I've been carving for a little while and although I've made some good progress, I find it really challenging to create intricate small pieces like rings, necklaces, and pendants. Whenever I attempt these, they don't turn out well at all! I'm looking for any tips, techniques, or resources that could help me improve my skills in this area. Thanks a bunch!
2 Answers
Consider using a backstop while carving like netsuke carvers do. They've developed a ton of useful tricks for small-scale pieces. I found this helpful [Netsuke Carving tutorial](https://youtu.be/gVdmB3Xo2Y8?si=lU8cTNoiFVWrcpcS) that you might find interesting!
If you're just starting with small carvings, here are a few tips that might help! For starters, using a harder type of wood will really assist in holding the details better. Also, a rotary tool might be your best friend—it’s easier to control and generally safer. One technique that’s worked for me is carving while the piece is still attached to a larger block; it makes handling it way easier, and you can just cut it off when you're done!