Many carvers start out by carving a 5-Minute Owl. Chris Lubkemann shows how the bark on a branch is perfect to imply an owl’s feathers. While it might take you a few more minutes to carve this own, it comes pre-finished. Chris also shows a few ways to embellish this classic carving.

A child of missionaries, Chris Lubkemann grew up in the forests of Brazil and Peru, where he developed an appreciation for knives and entertained himself and others by handcrafting rafts, tree houses, traps, and slingshots from scrap wood. As an adult, he has continued to use his woodworking skills for gold old-fashioned fun. Chris has carved some of the world’s smallest branch carvings; in fact, his smallest branch rooster was given a Guinness World Record Certificate. The author of five books on woodcarving with Fox Chapel Publishing, Chris currently demonstrates whittling as the resident woodcarver at the Amish Farm and House in Lancaster, Pa. Visit his website at www.whittlingwithchris.com.

The post Whittling with Chris: Carving an Owl appeared first on Woodcarving Illustrated.

There are only two techniques you need to know to whittle almost any of Chris Lubkemann’s projects: sharpening a knife and carving curls. If you need to review your sharpening technique, watch this video. If you’ve got that down, it’s time to learn technique number two: carving curls.

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Chris uses curls to make tails for his iconic roosters, the petals on little daisies, the branches of tiny trees, and more. There’s a bit of a knack to it, so you’ll need to practice. Make sure your knife blade is properly shaped (watch this video), grab a handful of twigs, and watch this video.

A child of missionaries, Chris Lubkemann grew up in the forests of Brazil and Peru, where he developed an appreciation for knives and entertained himself and others by handcrafting rafts, tree houses, traps, and slingshots from scrap wood. As an adult, he has continued to use his woodworking skills for gold old-fashioned fun. Chris has carved some of the world’s smallest branch carvings; in fact, his smallest branch rooster was given a Guinness World Record Certificate. The author of five books on woodcarving with Fox Chapel Publishing, Chris currently demonstrates whittling as the resident woodcarver at the Amish Farm and House in Lancaster, Pa. Visit his website at www.whittlingwithchris.com.

Want to learn more about whittling?

Subscribe to Woodcarving Illustrated magazine, or visit our website to buy back issues.	Check out our special issues all about Whittling.	Visit our website to buy Chris Lubkemann’s books.

The post Whittling with Chris: Carving Curls appeared first on Woodcarving Illustrated.

You’ve found some branches, chosen a knife, and shaped and sharpened the blade. It’s time to carve! Chris Lubkemann’s favorite first project is a versatile letter opener. You’ll learn how to shape the blade, decorate the handle, and harden the edge.

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Don’t need a letter opener? Don’t worry! Chris will show you how to use the same steps to form a fork, jam spreader, or a “pickle poker”—useful for serving vegetables or fruits.

A child of missionaries, Chris Lubkemann grew up in the forests of Brazil and Peru, where he developed an appreciation for knives and entertained himself and others by handcrafting rafts, tree houses, traps, and slingshots from scrap wood. As an adult, he has continued to use his woodworking skills for gold old-fashioned fun. Chris has carved some of the world’s smallest branch carvings; in fact, his smallest branch rooster was given a Guinness World Record Certificate. The author of five books on woodcarving with Fox Chapel Publishing, Chris currently demonstrates whittling as the resident woodcarver at the Amish Farm and House in Lancaster, Pa. Visit his website at www.whittlingwithchris.com.

Want to learn more about whittling?

Subscribe to Woodcarving Illustrated magazine, or visit our website to buy back issues.	Check out our special issues all about Whittling.	Visit our website to buy Chris Lubkemann’s books.

The post Whittling with Chris: Making a Letter Opener appeared first on Woodcarving Illustrated.

A sharp knife is a safe knife. That might not seem logical, but it’s true. You will have much greater control over a sharp knife, and be able to push it much more gently through the wood, than you will with a dull knife. Fortunately, sharpening isn’t hard and requires just a few simple tools:

• Sharpening stone: fine grit
• Sandpaper: wet/dry type in 400, 1500, 2500 grits (you can substitute old, worn-out sandpaper for the higher grits)
• Leather strop
• Stropping compound

Watch the video to learn Chris’s easy technique, plus his 10 Rules of Carving.

A child of missionaries, Chris Lubkemann grew up in the forests of Brazil and Peru, where he developed an appreciation for knives and entertained himself and others by handcrafting rafts, tree houses, traps, and slingshots from scrap wood. As an adult, he has continued to use his woodworking skills for gold old-fashioned fun. Chris has carved some of the world’s smallest branch carvings; in fact, his smallest branch rooster was given a Guinness World Record Certificate. The author of five books on woodcarving with Fox Chapel Publishing, Chris currently demonstrates whittling as the resident woodcarver at the Amish Farm and House in Lancaster, Pa. Visit his website at www.whittlingwithchris.com.

Want to learn more about whittling?

Subscribe to Woodcarving Illustrated magazine, or visit our website to buy back issues.	Check out our special issues all about Whittling.	Visit our website to buy Chris Lubkemann’s books.

The post Whittling with Chris: Sharpening a Knife appeared first on Woodcarving Illustrated.

To carve small twigs and tight spaces, Chris Lubkemann recommends reshaping the blade of your knife to give it more of a point.  In order to make the curls that decorate Chris’s roosters, flowers, trees, and other designs, you’ll also need to reshape the shoulders of the blade. You’ll need a coarse-grit stone or metal file to shape the blade, plus sandpaper or a fine-grit stone to sharpen it afterward. Follow along with Chris’s easy instructions in this video.

A child of missionaries, Chris Lubkemann grew up in the forests of Brazil and Peru, where he developed an appreciation for knives and entertained himself and others by handcrafting rafts, tree houses, traps, and slingshots from scrap wood. As an adult, he has continued to use his woodworking skills for gold old-fashioned fun. Chris has carved some of the world’s smallest branch carvings; in fact, his smallest branch rooster was given a Guinness World Record Certificate. The author of five books on woodcarving with Fox Chapel Publishing, Chris currently demonstrates whittling as the resident woodcarver at the Amish Farm and House in Lancaster, Pa. Visit his website at www.whittlingwithchris.com.

Want to learn more about whittling?

Subscribe to Woodcarving Illustrated magazine, or visit our website to buy back issues.	Check out our special issues all about Whittling.	Visit our website to buy Chris Lubkemann’s books.

The post Whittling with Chris: Shaping a Knife appeared first on Woodcarving Illustrated.

You can whittle with almost any knife, but some will make it more fun and comfortable than others. Get advice on picking the perfect pocketknife from the expert whittler Chris Lubkemann. He’ll tell you which blades you need (and which ones you don’t) and share a few of his favorite brands.

A child of missionaries, Chris Lubkemann grew up in the forests of Brazil and Peru, where he developed an appreciation for knives and entertained himself and others by handcrafting rafts, tree houses, traps, and slingshots from scrap wood. As an adult, he has continued to use his woodworking skills for gold old-fashioned fun. Chris has carved some of the world’s smallest branch carvings; in fact, his smallest branch rooster was given a Guinness World Record Certificate. The author of five books on woodcarving with Fox Chapel Publishing, Chris currently demonstrates whittling as the resident woodcarver at the Amish Farm and House in Lancaster, Pa. Visit his website at www.whittlingwithchris.com.

Want to learn more about whittling?

Subscribe to Woodcarving Illustrated magazine, or visit our website to buy back issues.	Check out our special issues all about Whittling.	Visit our website to buy Chris Lubkemann’s books.

The post Whittling with Chris: Selecting a Knife appeared first on Woodcarving Illustrated.

Want to start whittling? Author and expert Chris Lubkemann makes it fun and easy. In this video, Chris will tell you which twigs, branches, and even household items are best for shaping into flowers, forks, roosters, owls, and other quick projects.

A child of missionaries, Chris Lubkemann grew up in the forests of Brazil and Peru, where he developed an appreciation for knives and entertained himself and others by handcrafting rafts, tree houses, traps, and slingshots from scrap wood. As an adult, he has continued to use his woodworking skills for gold old-fashioned fun. Chris has carved some of the world’s smallest branch carvings; in fact, his smallest branch rooster was given a Guinness World Record Certificate. The author of five books on woodcarving with Fox Chapel Publishing, Chris currently demonstrates whittling as the resident woodcarver at the Amish Farm and House in Lancaster, Pa. Visit his website at www.whittlingwithchris.com.

Want to learn more about whittling?

Subscribe to Woodcarving Illustrated magazine, or visit our website to buy back issues.	Check out our special issues all about Whittling.	Visit our website to buy Chris Lubkemann’s books.

The post Whittling with Chris: Choosing Wood appeared first on Woodcarving Illustrated.