I'm planning to carve a chess board into a simple pine box that opens up into two halves, forming a square. I want to create a V-shaped groove along the outer edges and between the squares, similar to a waffle iron design. After that, I'll paint the squares in black and white and probably finish the wood. Since I have zero experience with wood carving, I'm wondering if this project is too tough for a beginner and what tools I'd need to get started.
2 Answers
This project isn’t too complicated, but I'd recommend practicing on some extra chunks of pine first. Mistakes happen, and having practice wood helps. There’s a great YouTube channel called Wood by Wright where you can find some helpful video guides on techniques. A decent 12-piece chisel set along with a couple of hand saws should do the trick!
You'll definitely want a V-chisel for carving those grooves! It's perfect for creating that V shape you’re aiming for. Make sure to get a sharp one; it'll make the process so much easier.

Awesome, thanks! I’ll definitely check out that channel.