Carving Soap

[Cut_Fingers]

My lady-friend has been watching me carve for quite some time and has heard me talking about this board and seen my new carving tools.

The other day, she said that she may want to give it a try. However, she ask if she could start with a bar of soap?

What do you all think? Should she start with soap? If so, are there any brands that you would recommend (some harder than others)? Do I want to let her use my carving tool? (just wondering if the soap would somehow damage the tool)

Just curious. I have heard of a man teaching carving in a nursing home here in Jackson & they used soap.

Any thoughts?

Thanks
Jim

Ivory soap is the best for carving or at least it was when I was a kid. The soap shouldn't hurt yoour tools at all, just be sure to clean them up when she's finished and maybe give them a light coat of light oil afterwards (3in1, sewing machine, etc)

[Ky_Whittler]

It's been a long time, but yes Ivory is best. I wouldn't worry about th etools either. As Randy said just add water and oil later. Ivory can be carved with sharp pieces of hard wood as tools if you wish. They would be a bit safer and can be thrown away later if you wish.

Get her started. I think she would enjoy the hobby as much as we do. Just think about all those fancy pretty soaps she can carve instead of buying to stink the place up with. Whittler

There's a book out on carving soap. I can't remember the name or author off hand.

Ivory soap is best and it can be carved with wooden 'knives'. You can even wet down two or more pieces and stick them together to make larger pieces to work with.

I have used soap to teach a beginner. Mostly to demonstrate the proper method for holding a knife and making cuts. It's good for starting out as younger carvers do not have as much strength in their hands. They don't have to force the tool as much - making it safer.

[Nancy_G]

I sorta think you should buy your lady friend a good carving glove, give her a good knife and a chunk of bass wood.
Why waste time with soap? She's not going to learn a thing about grain or CARVING.
Just my 2 cents.

Two books 'Soap Carving for Children' by Howard Suzuki and 'Carving in Soap' also by Howard Suzuki available from (you guessed it) LittleShavers. !-206-767-7421.

[Kenny_S]

She will not learn anything about grain or soft spots in wood but can learn the basic of carving by carving soap. many of Scouters got their wood carving start by carving Bars of Ivory soap. But then again, many started on wood during their Wood Carving Merit Badge.

Ivory soap bars have been used for generations by Scouters.

I have to agree with Nancy I would use a carving glove and a sharp knife and go for it. The nice thing about starting with wood is that you will have the piece for years to come not so with the soap. I also agree that it is so important to know about grain when carving. Just my two cents worth I started with a piece of driftwood and I still have the carving.
Colin

Actually, soap carving is a very old artform ... carvings can be made permanent by varnishing them, or I would imagine any of the new spray finsihes such as deft or krylon. The beauty of soap carvings is that after they have aged, they take on a soft yellowish Ivory appearance. They will not accept the fine details that wood will, so carvings of a more stylized nature are usually done. See the works of Lester Gaba for example.

Soap? No way! Try cottonwood bark, you can find it anywhere in the country...small pieces are near perfect for boyscouts to carve their slides for neckties, pins etc. I've given away a few hundred lb.s to scout leaders and never got any complaints....although I haven't got any takers either since I asked the scout leaders to pick up the boxes at my house.
The bark can be very tough but mostly soft enough to carve with a dull knife or thumb and fingernails.
Polymer clay and a plastic knife would be next on my list.
Ivory soap ick! keep your fingers away from your mouth...

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