chip carving books

[farfalla]

I've seen lots of chip carving pattern and technique books on the web, but there are no bookstores within 80 miles of me that carry any. I drove those 80 miles yesterday to the Borders in Albuquerque, but the only chip carving book they had didn't have a single photograph in it. I can order one of the other books I've seen online, but I this means I can't even thumb through it beforehand--does anyone have any recommendations? Are there any books you liked?

What I'm really hoping for is a book with a lot of color pictures of different designs. Line diagrams are okay, but it's kind of like looking at a spirograph picture, and frankly I can make that myself. I just want to see more designs and get more ideas.

[Dale_O]

The Wayne Barton books and video would be a perfect choice. You will learn tool sharpening, carving technique, and also how to draw patterns. There are also some great photos.

Dale

Hi,
I am going to save you a lot of stress driving 80 miles for chip carving books. If you go to www.amazon.com
YOU CAN SEARCH INSIDE THE BOOK! Also if you click on the book you will be able to read what people think about the book also, and they rate it 1 to 5 stars, AND the prices at amazon are VERY reasonable and they are VERY safe to buy from to. Just type in chip carving and I Promise you will get at least 5 ressults!! And Tell me if you knew of that sute er not. Thansk

I'm not for reading books, but last Monday I went next door to the library looking for something to read for a few hours while I was sitting through several briefings I picked up Chip Carving Techniques & Patterns by Wayne Barton ISBN 0-8069-7924-0 and actually enjoyed reading it, especially since it is almost all pictures black and white though.

The book goes through technigue for sharpening and carving, how to layout/make patterns, and plenty of pictures with different patterns and styles of lettering. I don't care much for the authors sharpening technique, but to each his own.

Before buying, take a look at the local library. Also some public schools and universities allow the public to use their facilities!

[Donna_T]

A couple of ideas: Have you done a google search for chip wood carving or chip carving?

Don't forget to check out this site for 'books'. Fox Chapel Publishing has LOTS of carving books of every kind.

In the midwest where I live, Barry McKenzie at Lebannon, MO is considered one of our region's premier chip carvers and instructors. I'll dig and see if I can find his website information and send it to you. He is very helpful.

Donna T

Everyone is always talking about how wonderful Wayne Barton books are. I read two of them and found them to inadequate. There are lots of lovely pictures of impressive chip carvings but nowhere does Barton talk chip carving. I would like to know of basic strokes and techniques as well as common problems and solutions. Isn’t that the most important thing? Instead the book dealt with lesser things such as design symmetry and positive carving schemes.

[Hi_Ho_Sliver]

look up Wayne Bartons book 'Chip Carving Techniques and Patterns' !

[farfalla]

Thanks for the suggestions!

I had heard of Wayne Barton, as well as a few of the other suggestions, but I'm a poor college student and I didn't want to buy any books sight-unseen without some idea of what I'd be getting. The amazon feature of letting you look at a few pages is nice, and certainly better than nothing, but you mostly just get to see the table of contents. Reviews are really helpful, though--usually other people are going to be looking for the same things from a book that I am.

I was pleasantly surprised to find that my library did have one chip carving book that I overlooked on my last visit--Pam Gresham's Chip Carving the Southwest. It's certainly a different take on design ideas than I had seen elsewhere, but I'm still probably going to go ahead and buy one of the more traditional books (I guess I mean European tradition--the Southwest certainly has traditions of its own!).

[Donna_T]

Hello again,
Pam Gresham has another book that is more traditional, 'Basic Chip carving' and it's much more mainstream--and I think she has one on Pennsylvania Dutch patterns, too Lora Irish also has a two part series that is Chipping Away...carving classics ONE and TWO. There is also another basic bookthat I've seen that looks good and it's by Moor and I think it's called 'An Introduction to Chip Carving.' As I remember, all have some instruction and patterns.

Hope that gives you some names and authors.

Donna T

[squbrigg]

Farfalla,

Stick with your library to preview any book before you purchase.....just request through inter-library loan, any titles that are suggested or catch your eye.

Save your money for tools and wood and the best of the books that you can find.

Good luck,

Bob