the technique of geometric carving is conventionally divided into stages:

• Preparatory. It includes the production of a blank (blank) and rough leveling of its surface, that is, the removal of defects, chips, and relief elements.
• Working on a composition using knives.
• The final stage. Final processing of the workpiece: grinding, impregnation with special compounds, coating with varnish or paint.

After drying, the carved craft can be used for its intended purpose.

Required Tools

To work in the technique of geometric carving, you will need a minimum set of tools:

• Pencil, compass and ruler (pattern) for drawing up an accurate drawing.
• Two types of knives: “jamb” and “feather” (a type of Bogorodsk knives).

The first type of knife is used for cutting straight lines that form angular geometric shapes, and the second is used for “grooves” with soft curves.

Sketching a pattern

Craftsmen who have a “full hand” apply patterns directly to the workpiece using a pencil, a compass, and a ruler. For beginners, it is better to first draw a sketch on paper or use ready-made drawings that can be easily found on the World Wide Web. The patterns are printed, then applied to the blank and traced along the contour using carbon paper. When the design is completely transferred to the workpiece, you can begin cutting out the composition.

Cutting out patterns

You need to start with soft details (circles, petals, smooth lines). For work, use a pen knife. It is held in the hand between the palm and the index finger. The thumb is set aside and leaned against the workpiece. It will serve as a support. The bent index finger will become the regulator of the force of pressure on the instrument and its angle of inclination. The depth of the “groove” will depend on this. Remember that you need to cut on your own. First, one part of the composition is processed (on the left or right depending on the leading hand), and then the blank is turned over and the second part of the pattern continues to be cut out.

Now the joint knife comes into play to work on the triangular elements. This instrument is held differently. It is held between the index finger and thumb, like a pencil, but at the very end of the handle, closer to the blade. The “heel” of the knife is forcefully driven into the workpiece at an angle of 45 degrees, but not at the very edge of the figure, but with a slight indentation. It must be done so that the recess has “flat” edges. “Grooves” with such a relief look more beautiful. The edges of the triangles must meet. Using the same algorithm, the remaining elements of the design are cut out. The used pieces of wood should be in the shape of pyramids, then the work will be done correctly.

Grinding and impregnation of the finished product

To smooth out the roughness of the edges of the “grooves,” the surface of the craft should be lightly sanded with sandpaper. Then the product is impregnated with a special composition. Some varnish their crafts, but most craftsmen prefer the process of waxing (wax mastic) or coating the surface with oil. In this case, the craft will acquire a light, natural shine. Usually flaxseed, dandelion, peppermint, and seven-herb oils are used. These same compounds are excellent for impregnating dishes. The craft is thickly lubricated with the product, after which the oil is “rubbed” into the wood. The product should now dry. It is best to put it outside to dry in the sun. Some people place the products near the battery or use a hairdryer to speed up the process.

Repair of dilapidated platbands

If the owner of a summer cottage inherited a house, then dilapidated frames may remain on the windows. Damaged items that cannot be repaired should be removed. Replace them with new parts. Carefully remove the layer of old paintwork.

Wood is a soft material, so it is easy to damage. How to remove old paint depends on the thickness of the layer and the presence of damage. If the previous paint coating is thin, without cracks or blisters, then the surface of the wood is treated with sandpaper to remove the gloss and painted with appropriate paint.

The process of repairing carved platbands

When the surface has been painted in several layers or there are swellings and cracks on it, then the coating cannot be left. It is scraped down to the wood with a metal spatula.

The thin layer of old paint does not need to be completely removed.

It is also necessary to remove paint from wood when you plan to use another type of coloring composition. When incompatible substances interact, they destroy wood and coatings. To protect the wood, coat it with a special primer and apply new paint.