Customer Reviews

Carving Animal Caricatures (Dover Woodworking)

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This book is a great start for the beginner. Complete set-by-step instructions with 72 photos & 131 drawings to go by for the 24 projects covered. The projects are really good looking "folk-art" animal caricatures.

I gave this book one star only because I could not give it 1/2. This book is a series of reprints of old (really old, like 1960's) popular mechanics articles. There is no instructional material to speak of in this book, just a series of patterns with minimal detail. I put this book on the bottom shelf underneath old woodcaring magazines, the only reason I didn't throw it in the trash was I had spent the price of a good book on it and hated to see that go to the landfill. Buy books by Mr Pete Leclair, Dave Stetson, Mike Shipley, or Misters Wolf or Enlow instead of this "moldy-oldy" and you will receive value for your dollars.

This is a very good book on carving. Anyone can grasp what is being said and be carving in no time. Book gives a list of basic tools and wood needed. Use white pine to start out when you have a few carvings under your belt go to more expensive wood if you want to. Be warned once you start you will be carving every chance you get. The main thing is HAVE FUN. Remember carvers are sharp people.

STARTING OUT ESPECIALLY SOME BOOKS ARE FINE TO MOON OVER AND THINK
"HOW DID HE DO THAT?" THIS BOOK IS A "I CAN DO THAT." I OFTEN FIND IT MISSING AS MY GIRLS LIKE TO LOOK AT IT, AND DISCUSS THE COOL CARVINGS. THEN THEY POINT OUT THERE FAVORITES. SIT THIS BOOK ON YOUR COFFEE TABLE AND ALMOST EVERYONE WILL PICK IT UP AND SPEND AT LEAST 20 MINUTES READING AND LOOKING AT IT. SEEMS CARVING APPEALS TO A BASIC HUMAN INSTINCT. PEOPLE WHO WOULD NEVER DREAM OF CARVING STILL ENJOY IT. IT IS A SOLID WELL WRITTEN BOOK. THE BOTTOM LINE THOUGH FOR CARVING IS THAT YOU HAVE TO PUT BLADE TO WOOD. ALL THE BOOKS IN THE WORLD WILL ONLY TAKE YOU SO FAR. BEBINNERS WORK SMALL AND WHEN YOU CAN A BASIC DESIGN WITH A SCROLL SAW. IT MAKES IT EASIER TO DEFINE THE SHAPE. LITTLE ANIMALS ARE GREAT PROJECTS, AND DON'T THROW AWAY YOUR EARLY STUFF LATER YOU'LL ENJOY COMPARING IT TO SEE WHERE YOU HAVE PROGRESSED.