Carving letters and numbers to projects

By designing on a computer screen, you can see what you’re getting beforehand and adjust letter size and arrangement. Print the design and position it on the project part to make sure it looks good. It’s safest to carve a piece of wood before incorporating it into the project.

Most computers come loaded with different letter and number styles called “fonts.” You can see and manipulate them in word-processing programs. But not all fonts are suitable for carving. Look for a font that includes points on the ends of the letters called “serifs.” This makes it easier to end your knife cuts more neatly than on the blunt, square letter ends on modern fonts. Times New Roman is one of the world’s most common computer fonts, and its capital letters are excellent for carving.

In a world of factory-made wooden items, tastefully personalizing your projects with names, dates and initials makes more sense than ever. Take the time to learn this skill now, and your work will be that much more precious for generations to come.

TOP OF THE DRAWING

– pattern secured with rubber cement

– angled cuts form V-shaped groove

BOTTOM OF THE DRAWING

– chip-carving knife

– sharp serifs on letter ends are easiest to carve

– computer- generated paper pattern