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Artistic carving woodworking for beginners may seem like a rather complicated process. In principle, at first it is so, but having mastered the basic techniques and methods of processing the workpiece, we will be able to gradually improve our skills, each time creating much more complex jewelry.

Naturally, this requires various devices, and among them you should definitely include templates, stencils and patterns for woodcarving. It will be much easier for a master mastering the technique to navigate the finished drawing than to try to improvise.

General information about sketches and stencils

Image creation

Before proceeding to, we need to decide what exactly we will cut. An ornament for woodcarving can be very different, and if we are talking about creating a plot composition (flat or three-dimensional), then the list of available options will be endless in principle.

Note!
You can find a variety of sketches on the net, but stencils for woodcarving for beginners, i.e. not distinguished by complexity, among them are quite rare.
Much more often, authors lay out schemes for mid-level crafts, but they should be used only after mastering the basic techniques.

When making a sketch, it is best to follow this algorithm:

• First, we select the workpiece and decide what exactly we will cut out of it.. Beginners should give preference to carving on a plane or making a simple figurine.
• Then we create a sketch of the future sketch, highlighting the main parts and marking the places where the ornament will be applied..

• At the next stage, using a compass and a ruler, transfer the sketch to graph paper. If the item will have enough big sizes, then graph paper can be abandoned in favor of tracing paper, on which we apply a scale grid for the convenience of work.
• If there are several repeating elements in the ornament, then for them you can make separate stencils from thick cardboard by cutting out the part along the contour.

Separately, it is worth mentioning the technology of mechanized carving using milling machines. In principle, milling cutters quite allow you to select by marking, but most often metal or polymer stencils for wood carving with a milling cutter are used to decorate flat parts. They limit the movement of the cutting edge, and therefore practically exclude the influence of the human factor.

Note!
Such products are quite difficult to manufacture, because their price is appropriate.
So it's worth buying them only if you need to perform a large number of similar images.

Transfer to workpiece

So, we already have a template or sketch, now we need to understand how to transfer the image to the blank.

The instruction involves the use of several methods:

• Templates for wood carving with a router are the easiest to use - just fix the plate on the surface of the product so that the grooves are exactly opposite the location of the ornament.
• Cardboard templates are also not difficult to use: we apply them according to the markup and carefully trace with a pencil along the contour.

• When transferring simple geometric shapes, you can use the puncturing technique. To do this, we fix the sketch on the part and mark all the key points with a needle / awl. Then we connect the marks on the wood with straight lines.
• Finally, you can use carbon paper: put it under the sketch and circle the lines in the drawing, transferring the image to the tree.

Threading technology according to the finished contour

When the drawing is transferred to the workpiece, the most difficult part of the work begins, namely, the woodworking process.

• If our task is a through thread, then first you need to make a starting hole in each element. This is done using a drill with a drill, the diameter of which corresponds to the width of the canvas used.
• After that, a saw is inserted into the hole, and part of the wood is sawn out. The edges of the hole are then leveled either with a knife or using files and abrasives.

Flat and volumetric threads are performed differently:

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

Note!
It is advisable to draw a cutting line along the inside of the contour, since usually the area of ​​the treated area increases slightly during operation.

• Then, with the edge of the jamb or cutter, we perform the central slot of the deepest part. After that, we begin to form the recesses, choosing the wood between the contour and the central recess.
• Small details and textures are formed using a chisel. Ideally, it should be sharp enough to cut through the material without the use of a mallet, but sometimes (especially if you have to cut oak, beech or maple) you cannot do without additional effort.

• It is convenient to choose deep grooves with chisels with a curved blade - the so-called cranberries. At the same time, efforts should be made to cutting edge did not dive below the selected level.
  
• After completing the carving, it is worth once again walking along the contours with a knife, restoring even edges. When this stage is completed, you can proceed to grinding the surfaces.

Conclusion

Do-it-yourself woodcarving will be much easier to master if you use suitable sketches and stencils at the initial stages of work. To understand the intricacies of using these devices, we recommend that you carefully study the video in this article.

Making your home memorable and beautiful is the dream of any owner. If the house is no longer new, it is not so easy. One of the possibilities is carved platbands. They even turn an ordinary “box” into a masterpiece.

Trim material

Carved architraves are made mainly of wood. conifers. The best option is pine, it is normally cut, inexpensive, and durable due to the high resin content. In principle, you can use any other coniferous board, but it is better not to try with a spruce board: it is too fibrous, it cannot be cut even with the sharpest tool.

You can also make carved architraves from hardwoods - linden (the softest), poplar, maple, oak, cherry, etc. But with each breed you need to be able to work, fill your hand and there is no guarantee that something digestible will turn out, and hardwood is expensive. Therefore, platbands are made on windows more often all the same from pine. You just need to pay attention to the quality characteristics.

Carved platbands on the windows - a way to make your home unique

If there is wood or a board that has lain for 3 years or more, you can use it: it is already dry for sure, only processing and calibration will be required. If there is no woodworking equipment at home (thickness gauge and circular saw), a cutting board will be needed. Under carved platbands, wood of the first or highest grade is suitable. This means that there should be no knots, chips, resin pockets on the board. Take wood chamber drying, with a moisture content of not more than 8-12%. This is not for sale in the markets; you need to look for it at sawmills and hardware stores.

Why chamber drying? Because it is dried in a special chamber, quickly removing moisture. At the same time, part of the boards cracks, bends - these go to rejection, the rest are sold. If you make carved architraves from chamber-dried wood, they will definitely not be warped and they will not crack.

Tools

To make carved platbands with your own hands, you will need the following minimum set:

• drill with a set of drills;
• electric jigsaw with a soft start and a bunch of different saws for wood;
• chisels;
• sandpaper with grains of different sizes;
• petal disc sandpaper wood on a drill.

To reduce the time it takes to create carved patterns and polishing, it is better to have a router and grinder.

One by one or in bulk?

Carved platbands usually consist of repeating elements. At least two vertical slats on each window are made the same. And since several windows are usually designed, a lot of identical elements are required. If you are going to make platbands slotted, naturally there is a desire to cut several pieces at the same time, folding the boards in a pile and somehow fixing them.

The desire is understandable, but difficult to implement, and the benefits over time are not as great as it seems. The first difficulty is that home craftsmen usually have jigsaws of not too much power. To cut through several boards, you have to move the file more slowly along the intended pattern. On straight lines, the speed is still tolerable, on curves - low. And, the smaller the bending radius, the slower you have to move the file. If you work with one board, there are no such problems. So in terms of time, the gain, if any, is quite small.

One more moment. Even thick, good, expensive files are rejected with a large thickness of the workpiece. So, when cutting several boards at the same time, the quality of the cut on the bottom (or two) remains a big question.

The procedure for manufacturing a platband with a slotted thread

We transfer the desired drawing using a template to the board (where to get it, how to enlarge it, how to make a template, read below). If necessary, we correct, draw the details well. Next, we describe the procedure step by step.

We remove wood in the slots of the pattern

Since the carving will be looked at from afar, some inaccuracies are not fatal, but it is still worth striving for the ideal.

Making a curved edge

Some platbands have a smooth edge. Then we skip this step. If the edge is curly, you will still have to work with a jigsaw.

If the cut is difficult, not very attractive places may remain. It's not scary, then we will process them where necessary - with chisels, the same jigsaw, emery. When you are satisfied with the result, you can move on.

Finalization

Owners of wooden houses probably know everything about how to process wood. But, just in case, we repeat once again the general rules.

The choice of paints and varnishes is very wide. Suitable for any outdoor use. But keep in mind that opaque paints will have to be updated periodically - once a year for sure. And that means - to remove the old paint, primer, paint again. The situation is simpler with oils for wood - they do not leave a film on the surface of the wood, but are absorbed into the fibers. It is also necessary to update the coating, but just clean it of dust and cover with a new layer. And the processing frequency is less. Cons of oil for wood - higher price, fewer colors.

How to enlarge a template

Simple carved platbands can be made without templates. A few examples will be in the video - it shows how to draw, how to cut. But not everyone can draw more or less complex patterns on their own. It takes skill and talent. The easiest way is to find a diagram, print it in the right size, transfer it to cardboard and cut it out. You will get a template that you can circle.

The second way: draw from a photograph. Not all schemes can be found. Some, especially antique window frames, you will not find anywhere else. If there is at least some drawing ability, they can be copied.

Even such an ornament can be copied ... if you have the skill

You may have questions about how to increase the size of the found scheme or template. There are three options:

• With the help of any graphic editor. The simplest - Paint - is on any computer running Windows (tab "Image", line "Resize image", select "centimeters" and put the desired length (height) in the box. The resulting file can be printed. If the printer is small, it may be necessary to split into several pages.They should then be glued together and, according to the resulting drawing, make a template.
• With a photocopy. Copiers have a zoom function.
• Taking graph paper, transfer the drawing to the desired scale. To do this, we divide the original image into squares with a side of 0.5 or 1 cm (you can print it on a sheet in a cage). Then we transfer the lines to graph paper, increasing them in the desired proportion.

The first two methods are faster. But when scaling, the picture may turn out to be fuzzy and blurry. It can be corrected by hand, it can be drawn in some editor, for example, CorelDRAW. See the video for how to do this. Just an example of drawing a diagram for a thread.

Related videos

Schemes, patterns, patterns

The style is completely different...

Contour woodcarving, being a variety geometric carving, requires some experience. Without habit, it is difficult to cut absolutely straight lines without nicks and chips. Not very complex technique is combined with maximum detail, resulting in beautiful carvings.

An example of contour woodcarving

Wood carving is the cutting and cutting of wood material. As a result, finished contour drawings come out from under the cutter's knife. The outlines of objects, landscape compositions, flower collages are embodied mainly in wooden panels.

How is the process of working with wood carried out? How are beautiful pictures made? All work on a piece of wood, which later becomes a work of art, can be divided into stages:

1. First choose an image.
2. The drawing is translated into .
3. They make it from a stencil.
4. Wood carving is being done.
5. The finished panel is sanded, sanded, varnished.

Wood carving requires special skill, the sketches of which involve the implementation of a complex pattern.

Each line drawn should be straight and clear. For drawings in a particular case, the master himself decides how deep the lines should be cut. The expressiveness of the image on the tree depends on this.

Caskets, crosses and other products are made using the contour wood carving technique, where it is necessary to reproduce the outlines of flowers, animals, people. Work is carried out both on natural wood, and on tinted, as well as on plywood.

Work technique

Wood carving techniques are divided into cutting lines and curls. The lines are first cut, then cut. In this case, a special sharp knife is used - a jamb. The blade of the knife should be located at a slight inclination from a vertical position. In this way, incision is made.

Then the slope is done in the opposite direction. The cut part of the tree is cut. When cutting contour grooves, the jamb is clamped in a fist, the movement of the blade is directed with the other hand. In the process of pruning, it is important that even strips of wood come out from under the knife. If sawdust, uneven stripes are obtained, there will be no beautiful lines.

Read also

Carved decorations of a wooden house

Woodcarving for the purpose of cutting curls and rounded lines involves the use of various chisels. But experienced craftsmen know how to cut sinuous contour patterns with just one jamb.
The technique of cutting curls, small circles is as follows.

The chisel is held in a fist, making a slight inclination towards the center of the circle. The blade is deepened into the wood by several centimeters, after which the plank is turned in a circle along the axis. Then do the cutting. It also rotates along the axis with cutting off a cut piece of wood. Further, the radius is increased if necessary.

For woodcarving, flat and rounded chisels are used. An experienced craftsman, knowing the purpose of each, can cut out the most intricate pattern. The pinnacle of craftsmanship is contour carving with a pillow. The resulting pattern in the center looks like it is raised above the rest of it. In reality, only the depth of the grooves differs. In the center, it can be made larger, along the edges - smaller.

Wooden patterns on plywood

Plywood carving is somewhat different from wood carving. Working with the material involves the implementation of several techniques. These include:

• performing contour cutting;
• carving;
• openwork carving;
• combined thread.

According to the sawing method, contour images of animals, figures of people, flowers are cut out. The result is a convex image on a flat background. Contour carving involves cutting out a complex pattern by cutting and trimming. The result is a embossed exquisite pattern.

Openwork carving involves cutting through the details of the pattern. The pattern performed in this technique is the most laborious and beautiful. The product resembles an airy lace. Combined contour carving combines 2 or more techniques at once.

Most often used simultaneously for its manufacture openwork carving and contour sawing techniques, contour carving and sawing. Plywood carving, although a more laborious task, is easier to perform. It's all about the material. Hardwood is more difficult to process than plywood samples.

Plywood carving technique

Before starting work, a blank is made, it is polished, crumbled, if necessary, into a dark tone with nitro paint. Allow the workpiece to dry and paint over again. A drawing or sketch is applied to the finished sample using ink, gouache. Sometimes stencils are used instead. All curves of the picture are drawn according to the prepared form.

One of the most luxurious, which are valued for originality and manual work, by right are considered products made in the form of wood carvings. From ancient times, with the help of this type of art, unsurpassedly decorated towers and huts were created.
Some of them are now considered architectural monuments. This art is beginning to revive in modern world. Excellent helpers in this matter are stencils for woodcarving.

In contact with

What is a stencil for?

To begin with, let's try to figure out what stencils for woodwork are. These are special ones, with the help of which elements of patterns are applied to the surface of wood.

They are much make it easier to repeat the same characters and allow you to work faster. For example, the most popular stencil for platbands are samples.

With their help, quite complex work on the design of the interior and facade is carried out.

Stencils are divided according to their purpose for creating interior elements:

• ribbon carved ornament;
• carved platbands;
• pilasters;
• towels;
• carved balusters and more.

All varieties are considered professional templates. By them it is possible create several ornaments for woodcarving voluminous character and significantly facilitate the task that is set for the master. There is no need to create them yourself. On the Internet, you can find and download the version you like.

How to choose a stencil

Drawings for woodcarving are so diverse that they can be used by both beginners and high professionals. With their help, both unpretentious ornaments and high-level works of art are created.

The main thing is to make the right choice. To do this, you must adhere to certain rules:

• if the incisors began to be used quite recently, then do not choose intricate ornaments, since it is quite difficult to work on them, and you can ruin the workpiece;
• for each type of woodcarving, choose your own stencil;
• before starting work, it is necessary to apply a stencil drawing to the workpiece, the lines must be neat and clear.

Finding stencils today is easy. This can be done using electronic libraries.

Each decorator will appreciate the convenience and rich selection of this source. Here you can pick up drawings from a past era, as well as modern masterpieces.

When making a choice, be sure measure the dimensions of the workpiece and directly the image.

It is also necessary to choose a sample that will look appropriate on an interior element. We pay attention to the nuances:

• for a large product, you do not need to choose a stencil with small elements or openwork patterns;
• for small items, stencils with large patterns are inappropriate;
• proportions must always be observed.

All these tips apply to any drawings.

Types of woodcarving

Woodcarving does not have a narrow direction, on the contrary, it has several varieties:

• slotted;
• flat-relief;
• embossed.

Slotted plywood

The key to success when making slotted threads - right choice ornament. Thanks to him, plywood carving sets the overall concept and adds aesthetics to the product.

Drawings and ornaments on floral or animalistic themes - standard representatives classical style and are suitable for any direction in the interior.

Very often used slotted inscriptions. In this case, ready-made stencils are difficult to find, as they are created individually for each case. This is due to the fact that it is necessary to maintain the size, font style, and the set of words is always different.

Important! The situation is completely different with patterns of plant, animal and fantasy style. Many variants of this topic can be found on the Internet. Some options are shown in the photo below.

House woodcarving

Brownie - the main focus of the design of huts, which is very common in the Nizhny Novgorod region. It is she who can boast of various lace patterns. For self-execution, you should select the appropriate sketches.

The main condition for house carving is to avoid small details. They will be lost on the facade of the house, and they will not last long.

Options for house carving can be selected on sites dedicated to woodcarving. But there are masters who can make a template to order. In this case, you can realize exactly your idea and get an original pattern.

Attention! Patterns for house carving are applied using tape stencils.

Through wood carving

A distinctive feature of a through thread is complete removal of wood from the inside of the picture.

Through-carving comes in different styles:

• simple, in which elements are cut out along the contour of the picture;
• openwork, when the pattern is created with a three-dimensional effect due to multi-level cutting.

With the help of a through thread, frames, various linings, door leafs, elements for decoration are made.

Through carving in oriental style is performed using a jigsaw.

Sawing with a jigsaw

Sawing with a jigsaw is mainly carried out on plywood. For execution quality work must have at least slightest experience working with the tool. Also an important factor is the presence of an original stencil with the image of animals.

Commonly used stencils:

• a pair of swans;
• head of a deer, wolf;
• cocks on the needle;
• a horse standing on its hind legs;
• butterflies.

It all depends on the style of the interior, which must be supplemented with decorative elements. You can easily find template examples on the Internet.

The most suitable cutting material birch plywood 3–10 mm thick. In addition, for work it is necessary to prepare:

• carbon paper for overlaying the pattern;
• special paper for grinding parts;
• carpentry glue for joining parts;
• transparent varnish to give a decent appearance.

Before starting work, the workpiece is carefully polished with glass paper, only then they begin to transfer the pattern.

Floral ornament

Often, floral or leafy patterns are made in the form of stripes or borders, consisting of repeating ornaments. Can be made in an individual composition that contains an image trees, fruit-bearing plants, various floral elements And so on.

Work is done in a variety of ways:

• display in a naturalistic way;
• simplified plant elements.

A floral ornament for carving a tree in its popularity is in second place after geometric pattern. Favorite thematic elements at all times are lilies, grape leaves and berries, oak, hops, ivy and more.

Sketches for patterns

In terms of their subject matter, stencils for woodcarving are quite diverse. Some of their options are used in a narrow direction, and some can be found on any interior elements.

Here are some options for sketches that can be used for a specific purpose:

1. Wooden uzorochye serves to decorate the facade of houses. It looks perfect both on doors and on walls.
2. Art style cutting is applied to decorate tableware and furniture.
3. Products made using intricate openwork cutting are especially held in high esteem. Most often it is used for household items.

Important! A well-chosen sketch will help you to carve wood quickly and accurately.

Useful video: wood carving templates

Volumetric, contour and geometric wood carving are one of the most ancient methods of decorating a wide variety of products. By and large, nothing is needed for work except a wooden blank and a fairly sharp knife: with proper skill, a carved casing, a beautiful toy, or any other product can be obtained.

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

Thread types

Despite the fact that the simplest tools are used in working with a tree, and the processing techniques are not difficult, the result can be very different. Depending on the appearance of the treated surface, the following types of threads are distinguished:

1. contour thread- perhaps the simplest (outwardly, not in terms of execution technique). The pattern is applied to a flat surface with shallow lines, forming the contours of the pattern.
2. Geometric carving- the most common due to ease of development. Unlike contour, patterns are formed not by lines, but by a combination of geometric shapes, most often wedge-shaped recesses.

1. Flat serrated thread - the technology of applying an ornament or pattern on a flat board. At the same time, recesses are cut out on a flat background, which form the pattern we need.

A variation of this technique is also considered a through thread, in which not only recesses, but also holes are formed in the workpiece.

1. sculptural carving(volumetric) - the most difficult technique. A chock, branch or root is taken as a blank, after which the part is given the desired shape. Here it is important not only the skill of the carver, but also how competently 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 to work?

Carver's tools

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

Illustration	Tool	Purpose
	joint knife	A versatile tool that is used for both geometric woodcarving and sculptural work.
	Chisels	The most extensive group of tools used to form recesses. Depending on the shape of the edge, the following varieties are distinguished: flat; semicircular; corner; bracketed.
	Cranberries	Special chisels with curved working part. With their help, relief carving with strong penetration.
	Spoon cutters	As the name suggests, special tools for making wooden spoons. The special shape of the blade (ring or semi-ring with one-sided sharpening) allows you to effectively select large volumes of wood.

The price of professional cutting tools is quite high. And yet, a novice master should not save money: it is better to purchase several knives and chisels of decent quality. Then the first experience will not be spoiled, and it will be possible to focus on mastering the techniques and techniques of carving.

Choice of wood

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

1. Linden- Ideal for the beginner. The material is soft and homogeneous, therefore it is better to master the most complex patterns for woodcarving on linden.
2. Alder (red and black)- also a very good option, albeit more dense. Ideally cut, almost does not warp when dried. The main downside is hard to find!

1. Birch- firmer and more resilient, but at the same time quite suitable for learning the basics of carving. When dried, it can be deformed, therefore, small products are usually cut from birch.
2. Oak- a great option, but only for an experienced master. The relief is perfect, but you need a very sharp tool and a confident hand.

1. Pear- wood with high density and good uniformity. The structure of the material allows you to make the thinnest products.

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

Techniques and techniques for geometric carving

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

1. Training- selection and roughing of the workpiece, transferring the pattern.
2. Actually carving- drawing a relief pattern.
3. Finishing- elimination of defects, grinding, varnishing, etc.

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

Illustration	Stage of work
	Drawing drawing. We transfer the contours of the pattern to the workpiece of the desired size for processing. You can build a drawing yourself, using a ruler and a compass, or you can use ready-made sketches for woodcarving. In the second case, we print the sketch and transfer it to the base, making punctures with an awl at the intersection points of the lines.
	Cutting contours. Focusing on the drawing, we cut the contour lines with a cutter. At the same time, we observe the depth and direction of cutting.
	Cutting out triangular elements. After the basic cutting, we move on to the main part of the work. We cut each triangle into a wedge on both sides. After that, we cut out the third side, removing a piece of wood.
	Cut out other elements. After all the triangles are selected, we move on to other details of the thread - bevels, planes, arcs, etc. We cut them, trying not to damage the already processed area.
	Clear cut. After completing the main operations with a sharp cutter, we process problem areas, removing defects and forming even, clear lines. We carefully grind the planes, trying not to remove the relief.
	Staining / varnishing We process the product with stain or varnish, or apply decorative impregnation with a tinting effect.

Conclusion

By no means do I want to say that woodcarving is easy. To achieve results, you need to study and practice, preferably under the guidance of a mentor. But the tips and videos in this article will help you take the first steps, and in the comments you can get answers to all your questions.