Chip Carving:

Chip carving is a type of wood carving where triangular shaped pieces are cut out, forming the negative space of the carving. Wayne Barton’s book, Chip Carving: Techniques & Patterns, is an excellent resource for learning more about the technique and its origins.

I started chip carving about 3 or 4 years ago, and I have enjoyed it immensely. Very little equipment is needed: 2 carving knives, medium and fine ceramic sharpening stones, a compass, a ruler, and a mechanical pencil.

The woods carved are bass wood (linden) or butternut, which are relatively inexpensive because they are among the softest hard woods. Only balsa wood is softer than bass wood!

Many chip carving patterns rely on geometric shapes, such as these Christmas ornaments.

However, free form designs can also be chip carved. The leaves on this mantle clock are free form, not conforming to a strict geometric shape.

Below are a couple chip carving patterns I haven’t carved, yet. The Celtic knots were drawn with, and elements were taken from, Iain Bain’s Celtic Knotwork. I like Bain’s method since it relies on mechanical drafting methods, and any free hand drawing is done after the construction lines have formed the bulk of the knot.

The paisley border pattern is taken from Wayne Barton’s Chip Carving Patterns.

Are you interested in a custom pattern or chip carved item? mailto:wojniakj@4dv.net

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