DIY Wood Engraving: Getting Started

Getting started on a brand new hobby can be exciting. But if you’re jumping into something brand new, it can be a bit intimidating. DIY wood engraving is a great hobby to pick up on because it’s so accessible. In this article, we’ll walk you through the beginning steps of wood engraving such as the types of wood you’ll use, carving depth, and more!

Choosing Your Wood

There are dozens, even hundreds of types of wood available to you so you’re going to want to select the type based on what you’re doing.

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For example, whittlers will want to choose a soft block of wood while those making larger items like furniture will want a harder wood with a defined grain. These are the most common types of wood for engravers:

Basswood

Basswood is probably the most commonly used wood for beginners. It’s lack of grain means it’s soft and great for beginners to learn on, not to mention it can be found in hardware stores across the country.

Butternut

Butternut is another wood that’s ideal for beginners. Like basswood, it’s common, soft, and inexpensive; all the qualities you’d want when starting out.

Aspen

Aspen is a small step up in terms of hardness, though overall, it’s still very workable for beginners. It’s also common and inexpensive.

Black Walnut

Black walnut wood is another step up from aspen or butternut as far as price and hardness goes. You may require additional or sharper tools to work with this wood effectively.

Oak

One of the most common uses for oak is furniture making. It’s well defined grain makes it a hardwood that takes a bit more experience to work with.

Choosing Your Tools

There are many different types of hand tools available for engraving. Take a look at some of your options:

Chip Carving Knife

The chip carving knife is used for whittling and chip carving. It’ll provide your piece with a hand-crafted look but may not be completely smooth.

U-Gouge

A U-Gouge knife has a curved edge that can be used to take away a variety of depths of wood to get the desired size.

V-Gouge

A V-Gouge is similar to a U-Gouge but, as the name implies, has a pointed V-shaped edge rather than a curved one. These are used for more detailed work.

Skewed Chisel

The skewed chisel has a flat edge with a 45-degree angle. It’s used for controlled chiseling and is used by both beginners and experts.

Mallet

Mallets are used when working with large pieces of wood that need pieces broken off. They’re usually reserved for the more experienced craftsmen.

Carving Machine

For those who are serious about wood engraving, working with a CNC carving machine, like the X-Carve, is the next step up. These carving machines provide precise smooth cuts and are actually very easy to use.

Get Your DIY Wood Engraving Started!

Starting new hobbies like wood engraving can be really exciting. Now that you have a grasp on the materials you’ll need, you can get out there and start planning your first woodworking project!