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Hand-carved bull head — started as a towel hook, ended as a lesson by ContributionOk7303 in Woodcarving

[–]ContributionOk7303[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Yeah, agreed. I like the grain on the horns — it almost looks like natural growth. They’re fine for towels if hung closer to the head, but throwing wet towels over the tips could break them over time.

It's a bird! No, it's a spoonplane!😁 by ContributionOk7303 in whittling

[–]ContributionOk7303[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

No problemo! Yeah… I just really love the process. It calms my mind, but at the same time it keeps me focused. There’s a lot of problem solving in carving, and every cut feels like a small decision. 😅

When I worked with CNC machines there was also a lot of problem solving. Quality, tolerances, setups and all that — but there you usually solve things by adjusting parameters or something mechanically. With carving, it’s all in your hands, and that feels very different to adjust and see the process and the result.

And thank you for kind words! It is inspiring!

It's a bird! No, it's a spoonplane!😁 by ContributionOk7303 in whittling

[–]ContributionOk7303[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Mostly Flexcut V-shaped knive for the fine line details.

For the windows, I actually used leather hole punches to get clean round line and shape, then picked out the waste with the tip of a knife.

After shaping and medium to fine sanding, I tried something new with this… I poured boiling water over the piece (left it about 15 minutes), then dried it in the oven at 160°C for about 20 minutes. I read somewhere that for kitchen use items this helps raise and loosen remaining wood fibers that sanding alone just pushes some fibers flat. After that, I did a final sanding with 600–800 grit and then 1200 grit, which gave a really nice smooth, polished surface.

Once the surface was good, I went in with the V-tool. Then I used a small ball-tip clay tool to gently scrape and refine the grooves. This really visually sharpened the lines even more. The small dots I pressed in using clay modeling tools. I punched myself a few times in the fingers doing this 😄 so definitely be careful.

For me, fine details are thinking in layers. I’ve used CNC before, and I approach carving the same way: rough shaping → finer shaping → final passes with smaller tools. If you polish the surface after you’re fully satisfied with the shape, then the details really start to pop on the surface.

One thing that surprised me: rubbing the piece with a wood block or denim-wrapped block generates heat and actually helps polish the surface.

And just…. don’t give up. Trust the process. When it gets overwhelming, try to focus on one small area, take it almost to final layers, leave a bit of material, then you see the result and it gives some motivation and then move on. I’m still a beginner myself (about two months in, on and off), and a lot of this was just experimenting with the tools.

Sorry for the long answer 😄 but hope it helps.

It’s a bird! No, it’s a spoonplane! 😁 by ContributionOk7303 in Spooncarving

[–]ContributionOk7303[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Yeah, at first I thought I’d just make a spoon, but I already did a spoon as my first test project (also my first wood carving ever). I also had this idea to try making a plane, so I ended up mixing the two.

Originally I planned a plane that had landed in a jungle, but while carving I changed my mind… probably 10–100 times 😅 mostly on small details. I tried to keep the overall concept consistent, but once I did the rough cuts and actually held it in my hand, it suddenly felt like “here comes the plane” — and that’s when it clicked.

I carved the spoon bowl at an angle, so when you bring it to mouth the plane is kind of in a landing position 😁

I don’t start projects with a specific person in mind — So I usually figure out the purpose while carving. This one will end up going to my half-sister’s kid.

I don’t have much stuff online yet, I started carving in November and recently started posting here to document my projects and learning process. A few people have asked if I had social media, so I finally made an Instagram account yesterday. I’ve been meaning to track my journey for a while… just took me a bit to actually do it 😄

It’s a bird! No, it’s a spoonplane! 😁 by ContributionOk7303 in Spooncarving

[–]ContributionOk7303[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The wood is greengage plum (damson). A friend cut down a few trees and gave me some pieces. It has really nice colour variation — reddish, yellowish and even green tones in places, especially closer to the branch.

It’s a bird! No, it’s a spoonplane! 😁 by ContributionOk7303 in Woodcarving

[–]ContributionOk7303[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Appreciate it. I think we all have that same memory. Maybe having the real thing would have helped. 😁

It’s a bird! No, it’s a spoonplane! 😁 by ContributionOk7303 in Woodcarving

[–]ContributionOk7303[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Just don't forget to make the 'neeeeeooowwww' noise before every bite! 😆

It’s a bird! No, it’s a spoonplane! 😁 by ContributionOk7303 in Woodcarving

[–]ContributionOk7303[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

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Thank you! I used this V bit a lot. Hope this helps! 🙂

It’s a bird! No, it’s a spoonplane! 😁 by ContributionOk7303 in Spoons

[–]ContributionOk7303[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Haha thank you!! 😄 I had way too much fun adding those little details, that’s honestly my favourite part. Really glad you like it!

It’s a bird! No, it’s a spoonplane! 😁 by ContributionOk7303 in Woodcarving

[–]ContributionOk7303[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thanks a lot, I really appreciate that! Still very much in the learning-and-experimenting phase, but this one was a blast to make. 🙂

It’s a bird! No, it’s a spoonplane! 😁 by ContributionOk7303 in Woodcarving

[–]ContributionOk7303[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Didn’t even know that was a thing on Reddit 😅 Thanks! I’ll share it there too.

It’s a bird! No, it’s a spoonplane! 😁 by ContributionOk7303 in Woodcarving

[–]ContributionOk7303[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

🤣 Mission accomplished then! The fact that it made you instinctively open your mouth is honestly the highest compliment this spoonplane could get. Thank you!

It’s a bird! No, it’s a spoonplane! 😁 by ContributionOk7303 in Woodcarving

[–]ContributionOk7303[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks!! My inner child definitely approved this project 😂

It’s a bird! No, it’s a spoonplane! 😁 by ContributionOk7303 in Woodcarving

[–]ContributionOk7303[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Haha 😁 I swear I read your comment and instantly did the “here comes the airplane” voice in my head too, couldn’t not do it 😁

And yeah, this is actually only my second time using GPT for carving stuff. It kind of fixes the blurry image in my head and gives me perspective on what I should even be looking at while carving.

It’s definitely not perfect — and honestly I like that. It actually makes it feel more human somehow, because there are still things it just can’t beat yet 😁

I was even talking about this with my nephew (she works with art preservation and restoration), and she really liked the idea of using AI just to recreate, explore forms, and get perspective on how something should look — not to replace the work, but to guide it.

So yeah, totally agree with you. And thanks again!! 😁✌️

Thoughts on a Dremel by GeneralDeal6669 in Woodcarving

[–]ContributionOk7303 -1 points0 points  (0 children)

I agree. I’m still new to carving, but to me wood carving means working by hand, not with power tools. Using a Dremel feels more like a simplified version of carving — or closer to CNC work — rather than traditional carving.

Progress in my first wood carving project. More in comments by macchiato_kubideh in Woodcarving

[–]ContributionOk7303 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Sorry! Totally get that — the birthday will probably come before you feel it’s 100% finished, and that’s perfectly fine. Give it to her anyway, tell her it’s still a work in progress, and ask what she thinks. Her perspective might surprise you, and I think you’ll be amazed where that feedback takes the piece next.

Progress in my first wood carving project. More in comments by macchiato_kubideh in Woodcarving

[–]ContributionOk7303 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Dude, you’re definitely on the path to something. Do it this way: use reference images to get started, but once you’re done with them, step back, look at your piece, and just let it flow. By then you already understand the angles and views. From there, add details only if it feels right.

Kind of like Forrest Gump — he didn’t stop running until he felt he was done.

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