If you’re just starting out as a wood carver, you’ll quickly discover how wood chisels are used all the time. There are many kinds, many sizes. They’ll need periodic sharpening and it’s good to be able to do them yourself. It isn’t very fitting to have to bring your tools to a professional sharpener whenever they become dull. You lose money, you lose time. And best of all, straight chisels are the easiest wood carving tools to sharpen.

Straight chisels can be sharpened in two steps. The first is to get the tool’s edge to sharpness, and the second is to strop that edge to silky smoothness.  Read more... (1128 words, estimated 4:31 mins reading time)

Tags: chisel, coarse stone, grit, honing, index finger, shaft, sharpness, silky smoothness, sliver, strokes, wood carver, wood carving tools, wood chisels

For as long as can be remembered there have been wooden models. This includes model trucks as well. There have been granddads whittling pieces of wood to make model trucks for as long as trucks have been around. Little did he know that he was helping to carry on a tradition that is age old? It is not very hard to learn to whittle however it can take a good deal of practice to pick up all the special techniques that can go along with it.  Read more... (694 words, estimated 2:47 mins reading time)

Tags: Attempt, grit, How To Whittle, job, little bit, material removal, model trucks, pieces of wood, sand paper, sandpaper, screws, shape, tradition, whittling knife, wooden model, wooden models, Wooden Trucks

Wooden models have been around for a very long time. Wooden cars are no exception. Whenever a father sat down with a stick of wood and whittled out a car and added wheel for his children little did he know that he was taking part in an already old tradition. Whittling your own wooden car is not a difficult process to learn but it can take a lifetime to master.  Read more... (654 words, estimated 2:37 mins reading time)

Tags: carpenter, craft glue, grit, heavy duty, knife dealer, material removal, model car, model cars, right direction, sanding paper, sandpaper, screws, whittle, whittling knife, wooden car, wooden cars, wooden model, wooden models

Do you love woodworking? Have you built wooden model cars and they look beautiful for a bit and then they begin to discolor? If so then you should consider adding a finish to your model car by applying varnish. While there are two main types of varnish here we will discuss one only. Traditional varnish can be slow drying, and extremely hard to clean up. Water based polyurethane varnish however is much easier to handle as it cleans up with water. It also drys very quickly. Varnish must be brushed in, allowed to dry, and sanded down. It must be repeated so that you get a uniform coating to the part that on which the varnish is being applied.  Read more... (655 words, estimated 2:37 mins reading time)

Tags: bristle, debris, disposable container, grit, high gloss, lint, model car, model cars, paint, paintbrush, polyurethane varnish, recommended method, sandpaper, tack cloth, uniform coating, wooden model, woodworking

There are several ways a collector can ruin their valuable coin collection without even really thinking about them. If you really care about protecting your collection, then take the special time to learn exactly how to properly handle, clean, store, and protect all your coins.

Accidentally exposing your coin collection to the elements can ruin them, which may include storing your collection in extreme temperatures or humidity. Basements and attics are the worst place to store your coin collection because of the temperature and humidity can cause oxidation to gather on your coins. These types of conditions can also cause storage materials to break down quickly, which can include plastic and cardboard containers.  Read more... (553 words, estimated 2:13 mins reading time)

Tags: Abrasions, Attics, basements, Cardboard Containers, Coin Collection, Dry Environment, Extreme Temperatures, grit, latex gloves, Luster, Mint Set, Own Skin, Oxidation, Proof Set, several ways, Special Time, Storage Materials, Tiny Particles, Tiny Scratches, Type Coins