Wood carving is a craft that has captured human imagination for centuries across cultures: transforming simple blocks of wood into intricate, beautiful works of art. In our screen-saturated world, more people are discovering the satisfaction of creating something with their hands. Wood carving offers that rare combination of meditative focus and tangible results—you start with a block of wood and end with something that didn't exist before.
If you're reading this, you're probably curious about how to start. Maybe you've watched a few YouTube videos and thought "I could do that," or perhaps you've always been drawn to the idea of working with wood but never knew where to begin. The good news? Wood carving is more accessible than you might think.
In this guide, we'll walk through everything you need to know to start carving:
- which tools you actually need (and which you don't)
- how to choose the right wood for your first projects
- the fundamental types of all wood carving
- how to approach your first project from start to finish.
By the end, you'll have a clear roadmap for beginning your carving journey with confidence. Within this guide, you'll also find helpful resource links to articles and videos for any topic you want to learn about in more depth.
Why I Started Wood Carving
This article is about how to start wood carving, but first I want to tell you a little about my own journey. I didn't start carving wood until after my best friend and I founded Schaaf Tools back in 2016. To be honest, it took me a few years to actually pick up the tools myself. So just like you, I'm still learning.
I was drawn to the endless creative possibilities of carving, and the idea of making something by hand. As a business owner, I spent countless hours talking with wood carvers of all levels—from complete beginners to masters who'd been carving for decades. Every carver has a different opinion on just about everything, but there was one thing they all emphasized: beginners need sharp, quality tools. Not expensive tools necessarily, but sharp ones that actually work.
When I finally started carving myself, I understood why. There's a world of difference between trying to carve with a dull knife that fights you at every cut versus a properly sharpened tool that slices through wood like butter. The difference isn't just about ease—it's about whether you'll enjoy the process enough to keep going. Good tools don't make you a better carver overnight, but they do make learning possible.
That experience—both from talking with hundreds of carvers and from my own fumbling first attempts—continue to shape Schaaf Tools. We focus on providing tools that work for beginners, along with the learning materials to actually use them. Because having a sharp knife is only half the battle; you also need to know what to do with it.
Different Types of Wood Carving
Wood carving isn't a single technique—it's a family of related approaches, each with its own aesthetic and skill set. As a beginner, you don't need to learn all of them. In fact, most carvers specialize in one or two styles that resonate with them. Understanding the main types will help you decide where to start and what tools you'll need.
Whittling
Whittling is the art of carving shapes using just a knife. It's meditative, portable, and deeply satisfying. The basic techniques are straightforward: you'll learn push cuts, pull cuts, and stop cuts. The challenge is developing the control and muscle memory to execute these cuts cleanly and safely.
The beautiful thing about whittling is that once you learn the basic cuts, you can apply them to increasingly complex projects. The techniques scale with your ambition.
Start with simple projects—a pointed stick, a simple figure, a wooden spoon. These teach you how to read the grain, control your cuts, and work three-dimensionally. Want to learn more about whittling? Here are some additional resources:
Spoon Carving
Spoon carving sits somewhere between whittling and carving in the round—you're creating a functional, three-dimensional object using knives and specialized tools. It's become increasingly popular because it combines the meditative qualities of whittling with the satisfaction of making something useful. Plus, you can complete a spoon in a few hours, which makes it perfect for learning without committing to multi-day projects.
The process teaches you important skills: reading grain direction, working with curved surfaces, and removing material efficiently. You'll use straight knives for shaping the handle and a hook knife or a spoon gouge for hollowing the bowl. Many carvers find spoon carving addictive—there's something deeply satisfying about the rhythm of the work and holding a finished spoon you made with your own hands.
Relief Carving
Relief carving involves carving a design into a flat panel of wood so that the design appears raised against a recessed background. It's more complex than whittling because you're managing different depth levels and working with multiple tools, but it's also incredibly rewarding.
Think of relief carving like drawing in three dimensions. You're creating the illusion of depth and form on what starts as a flat surface. Relief carving projects range from simple designs you can complete in an afternoon to elaborate panels that might take weeks. Starting with easy relief carving projects helps you understand the fundamentals before tackling more ambitious work.
- Relief Carving Tips and Techniques Video Tutorial Series
- 10 Easy Relief Carving Projects for Beginners
Carving in the Round
This is three-dimensional sculpture—carving figures, animals, or abstract forms that you can view from all angles. It's what many people picture when they think of wood carving. It requires the most spatial thinking and planning, but it's also where you can create the most expressive work.
Starting with simple forms—a sphere, a bird, a simple figure—teaches you how to work dimensionally and how to remove wood strategically to reveal the form inside. Move on to wood spirits and busts, and go from there. Carving in the round is a bit like whittling on a much larger scale, and its lots of fun once you get started.
Check out an example carving in the round video tutorial:
Chip Carving
Chip carving creates decorative patterns by removing small, precise chips of wood from a flat surface. It's often used on boxes, plaques, and furniture. While it requires precision, the geometric nature of chip carving makes it surprisingly accessible for beginners who like working with patterns.
The technique is different from whittling or relief carving—you're making precise, controlled cuts at specific angles to create repeating patterns. Many carvers find chip carving meditative because of its repetitive, pattern-based nature. Learn more about Chip Carving:
Essential Wood Carving Tools for Beginners
Let's talk about tools. You don't need a workshop full of equipment to start carving. In fact, one of the beautiful things about this craft is how little you actually need. But what you do need should be quality. With a few key pieces in your toolkit, you'll be well on your way to making something awesome.
A Quick Note on Tool Quality
Before we talk about specific tools, let's address something important: not all carving tools are created equal. The difference comes down to the steel used and how it's treated. Quality carving tools are made from high-carbon steel that's been hardened to around 58-62 on the Rockwell hardness scale (HRC). This hardness is the sweet spot—hard enough to hold a sharp edge through extended use, but not so hard that the steel becomes brittle and chips easily. Cheaper tools often use softer steel that dulls quickly, forcing you to sharpen constantly, or steel that's too hard and chips when you hit a knot. Before you buy any tools, double check to make sure the type of steel and hardness are listed.
Whittling Knives
A whittling knife is probably the simplest entry point into wood carving. It's just you, a knife, and a piece of wood. You can whittle anywhere—on your porch, at a campsite, even while watching TV (though I'd recommend building some skill first).
Whittling has the lowest barrier to entry, which makes it popular with beginners. That said, many experienced carving instructors actually prefer starting students with gouges instead of knives, and there's a good reason for that: safety. When you're carving with a gouge and mallet, your hands stay behind the blade. With whittling, you're often in positions where a finger or hand might be in the cutting path if something slips. This doesn't mean whittling has to be dangerous—thousands of people do it safely—but it does require extra care and proper technique.
If you're interested in whittling, our 3pc Whittling Knife Set includes everything you need to start safely, including finger tape and basswood practice blocks. We also have detailed guides on proper knife techniques and whittling safety that cover the fundamentals.
Chisels and Gouges
Chisels and gouges are the workhorses of wood carving. This is where things really open up. Gouges are curved chisels that let you scoop out wood, create rounded forms, and add dimension to your work. Combined with flat chisels for straight cuts and V-tools for detail work, a basic set of wood carving gouges gives you the ability to carve almost anything.
With gouges, you can carve relief scenes into wood panels, add decorative details to furniture, create whimsical faces in tree stumps, or make realistic three-dimensional sculptures. The versatility is remarkable. To learn more about beginner wood carving tools, check out our 12pc Beginner Set, which includes a range of profiles that cover everything from rough removal to fine detail work—it's the foundation that most of our customers build their collection on.
One nice thing about the digital age we live in is video resources are right at our fingertips, and often free. We've partnered with master carvers like Randall Stoner (Madcarver) and Lucas Kost to create tutorial video series that show you exactly how to use these tools for different techniques. Watching an experienced carver demonstrate proper grip and cutting motion makes a huge difference when you're learning.
Sharpening Tools
Here's the truth that every carver learns eventually: even the best carving tools won't do you much good if they aren't sharp. And every tool that's used will need to be honed and sharpened eventually. A sharp tool is crucial for making clean cuts, and counterintuitively, it's also much safer. Dull tools require more force, which means more chance of slipping.
I'll be honest—I resisted sharpening for longer than I should have. I'd heard a thousand times that "sharp tools are essential," and I've still struggled a bit to develop a regular sharpening routine. That said, it's part of my learning process, and it will be part of yours as well.
You don't need an elaborate setup. A diamond sharpening stone and a leather strop will handle all your sharpening needs. There are detailed guides online that walk you through the sharpening process step by step. Once you get the hang of it, maintaining your tools takes just a few minutes and makes every carving session better.
A quick but important distinction: resharpening is not the same thing as honing. Once your tools are properly sharpened, you'll want to hone them regularly while you work. The more consistent you with your strop, the less you'll actually have to resharpen your tools on a stone, which is more difficult and time consuming.
Necessary Accessories
Beyond the cutting tools themselves, you'll need a few accessories depending on your carving approach. If you're working with gouges, you'll need a mallet. While you can make some cuts with hand pressure alone, a mallet gives you controlled, consistent force for deeper cuts and harder woods. It's also essential for certain techniques—background removal, for instance, would take forever with hand pressure alone. The key is using a carving mallet rather than a regular hammer. Carving mallets have larger, softer striking surfaces that distribute force without damaging your tool handles, and they're weighted to give you control rather than brute force. Our 15oz Precision Wood Carving Mallet is a good example.
You'll also need a way to secure your work. Gouges require both hands—one to guide the tool and one to strike the mallet (or both hands on the tool for hand-pressure cuts). A carving vise, bench clamps, or even a non-slip mat keeps your workpiece stable so you can focus on controlling the cut rather than chasing the wood around your bench.
For whittling, hand protection becomes important while you're building skills. Cut-resistant gloves or protective finger tape let you practice techniques with confidence, especially when you're learning cuts where your hand is closer to the blade path. These accessories aren't afterthoughts—they're part of carving safely and effectively.
Choosing the Right Wood for Carving
The type of wood you choose will have a significant impact on your carving experience. Some woods are more difficult to carve than others, so it's important to start with beginner-friendly options.
Basswood
Basswood is the gold standard for beginning carvers. It's soft enough to carve easily but strong enough to hold fine detail. The grain is uniform and subtle, which means you're less likely to have surprise splits or tear-out when you're learning to control your cuts. It works well for both whittling and gouge work.
Most importantly, basswood is forgiving. When you're learning, you'll make mistakes—everyone does. Basswood won't punish you for them the way a tricky wood like oak might.
Butternut
If you want something with more visual character, butternut is a great next step. It's still soft and relatively easy to carve, but it has more pronounced grain patterns that add natural beauty to your work. The slightly darker color can make details pop more than basswood.
Pine
Pine is widely available and affordable, which makes it tempting for larger projects or practice pieces. It carves reasonably well, though the resin content can make it sticky. The bigger challenge with pine is the grain variation—you'll hit both soft and hard spots, which takes some getting used to. It's not a bad choice, but basswood will give you an easier learning experience.
For more detailed information about wood selection and how different species behave, check out our guide on choosing the best wood for carving.
How to Start Your First Carving Project Step-by-Step
Let's walk through how to approach your first carving project. This process works whether you're whittling a simple figure or carving a small relief panel.
1. Choose a Simple Project
Don't start with your dream project. Start with something manageable that teaches you fundamental skills. A simple spoon, a basic animal figure, or a geometric relief pattern are all good choices. The goal is to have fun, stay safe, finish something and learn from the process.
2. Select Your Wood
For your first project, use basswood. Seriously. It's worth buying a few basswood blocks (or panels for relief carving) rather than trying to carve whatever scrap wood you have lying around. Give yourself every advantage while you're learning.
3. Sketch Your Design
Even if you're following a pattern, sketch your design onto the wood. This gives you a roadmap and helps you visualize where your cuts need to go. Don't skip this step—it's much easier to fix a design with a pencil than with a gouge.
If you're new to this process, our guide on how to transfer patterns to wood for carving covers several techniques that make it easier:
4. Rough Out the Basic Shape
Start by removing the wood you definitely don't need. This is about establishing the general form, not about details. Use larger tools and don't worry about perfection—you're just getting close to the final shape.
This is where many beginners make a crucial mistake: they try to remove too much wood too quickly. Take light cuts. You can always remove more wood, but you can't put it back.
5. Refine and Add Details
Once you have the basic form, switch to smaller tools and start refining. This is where patience becomes critical. Rushing this stage leads to mistakes that can ruin hours of work.
Work slowly and deliberately. Step back frequently to look at your piece from different angles. Some of the most important carving happens when you're just looking and planning your next cut.
6. Sand and Finish
After the carving is complete, sand your piece to smooth any rough spots. Start with coarser sandpaper and work your way to finer grits. This takes time but makes a huge difference in the final appearance.
For finishing, you have options depending on what you've carved. Food-safe oils work well for utensils, while other finishes can enhance the wood's natural color and protect your work. Our finishing guide covers the different options and when to use each. Some people also like to paint their work, which can be a fun additional project element.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Every carver makes mistakes—it's part of learning. But you can avoid some of the most common pitfalls:
Using Dull Tools
This bears repeating: dull tools make carving miserable and dangerous. If you're fighting your tools, they need sharpening, or you may need an upgrade. Learn to recognize when your edges are getting dull and sharpen them before they become a problem. Having trouble sharpening? See if there's a local carving club nearby - they are usually happy to help. Or get in touch with us - info@schaaftools.com - and we'll try to help!
Rushing the Process
Wood carving rewards patience. Trying to rush through a project invariably leads to mistakes, often right at the end when you've invested hours of work. Slow down. Look at your work from different angles before making your next cut. It's better to take breaks than to try to rush through your work.
Carving Against the Grain
Wood grain isn't just decorative—it's structural. Carving against the grain often causes the wood to split or tear out. Learning to read grain direction and adjust your cutting direction accordingly is a fundamental skill. Our article on how to prevent wood from splitting when carving explains how to work with the wood rather than fighting it. This video is also helpful:
Ignoring Safety
Carving tools are sharp by necessity. Respect them. Always cut away from yourself, keep your non-cutting hand clear of the blade path, and use cut-resistant gloves when you're learning. Most carving injuries happen from momentary lapses in attention or when someone is tired. If you're not focused, put the tools down and come back later.
For comprehensive safety guidance, check out this guest blog from experienced wood carver, Dan Schumacher:
Comparing Your Work to Masters
Every expert was once a beginner. The elaborate carvings you see on Instagram or YouTube represent thousands of hours of practice. Your first projects won't look like that, and that's completely normal. Focus on enjoying the activity, learning and improving, not on matching someone else's decade of experience.
Get Started Today
Wood carving offers something rare: the ability to create something meaningful with your hands, at your own pace, in your own style. It's a craft that rewards patience and practice, but it's also more accessible than you might think.
You don't need a full workshop or years of experience to start. You need a few quality tools, some basswood, and the willingness to learn through doing. Everything else comes with practice.
If you're ready to begin, our beginner tool sets include everything you need along with access to comprehensive learning resources—video tutorials, project guides, and sharpening instructions. We're not just selling tools; we're supporting your entire learning journey.
Want more wood carving guidance, project ideas, and tips? Sign up below to join our community of carvers.
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