Sawing mammoth tusk,
preparation for carving
"Dragon Lantern"

After selecting the particular material for a carving, I mark the cut lines and begin to saw.  My tools for this step are simple, a Japanese style saw that cuts on the pull stroke, or a short saw that cuts on the push stroke. I do not use a power tool for this step.

When smaller pieces of wood need to be removed in a more controlled manner, I use a coping saw.  There are three saws at my workbench with coarse, medium and fine blades to choose between. All the steps of the carving process are not illustrated on this page.

Once the material is blocked out at the workbench, I move to the carving bench and consider the intended subject's placement within the limits of the material.  Some rough lines are sketched and the next phase of roughing out unwanted material begins with the use of an electric micro-grinder.  This step is the most lively work during the weeks of  time I spend carving each piece. It lasts for perhaps a day or for just hours.

Janel's Carving Tools

During the use of the power tool, I wear ear plugs to block out most of the sound of the  tool.  I also have a dust collector placed just to my left  to filter out most of the dust which flies from the tool  tip during the grinding process.  Wood dusts and that of many other kinds of materials are harmful to breath, so some sort of dust collection is important.

Filing mammoth of
"Dragon Lantern"

When I am finished with the power tool, I turn to a few favorite files to remove more of the material, in a more controlled manner. Small carving blades and gouges start to find usefulness now. Many of these are made from

Janel's Workbench

I work on the whole piece in stages, trying to never get too far ahead on any section. As the carving progresses, the smaller tools come into use.  When fine control with the placement of the tools is necessary, I add the antique binocular loupes to my  carving glasses.

When the carving tools have done their job, decisions are made about the finest details and when to apply them, before, during, or after sanding. Each carving has its own requirements.

Janel's Carving Tools

Sanding progresses in stages using a range of grits of sand papers. The I have on hand are: 100 (rarely used), 220, 320, 400, 600, 1000, 1500, 2000. I select papers that are considered useful for both wet/dry applications. Some come from the local hardware store, the others from the auto parts store.  Some materials require even finer grits to bring a polish to glistening perfection.  For this, I have been using a liquid polishing compound that is used to remove haze and fine scratches from plexi-glass.

Many of my tools are made as I need them.  I am also interested in the tools that other carvers use.  The tools pictured on the left of the picture were inspired by tools designed by Steven Myhre, a bone carver from New Zealand.  Komada Ryushi introduced me to his Japanese netsuke carving tools at the International Netsuke Society Convention 2004, a very good treat for me.

Janel Jacobson

As time progresses, I will add images and text to further illustrate carving and finishing the little pieces I carve.