Production Process

A lot of skill and hard work goes into every piece of Indian wooden handicraft. It mirrors Indian culture, and each handicraft is a masterpiece in its own right. Let's take a peek at the actual process which goes into creating a piece of wooden handicraft.

• Raw wood available in the form of logs is cut into planks of desired thickness and length.
  
  
• The piece of wood is then seasoned to obtain a texture which is favorable for carving.
  
  
• Decorative patterns are first drawn on the wood with a pencil.
  
  
• The design is then carved into the wood with a carving tool.
  
  
• Craftsmen inlay the wooden handicraft with metal, bone, or wood which gives off a contrast effect, enhancing the intricacies of the carved design.
  
  
• Different pieces of carved wood are joined together to make complete, functional objects.
  
  
• A protective coating is applied with a suitable wood finish.
  
  

Production Time
Wood carving is a time consuming process. The time needed by Indian craftsmen to create carved wooden handicrafts may range anywhere from a week (for small items) to a few months (for large items which require elaborate carving techniques).

Production Tools
Indian craftsmen have a wide range of tools at their disposal, depending on the stage of production. Some of them are as follows :

• Saws : Powered by an electric motor, Band saws are used to cut off scrap wood effortlessly. Chain saws are used to cut logs for large carvings.
  
  
• Drills are primarily used to drill holes, and they are available with several attachments to perform sanding, sawing, mixing paint etc.
  
  
• Lathes are used to turn wood. They are used to make spherical, cylindrical or round objects. They are handy while making vases, bowls, and plates.
  
  
• Primarily used for whittling and chip carving, Carving knives are also used to make the surface of the wood smooth.
  
  
• Wood-carving chisels have a sharp flat edge which is used to cut into the wood. They are available in bent, straight, and spoon shapes.
  
  
• U-gouges have curved cutting edges which form a 'u' shape, hence the name. Craftsmen use them to remove large pieces of unwanted wood, to define large shapes, and to round out the edges.
  
  
• Also known as parting tools, V-gouges are used to cut fine lines. They are used for outlining while carving intricate patterns.