Whittling a Chess Set! Knight Step By Step Beginner Wood Carving Guide

[@CSGraves]

Man, that basswood cuts like butter! & here I've been strugglin' away with seasoned Norway maple like a sucker! Also, that knife is lovely.

[@CarvingisFun]

Yeppers! Basswood is a joy to whittle, especially when paired with a nice quality carving knife :)

[@grumpyoldman9805]

Mine cuts like rock I got it off Amazon I’m thinking I should go to a timber yard instead

[@CSGraves]

@@grumpyoldman9805 The seller didn't put quotation marks around 'basswood' did they? 😞

[@romanvanstone3230]

@@CarvingisFun what brand is your knife?

[@CarvingisFun]

Im using some really nice hand made knives from Helvie

[@elenaspeaks8817]

I've literally never thought of whittling before, but after stumbling across your channel it's all I want to do. So satisfying to watch, and you make it look like something I can do and have fun with!!!

[@Nessiechomp]

I've had knives since childhood, but most I've ever whittled was the classic pointy stick. I stumbled across your channel by pure coincedence, and it has peaked my interests. Something about watching these is so hypnotizing, I can't stop watching. I need to find myself some basswood and try it out

[@ozan8636]

This is my dream. Creating my own things on life. I will come back to this in a few years. I promise

[@IMakeStuff92]

Currently woodturning a chess set out of maple and dark walnut. Can't turn a knight tho so I have to whittle it and this knight style matches almost perfectly what I was going for! So thank you!

[@thephantomhennes]

I love the rough look. Nice work. I will be trying. Especially like to side by side photo and video during tutorial. Thanks.

[@CarvingisFun]

Thanks!! Glad you found the video helpful!

[@HandyHelons]

I agree, even if I never manage to try this out, it’s really nice to feel I am following along knowing what the aim is. It’s so engaging!

[@D3troisVarietyChannel]

I love this tutorial so much, I'll be sure to try it next. I think the hardest steps for me are carving in a sweeping motion to give an inwards curve. You make it look really easy but after trying it I know it takes a lot experience to control the knife properly. Thank you for the tutorial, it's so helpful!

[@skyforn]

During 2020, I have the urge to make my own chess pieces of I had whittled the pawns and queens however one day I don't know what happened I had went away for the weekend to my now girlfriends house and when I came home, they were just gone and no one could tell me where they had went. But I've been thinking about trying it again and thanks to you and your channel I take this as a sign to try it again

[@richardvallee1646]

Thank you so much for your video's It s in the top ones as far as giving clear instructions. Im a newbe in whittling , Im doing a chess set for my oldest dauther. Thank you again

[@CarvingisFun]

You are vey welcome! I'm glad you are finding the videos helpful and the instructions clear. I'm sure your daughter will love your handy work, it will be a one of a kind gift!

[@thomasholland599]

love chess though not very good at it , but now I will have a go at my own set , thanks for the vids , here the learning curve starts.

[@jellybeanspider7130]

love how wholesome this is, much love man keep up

[@CarvingisFun]

Thanks! I've been enjoying making these little carving tutorials :)

[@brianwarnock544]

Wonderful looking piece. I wish I had someone to play chess with.

[@cam305213]

Loved all the videos. Very detailed. I have almost completed my first chess set. It was addicting.

[@frankstarship6381]

Once again, the tutorial is amazing! Guess In have 3 more of them to make now :D

[@Santos-oc2no]

Love it, great idea, I was thinking also to do it in future. Thank for your videos

[@CarvingisFun]

You're welcome!

[@HandyHelons]

I just love your videos. I made my own beeswax paste for my ukulele. Do you happen to know what is in yours? Thank you!

[@CarvingisFun]

Mine is just beeswax and mineral oil.

[@HandyHelons]

@@CarvingisFun thank you so much :)

[@carvedbypaul2905]

Nice introduction video, great idea!

[@CarvingisFun]

Thanks!

[@sicknicks]

really great vids, thank you. Do you apply beeswax to the darker pieces after they dry to add the waterproof and protection?

[@CarvingisFun]

I personally didn't as the stain adds some protection as well, but you could if you wanted to! It would probably make the dark color richer looking as well!

[@johnjacob688]

So what would you do if you wanted the pieces to have a nice weight to them? I would like my pieces to be bottom heavy.

[@CarvingisFun]

Perso, I would drill out the bottom, glue in a weight, and add a felt bottom to the piece to help keep it contained and make it look nice.

[@rodprogramdev9253]

Nice tutorial. Just wanted to ask what blades are you using. Thanks

[@CarvingisFun]

Howdy!! Those are some knives from Helvie Knives

[@bluepenguin2071]

Have you much knowledge with pine wood, or does it matter with carving?

[@CarvingisFun]

Ive carved with pine several times and do like using it. The main things you will want to pay attention to is that the wood grain can change direction and the ring density can vary slightly as well. If at all possible, use premium quality pine and not the general lumberyard pine, it carves better in my opinion.

[@daryldawe3943]

This is great thanks for the video

[@CarvingisFun]

You're welcome!

[@whittler0507]

well done

[@CarvingisFun]

Thanks Gene!

[@robertrobison3480]

perfect, thank you.

[@CarvingisFun]

You're welcome!

[@scarletblood6474]

I love the video! Can I use Mahogany wood for this? The wood you're using isn't available in my country.

[@CarvingisFun]

You can use any wood that you can carve with a knife. Just keep in mind that mahogany is about twice as hard as the basswood that I am using, but it is still possible to carve, just may take more time and knife sharpening.

[@scarletblood6474]

@@CarvingisFun Thank you for the reply... I'll keep it in mind...

[@jasperthebeetleboy]

Ooh this is so cool

[@CarvingisFun]

Thanks!

[@Volganin]

Hey! The cutter is gorgeous! It is impossible to take your eyes off! Is it branded or homemade?👍

[@CarvingisFun]

Thanks! These were made by Helvie Knives

[@Volganin]

@@CarvingisFun Excellent incisors!

[@naturalcarvings6806]

Another awesome video! What is the name/brand of the wood stain that you used?

[@CarvingisFun]

Thanks! I think it is Minwax, had it sitting in the garage from a previous project. The beeswax paste is from Interstate Woodworks.

[@naturalcarvings6806]

@@CarvingisFun Awesome, thanks!

[@the_cool_tortis]

would red cedar work instead of basswood? Love your vids! Keep it up!!

[@jS-ph8ce]

I've used cedar and it's fine if you find a piece without knots

[@derlalala9856]

Love it!

[@CarvingisFun]

Thanks!!

[@maciejnowak2120]

Fantastic video! I'm thinking about buy my first carving knife. Yours isn't cheap but looking worth this price. How long does this knife last, and do you sharpen it or buy new one?

[@CarvingisFun]

Thanks! I sharpen all my knives and keep them well honed. If properly taken care of, you should never have to buy a replacement knife. I keep my blades honed with a leather strop every 15 to 20 min of carving and hone it before putting away. Rarely do I bring it to my sharpening stones unless I damage the edge.

[@maciejnowak2120]

​@@CarvingisFunThanks a lot!

[@tudyx47]

doing this with a tiny meat knife and on pine wood is a lot harder than i initially thought

[@CarvingisFun]

It can be sometimes!

[@sinbad1219]

Anyone know what knife sey he uses?

[@CarvingisFun]

Those are Helvie Knives. helvieknives.com/

[@afreenshaikh938]

1:40

[@JJ2000k]

Nice video! Can I carve chess pieces out of my old christmas tree?

[@CarvingisFun]

Im sure you could!

[@oscarjoaquin7953]

Great video! I've been wanting to do this for months but my knights look more like rats than anything

[@CarvingisFun]

I have several other viersions that aren't in the video, but one of them looks like a giraffe :) Sometimes simple is better and you have to keep trying other ways to do it.

[@MDchainsaw]

Sounds like you just need to make a rat themed chess set

[@MathieusChainsawCarvings]

i want to make 1 but with a chainsaw, this video will help. thanx

[@CarvingisFun]

Now that will be cool!! The cuts will theoretically be the same but I havent ever tried chainsaw carving myself. How do you like it and what do you use?

[@MathieusChainsawCarvings]

@@CarvingisFun Ive done it for i think about 5 years, i started with a cheap chinese tophandle saw, most impartant is that u can run a 1/4 pitch chain. any saw will work really. but best to check if there is a sprocket available for it first. now im mainly using echo brand saws. after a while the quality is very much worth the extra cost. ive started it now but my camera battery is kinda bad i had i stop to charge it now. i will upload a little video if im happy with the result. ill put in a link to your video if you want. i dont get much traffic on my channel as of yet but its nice to be able to show people how i do it etc :)

[@MathieusChainsawCarvings]

@@CarvingisFun Also i like it very much, after a while u can get pretty fast once u make a thing a couple of times and u can see them getting better. i tend to fail on the first few a little but best thing is to keep trying to improve the parts u dont like and it will get better Must be the same with a knife :)

[@CarvingisFun]

Awsome and thank you for the info!! I just subscribed to ya, would love to see how it turns out!! Also, I have a little proposition for ya that I think would help us both out. Send me an email at [e-mail] and I can give ya the details

[@MathieusChainsawCarvings]

@@CarvingisFun Cool ill send u a mail later when i get home. not sure where u are located but beginning of the evening somewhere probably. central european time GMT+1 Thanks for subscribing, maybe u can get some inspiration from some of my stuff. i try to keep uploading regularly but also dont want to upload stuff im not fairly pleased with :) Ill be in touch!