Tips on How to Prepare the Workshop or Studio for your Wood
By: Mitch Johnson

The first thing which we have to do when we decided to choose the wood carving as our hobby is that we have to find a space for it. Find out the tips on how to prepare the space for your workshop or studio.

In wood carving it is possible to improvise by making a small working area in the corner of a living room that is if space is limited. If, on the other hand, you have a room or dry shed that can be used exclusively for carving, so much the better. Unlike stone carving, which creates a great deal of dust, wood carving can be termed a clean craft as the dust is negligible and the wood chips can easily be swept up and burned. It is only when carving is combined with general carpentry and joinery that the complete workshop is absolutely necessary.

For carving, the first requirement is a really strong bench or table. A carpenter's bench will serve, or a stout kitchen table. If you use the latter, brace the legs with planks of wood at least 3 inch x 1 inch, near floor level. Diagonal pieces can also be used for extra strength, but it may be best to get some advice first if you know nothing about carpentry. An average bench for carving is 5 feet in length, 2 feet to 2 feet 6 inch in width and 3 feet to 3 feet 6 inch in height. Your own height should be considered. Working at a bench that is too low, carving can be a back aching business.

Arrange the height so that you can stand comfortably, or sit on a stool to work. It is advisable to have the bench top at least 1 inch to 2 inch thick. The bench must stand firmly on the floor and not move about as you work. A flimsy structure is useless. The bench can be used against a wall or standing free so that you have access to all sides. It really depends on the size and type of work in hand. Right angled steel brackets can be used to anchor the bench to the wall or the floor. Place your bench in a good light as near a window as possible.

Gripping tools and fixing equipment
Although some wood carvers use little in the way of fixing equipment, most prefer to have their wood firmly held by cramps, beach screws or a vise. Very small work can be carved in the hand, very large work will hold steady by virtue of its own weight. In the case of work in the round, it is very useful to turn and move your work in order to get all views and to change the direction of cutting. Fixing equipment must be appropriate for the work in hand.

If you have acquired a carpenter's bench, it will in all probability have either a wood or iron bench vise attached to one side. This type of vise is very useful to the carver also. The metal bench vise can be bought at a hardware store and is fairly easy to fix, provided you have a stout bench designed to take it. The larger sizes are bolted to the bench, the smaller sizes screwed to the underside of the bench top which should be the same thickness as the depth of the jaws of the vise. This is in order that the jaws may close flush with the working surface of the bench. A rectangular recess should be cut in the bench to take the inner jaw so bringing it flush with the side of the bench top.

It is important to fix wooden cheeks to the jaws of an iron vise in order to prevent bruising on your carving. Holes are usually already drilled in the jaws for this purpose. As sizes and types differ you should get some information regarding fixing at the time of purchase.

Wood carving does not need a very large space, but you need some space which you can freely work and concentrate on your object. Choose the strong table where you have to put the woods. Choose the tools as per requirement. Make sure to follow all the guidance which are required.