Customer Reviews

The Complete Guide to Chip Carving

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This is an excellent book and it is very complete. If, however, you have a number of Barton's previous books, there is not much new in this one, and that includes the designs shown. So, if you are an experienced chip carver and know Barton's work, I think that you would be disappointed with this book.

As a beginner, this is a great book to establish solid techniques and get an overview of what you accomplish. The patterns and pictures are very detailed. The instructions and explanations are clear and concise. This is a book that I will keep referencing for a long time.

I carve wedding plates, jewelry boxes, and borders on relief carvings. This book provides many samples I can use for my work. It is a super book well worth being a part of any chip carver's arsenal.

I constantly go back to this book after owning it for several years...to get pattern ideas mostly. It has been well worth the purchase price.

This book will take you from complete ignorance to actual participation. I had never understood anything about chip carving. I have never seen it done. The only thing I have seen was the finished product. I bought this book and a set of 3 knives 2 days ago. Since I am on vacation this week, I had time to read this book and practice.

The first and most important thing to know is how to hold the knife. The man at the store suggested I buy a carver's mitt for my left hand and maybe some thumb protection for my right hand. But if you follow the author and hold the knife like Wayne Barton says - I don't know how you would ever cut yourself. That is worth the price of the book alone!!! Who wants to get all cut up? You don't have to get cut - just follow his instructions. I find I have to keep reminding myself to hold the knife like Wayne Barton says.

One thing that surprised me was that there are several techniques to the cutting. He has many good illustrations on techniques. Not only can he do chip carving but he is also a great teacher. Once you learn the techniques then it is up to you to practice. The phrase "Chip Carving" makes it sound like you just chip away. But that is wrong. And the "Carving" part makes it sound like you are whittling. And that is wrong. I am learning that there are techniques unique to Chip Carving you have to master to be successful. I am surprised at how many techniques and principles there are to learn. With just a few simple techniques you can begin. You will learn more as you develop.

The last half of the book has many good designs that you can scan into your computer and then use your iron to transfer the patterns onto a board. If you have a scanner and a lase printer, it is easy to let the computer copy the designs and then iron them onto a board. And if you have Photoshop, you can bring this all into one image, reverse any lettering and then iron (very hot) the whole thing onto your board. I have an old iron I use for applying edge veneer to edges of plywood.

In just a few days, I am off to a good start to Chip Carving. Looking forward to learning more techniques and developing my owns skills. I am convinced that Chip Carving can be fun and rewarding as long as I am willing to learn (and practice).

I love the designs and techniques. It is a wonderful reference book for this subject. The craftsman is so talented and skilled.

Wayne Barton is a master in this book. Things that seem difficult become easy when you can see it being done. Lots of great patterns and ideas. This is a very useful and handy book and can be used by anyone.

I enjoyed the book and am happy to have it. But I enjoyed the DVD more. I recommend them both.

This guide is helpful on the face of it. It will be intereting how quickly I absorb the basics and begin to branch out to my own work and designs. The guide looks very useful.

This book is a good companion to the Chip Carving DVD by Wayne Barton - it reinforces many of the items presented in the DVD, shows numerous finished examples, and provides patterns and techniques for creating patterns on the wood you use. Highly recommended!

Not only is this a complete book on chip carving it is well written and easy to understand with many excellent examples.