Power Carving Cheetah - Rotary Tool

Before the holidays I said I would complete the slides on carving a cheetah with a rotary tool. Between then and now my computer has gone south a few times, and the software was updated, which means changed. The end result is I have too relearn how I put the slides together. This short version of using the Dremel rotary tool will have to do until I can get the rest of the slides all in order and figure out what to do with them.

I think you can get the idea of how I carve the pairs of animals for the Noah's Arks in a reasonable time. I use a 1/2 inch sanding drum, and merely sand off the edges of the blank. I start by making a simple "cut" on each side of the neck. Next I carve the sides of the tail, followed by rounding off the cheetahs back. After that I define the back legs, and round off the under belly. Next it's the front legs, followed by the head. I try to use the sanding drum as I would a knife. If you follow the slides you can see what I mean.

The following tips are worth giving:

1. The animals are meant to be played with, so there is little carved detail. Detail breaks off.

2. The Cheetahs legs are not separated. Kids break them off if they are.

3. If you use Basswood it fuzzes up when sanded.

4. If you use redwood it does not fuzz up. I buy redwood fenceing, it's cheap.

5. Wear a good mask.

6. After the animals are carved, dip them into shellac prior to painting.

To Get Out Of A Carving Slump....Read Comments

We have all learned that probably 50% of what is posted and read on the Internet is not true. But in the case of the previous posting about getting out of a carving slump forget what we have been told.

Read the comments! Read the suggestions on what we can do to get out of a carving slump. They make sense! And at least one of the suggestions has worked for me........

Getting Your Carving SPARK Back!

Anyone find themselves in a carving slump? I am! You know, just can't seem to get to carving anything. Just sit there and look at the stuff, but don't pick up the tools and do anything. And if you do start a carving, you're not satisfied; and put it aside.

Any one out there have any suggestions as to how to rediscover the "Carving spark"?

Ol' Thomp Report!

Phone rang the other day, and I picked it up. A scratchy ol' voice stated, "good mornin", "it's a voice from the grave". Yep, Thomp was callin me. No matter what time of day he calls, he opens with "good mornin". I think it's cause he just woke up. Well this time when he called he was in Kidney dialysis. Hooked up to the machine for 5 hours. Ol' Thomp sounded like ol' Thomp. although kinda weak. Said he didn't remember anything after he got to the hospital. Said he didn't remember his heart stopping, bein on a ventilator, or anything; except that he can't find his carvin knife. Maybe he's on the way to gettin stabilized. Anyway it sure was good to hear his voice.

Thought you would want to know.

Thomp In Hospital

For those who are not on the WOODCARVING ILLUSTRATED magazine Forum, and have seen my posting, Thomp is back in the hospital. I don't know what the medical classification of his condition is, but he's a long way from being OK. He's there because of complications of congestive heart failure and diabetes. Of course those of us who may have one or the other (or both) of these conditions know that some very serious life threatening problems can result. That's where Ol' Thomp finds himself now.

Thomp's wife has asked me to let his friends know, and to ask for their prayers.

Carving Safety

Since Thomp started this blog for beginners, thought I'd list 10 tips about safe wood carving, that were published 10 years ago in WOODCARVING ILLUSTRATED.

1. Keep your tools sharp.
2. When making dust or using chemicals, protect your eyes, nose, mouth, and skin.
3. When running machines that produce high decibels, protect your ears.
4. Properly dispose of rags that have been used to apply oil finishes.
5. Don't carve when tired, distracted, or under stress.
6. Read the instructions that come with power tools.
7. Protect your hands.
8. Wear eye protection when power sharpening, or using power tools.
9. Make sure your woodcarving is securely clamped or held down whenever possible.
10. Take lessons from the experts.

New Year - New Beginnings?

As this new year begins, I am putting out a call for "guest" contributors. Ol' Thomp is kinda off his feed, and I'm in one of those times where there is just way to much on my plate. I keep thinking I can get everything done like I used to do. I used to pride myself with being able to work any 21 year old into ground. Not any more! A good hours work knocks the piss out of now. Anyway, this blog deserves some new stuff.

So, if there's any regular follower that has something that they think will help a new carver, or that may be of interest to any of us.......let me know.

You can leave a comment, and some way for me to contact you; and we'll go from there.

Why, Practice Practice, Practice!

Starting the new year off on a serious note for a change. Everyone has heard the phrase; "practice, practice, practice". Whether this phrase is applied to learning to play the piano, cutting a dovetail joint, or carving wood; we've all heard it and many of us may have said it.

We all know that it's true too. And I suspect that we all have something in our past that we did not practice, practice, practice; and we regret it to this day.

It's simple, and it's true. Practice is the key to becoming a wood carver. Among the many reasons that practice is so critical is that, for one thing, you must be able to predict what the wood will do, when carving it. You must know your tool, whether a knife or a gouge, and be able to see the "cause and effect" of the tool. And this only come with practice, practice, practice.

Merry Christmas-Happy Holidays

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all of our followers and all who just stop by the blog. I thought I'd post this greetings before Ol' Thomp got up out of bed today. Well that an if waited too long I'd probably forget.

Thanks to the followers and the number of folks who stop by, this blog will continue to grow. Thomp started the blog as a place to put carving beginner information. I joined Thomp in his efforts and together we have not only become great friends, but now can count numerous others as friends too. And for that we thank you all.

As the new year starts, we will be doubling our efforts to present more carving information and such for Beginners and Beyond. And to assist in this effort we need your help. Please let us know, through the comments here, what you would like to see posted. Are there any projects you'd like to have us feature, any questions to answer, any tips to offer, just about any thing related to wood carving.

Ol' Thomp an me may not know the answers or have the plans, but now we have lots of carving friends that we can ask to share their knowledge and information.

Merry Christmas - Happy Holidays,

Ol' Thomp and Tom H

Quick & Easy!

I like to do quick and easy little carvings/whittlings. I do think that quick and easy kinda go together. And my very short attention and interest span accommodates these little projects.


This "string" of fish is the result of two occurrences. First, an article I read in an old Field and Stream magazine about ice fishing with lures. The article had photos of several life sized carved fish lures. Second, when ever I see a band saw at a carving event, I check out the waste/scrap can for pieces of basswood. These little fish lures are about 2 to 3 inches long. They are very easy to carve and even more fun to paint.


This little eagle is real easy too. It's carved from a piece of 3/4 x 3/4 inch basswood, that is finished to 1 1/2 inches tall.

I'll work on a tutorial on carving the Eagle.