HELVIE KNIVES announces the introduction of the latest WOOD BEE CARVER Signature Series Knives ~ the GREEN HORNET and GREEN HORNET 2 pictured above. Read the rest of this entry »

The photo above shows a three inch tall Troll Brother in between the two proto type knives being tested with the BUSY BEE on the left and the BUZZ BEE on the right.  The WOOD BEE CARVER has been a serious knife carver for over forty years during which time he experimented with knife blade designs to aid in his carving projects.  Very early in this journey it became very evident that the cutting edge of the knife blade is most efficient as it is used in the slicing action as in slicing a tomato, bread or baloney. Through trial and error, it was discovered that a curved cutting edge created the most efficient slicing action when compared with the straight cutting edge in the common carving knife. In order to do slicing cuts with a straight cutting edge blade it is necessary to skew the angle of the straight edge to enhance the slicing action.  A curved cutting edge, by its design, is already skewed as the cutting edge follows the arch of the curve of the blade.  Thus, all the knives designed by the WOOD BEE CARVER are designed to create the easiest slicing action.  With the designed blades that have a straight cutting edge, the angle of the straight edge angles back towards the handle creating a reverse skew angle so that as the blade is pushed or pulled through the wood a slicing action is produced.  With the curved cutting edge blade designs the curvature of the cutting edge is a series of skewed cutting edges along the curvature resulting in a slicing action as it is pushed or pulled through the wood. Read the rest of this entry »

Whittle Doodles are doodling with a knife in a block of wood to carve a variety of subjects and themes as a demonstration of carvings done using only a knife.  Whimsical in nature and yet a way to illustrate the art and practice of carving in a small and restricted area.  This Whittle Doodle was carved using two experimental knives whose design is being tested.  The basswood block measures two-inch square by three inches tall. Artist oil paint color raw sienna was mixed with boiled linseed oil for the colored stain which was followed with a coat of Deft brushing lacquer. Read the rest of this entry »

Troll Brothers are three-inch-tall caricatures whose homely features lend themselves to experiment with facial features.  Each begins as a three inch by inch and half square block of basswood and are carved into shape using two experimental proto type knives. Read the rest of this entry »

The Beatles were carved as a commission for the HELVIE COLLECTION using a variety of the Wood Bee Carver Signature Series knives made by HELVIE KNIVES. Knives used included the three SIDE KICK knives #’s 25, 26, 27; the Bumble Bee # 13 and the Viper Bee #22 as depicted in the photo below. Read the rest of this entry »

The WOOD BEE CARVER approaches each carving project as a learning experience with continuing discoveries in the carving process.  Long he has encouraged carvers to do a twenty minute a day exercise of experimenting with a carving tool and a piece of wood to discover a variety of cuts and maneuvers in shaping a piece of wood as the cutting tool slices through the wood.  Coupled with that idea is the experience that the more one carves the better one carves because of the ongoing learning process. Carving with greater frequency allows for the carver’s imagination to grow with creativity which contributes to a sharpening of carving skill and creative design.  All of which are inherent in the motto: “Would be carvers would be carvers if they would carve wood.” Read the rest of this entry »

Rich Smithson of HELVIE KNIVES has invited the Signature Series Knife carvers to carve a caricature carving holding a Signature Series knife.  This is the WOOD BEE CARVER’s carving that is a “selfie” using the DRAGON II Signature Series Knife as a cane. Read the rest of this entry »