Capital City Carvers

4. Once ready to start, ask if you have the right tools for the right job or if something that you already have can be used safely.
5. Once you have started and then get stuck on a technique or aspect of what you need to do etc., check your reference material and/or ask a friend for advice and practice what needs to be done on waste material before you commit to undertaking the necessary process on your live work.
6. Stop frequently and check your progress. It is often easier to alter things if you stop regularly and check, but not so easy if you get further into the project without dealing with a mistake that should have been dealt with earlier.
7. Learn from process but do not be phased by it. If something goes wrong, you have learned how not to do something. This is a valuable lesson too.
8. Never give up, but do take a break if you get frustrated or tired and come back to it when you are refreshed. It is surprising what a difference a clear and refreshed mind does for creativity and thinking.
9. Once your project is carved, always test the finish you intend to use on waste wood to check it is what you want before committing to applying it to your carved work.
10. Finally, no matter what you are doing, try to have fun.

Habits in Action

11. Clean Hands - wash your hands, they pick up dirt and transfer it to the carving.
12. Clean Tools - wipe them after stropping, wipe them after you finish carving.
13. Clean Bench - keep it clean of chips and dust.
14. Clean Workshop - clean regularly to remove wood chips and dust. Vacuum don't sweep.
15. Clean Work - cover your work between sessions and, if possible, wash with dish soap before finishing.