[Woodcarver] Carving foam for young people .... (chat)

[Woodcraft Shop]

Hi Vic et al,

We've recently been carrying a product called Balsafoam which is very 
similar to what you are talking about.  We tried to find something that 
carvers can use to teach young people other than going the messy Ivory Soap 
route.

We carry the "Ivory Soap Size" 1 1/8" X 3" X 4" and also 3" X 3" X 5".

If anyone wants further info, please contact me "off-list".

Thanks.

Larry (BIG DOG) Yudis
The Woodcraft Shop
2724 State St
Bettendorf, IA 52722
800-397-2278
http://www.thewoodcraftshop.com

Carol and Larry Yudis, Show Chairs
International Woodcarvers Congress
Affiliated Wood Carvers, Ltd.
PO Box 104
Bettendorf, IA 52722
563-359-9684 (days)
563-355-3787 (evenings)
www.awcltd.org


-----Original Message-----
From:	Victor Hamburger [SMTP:VHamburg at bellatlantic.net]
Sent:	Friday, December 10, 2004 7:57 AM
To:	Woodcarver
Subject:	RE: [Woodcarver] Teaching Children to Carve?

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"Classic Carving Patterns" <irish at carvingpatterns.com>

 > I had an interesting question in the e-mails this morning concerning a
 > young person (8 years old) wanting to learn wood carving.  Now I have
 > never taught children!

Susan,

I was just reminded last Sunday about a product, sign foam, that would be 
an
excellent medium for a child to learn to carve.  http://www.signfoam.com

This is a dense (actually, three different densities available) foam, with 
no
grain to it.  It can be glued up to thick carving blocks, is dead flat, and 
can
be painted after a coat of thin gesso or similar product.

The downside is that it is expensive, but a supplier might have smaller cut 
offs
that they could sell, or a sign shop would very likely have smaller cutoffs 
that
they might sell/giveaway.

The advantage over wood is that the child can learn tool control, and 
keeping
hands out of the way, etc, without having to deal with grain and too hard a 
wood
to begin with.  Once the basics are learned, then you can move up to 
basswood to
learn about grain.

This will also carve well with a simple Exacto set of wood carving knives 
or
linoleum tools, so the cost is reasonable.  Hope this helps!

	Vic H, who started learning at age 10 with a Millers Falls palm tool set!


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