Encouragement for beginning woodcarvers.

My main purpose in writing this column is to encourage people to take up a hobby that will help occupy your time when you reach retirement age and cannot do the more strenuous things of your younger years. A hobby is also a relaxing pastime during the stressful years of trying to earn a living. Start young and you will be ready when retirement comes-and it comes sooner than you think. I have found wood carving fits that need very nicely. There are similar hobbies such as fly tying, stamp collecting, jewelry making, crocheting, knitting, etc. I mention the last two because there are many very good carvers today that are women.

I am sure that many of you have a desire to do such things but you just do not know how to get started. I was fortunate to have a co-worker who helped me get started carving, and I am very grateful to him for that help. I had been interested in carving for a long time, and did some whittling as a kid, but I needed that little extra encouragement to get going again.

I recently purchased a carving book, First Projects for Woodcarvers by Larry Green and Mike Altman, that I believe will give you much encouragement to get started, with very little expense. This book is an ideal way for a beginner to get started carving. Two very talented carvers assist the authors in the writing of this book. They are Tom Brown and Mac Proffit. Mac owns Smoky Mountain Wood Carvers Supply & School in Townsend, Tennessee.

This is a fun book to read and to use. It is in full color with excellent photography. The book covers such subjects as safety, selection of tools, other helpful items used in carving, sharpening, knife and gouge practice, and step-by-step instructions for carving a small dog, a boot, and a three-piece Nativity set. There are also instructions for carving an additional small human figure. There are some interesting cartoons that help make the book interesting and enjoyable. I highly recommend it. The price is only $12.95. It is published by Schiffer Publishing, Ltd., 4880 Lower Valley Rd., Atglen, PA 19310.

I recommend a Beginner's Kit that includes the book and the tools to get you started. The kit is available from Smoky Mountain Wood Carvers Supply, PO Box 82, Townsend, TN 38882; 1-800-541-5994. The catalog number is K1001, and the price is $49.95 plus a small shipping charge. This includes the book, a pre-sharpened Murphy carving knife, leather strop and abrasive to keep it sharp, sharpening instructions, basswood to carve on in the forms of a shoe blank, dog blank, two three-piece Nativity set blanks (step-by-step instructions for carving all of these), a #9 x 5/16" gouge, and a 5/32" 'V' tool. In addition, Mac is offering a Kevlar safety glove for only $5, and a leather thumb protector for $1.95. I urge you to order the glove and thumb protector at these bargain prices. They are a lot less expensive than a trip to the clinic for stitches.

Another similar kit is the Old Time Whittling Kit, Catalog #K1041 is available at $21.95. I also own this excellent little book. This includes the book Old Time Whittling, a sharpened folding pocketknife, and the wood to carve a wooden chain and other "trick" old-time carved wooden items.

By starting out with either of these kits (I recommend the first one) you can be well on your way to a wonderful and fun hobby. As you progress in your hobby, you will see the need for additional tools. Add them one at a time as you can afford them, and as you need them.

I recommend two additional sources of supply: MDI Woodcarvers Supply, PO Box 4, Pittsfield, ME 04967. They recently advertised in COUNTRYSIDE magazine. We should patronize them for that reason-and because they offer a lot of great carving tools and supplies. Another excellent supplier is The Woodcraft Shop, 2724 State St., Bettendorf, IA 52722. They have everything a carver could ever desire.

I am sure that you will be very pleased with the above kits. If you are so fortunate as to live somewhere within driving distance of Townsend, Tennessee, give Mac a call and ask about classes that he and his staff offer. It's entirely possible to learn to carve from a book but it's sure nice to have an experienced carver actually show you how.

If I can be of help, give me a "jingle" at [e-mail], or write to me c/o COUNTRYSIDE. I also advise you to join the National Wood Carvers Assn., 7424 Miami Ave., Cincinnati, OH 45243. You will receive six bi-monthly issues of Chip Chats, an excellent magazine for only $14 a year.

Happy carving.

MEL GILLUND

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MINNESOTA