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Wood Carving is such a wide and varied topic that it is impossible to write a comprehensive overview. One thing you can be sure of though is that when man discovered tools he also got a piece of wood and starting carving. Below is a light hearted guide to help you if you've got the tools and found a piece of wood big enough! 
A GUIDE TO CARVING First find a piece of wood big enough! Something soft to start with, remember it doesn't need to be seasoned. "Green" wood is often softer and more manageable for the beginner! Start off by choosing something with a close grain such as Lime, fruit woods or Sycamore. Alternatively just go and find an old log! Next choose your tool! Cheep tools go blunt quicker! So the more you spend the less often you will have to straiten your back from your work and go sharpening. Try car boot sales, where real bargains can often be found! To start off all you need is a strait roughing out gouge a strait shallow gouge and possibly a "V" gouge. You can also do a great deal with a chip carving knife on smaller work and an axe on bigger stuff. Leave the chainsaw to the professionals! Sharpening :- a shallow cutting angle is sharper than a steep one but will go blunt quicker and is more prone to damage so shallow and sharp for softer woods. Once you have the shape you are happy with on an oil stone or grinder (Don't heat the steal !) hone sharp on a leather or felt strop with a fine abrasive such as Autosol (chrome polish). Once you have found the right size of wood for your piece and you have found the perfect tools for the job you can now start carving. But wait... what are you going to carve??? Look around you for inspiration!!!!! Once the piece is finished compare it with another piece similar to it (your own or someone else's). Remember an artists work is never complete You will never be completely satisfied with your work you will just learn when to leave it alone! Enjoy your carving!
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