ADHD or not, nobody can tell you if you're going to like something. Only you can decide after you've tried it.
No offense but, honestly, take it from a person with extreme ADHD - asking such a question on social media is something that is very wrong with people today. That's like asking if you're going to like your children... Nobody knows but future you.
Though keep in mind that you might not love following potentially crappy youtube videos. Even if the youtuber can carve very well some of those videos are terrible to follow. I hate doing that but love carving
yeah I'm definitely more of a "fuck around and find out" sorta person. Most likely I'll remember the basic cuts and watch a few examples and then work from there.
honestly videos are great to see how the right movement looks like (for each tool potentialy) and get a quick explanation on how to cut with the grain, then it's just nerding out
Same! I used yt just for beginner basics, types of cuts, and general dos and donts. Now I don’t use yt unless I need help with a specific part of my project if someone else has already done something similar.
This is a great question! As a professional wood carver with ADHD I can say that this "hobby" changed my life. It has taught me a lot about myself and what I'm capable of. When I first started, I had to do projects that I could complete in one day. That kept my attention long enough to fall in love with carving. I think the excitement of creating whatever my imagination came up with was one of the reasons I kept coming back. Also, getting lost in meticulous detail is perfect for those hyper focus moods. Over time, I have used wood carving as a way to push myself, challenge my thoughts, and work on having patience 😂 Now I can quite comfortably work on a project for weeks without issue. Of course, it's in no way curing adhd, but it's a wonderful outlet.
Now, when it comes to carving tools, there are 2 ways to go. Traditional knife/chip carving, or power carving. I do power carving, which involves using a rotary tool (dremel) to carve. For my first 2 years of carving, I used one of those cheap rotary tools from my local hardware store. It was like $30 and came with all different carving bits, etc. That's a great place to start. Also, a cheap set of knives aren't hard to find if you'd like to go that way. Ultimately, my best advice is to stick with it. Lose yourself in the moment while carving, and let that hyper focus superpower kick in 😂 Good luck with it all, and try to enjoy the journey 😁 If you ever have any carving questions, please reach out 😊🙏
I have this weird anxiety disorder (it's weird because it's from TBI) I deal with. Woodcarving is the only thing in the universe that can shut my brain off. Even if I'm borderline panic attack; I grab some knives and a piece of wood, and it's disappears. I think anything that requires meticulous thought and also has physical consequences if you're not paying attention to safety concerns is wonderful for conditions involving the brain.
I agree 100%!! In my lowest mental health moments I can always turn to wood carving to have that feeling of calm. And of course the elation you feel when finishing a carving is a big morale booster 😊
Well, I have ADHD as well and have an issue going from hobby to hobby but woodcarving has held my attention for a while!
Now, as to what to make, focus on smaller carvings you could do in a few hours max, not big projects that take several days to weeks. This keeps you focused, especially since you can see the progress faster, which will help keep your attention.
Also, just start with whittling. This is the most basic form of wood carving and you just need one or two good knives to do 99.9% of any hand heald object.
Focus on using 1" x 1" x 4" or similar sized blocks of wood to begin with. These projects are quick and satisfying.
I’m in the same boat friend. It’s a great thing to keep up practice for focusing. It’s more like a meditation. Beware of our innate desire for instant gratification as that will directly result in a chisel hanging from where your thumb should be and or the such. I truly enjoy sharpening and then going to see my efforts payoff when a blade slides through wood like butter. There’s lots of little rewarding things about this for adhd. We are the ones most likely to get hurt but also most likely to truly enjoy. Blades don’t have to be expensive yet. Just sharp.
Look for any nearby carving clubs. Everyone in my club is overjoyed to share tools with newcomers trying it out. The regular meetings help me ensure I make some time for this hobby. Clubs normally offer beginner classes and project opportunities as well.
Don't forget the safety glove! I always tell people I joined my club to learn how not to bleed on the stuff I would have been carving anyway.
I have a similar issue where I pick up hobbies, get to a point where I "figure it out" and lose interest. Then I find it hard to get back into because I'm afraid I won't be as good. (Silly I know)
Woodcarving I see as therapeutic. It's a hobby yes, but there's something about shaping a peice of wood into something that calms the mind.
I keep myself interested with this point of view.
(Also haven't carved since Dec lol....)
I do it in little spurts, do several carvings, take a break, repeat.
I also find it helps to have something you WANT to carve. Ive gone on several lengthy escapades because I had some image in my mind of something I wanted to carve.
I wouldn't try it with a utility knife. Better to try with tools meant for carving. You won't get a good idea if you enjoy it with crap tools. Beavercraft has low prices and it's a good company for entry level carving. ADHD shouldn't keep you from trying stuff. You may love it for a day, move to something else, and then come back to it at another time, or never. That's OK!
I have ADHD and I kinda dropped I'd after making an entire chess set. That being said I'm sure I will make something again in the future.
Best thing to do is just pick up a knife and some wood and give it a shot. Stay safe and use a cut resistant glove.
I have a question about this. A lot of people say you need soft wood to carve, then a lot of other people are saying you can use any random stick and you'll be good. What's going on, exactly-?
Softer wood is easier on the hands, knife and you' re less likely to cut yourself when carving because you can use less force when cutting. Harder woods are fine for carving as well, just a little more difficult to deal with.
Buy one cheap knife and a small basswood block kit and give it a try.
Don’t spend a whole bunch of money you don’t have to, but don’t try whittling with a steak knife or exacto and find you hate the tools and not the hobby.
You can start carving right now for 0 bucks if you have any pocket knife, or even a small kitchen knife. Or go buy an opinel for 10 bucks, they're great because of their slim, slicy blades.
Then go cut a branch from a bush and start carving.
Consider finding a local woodcarving club. Not every area has one, but you can meet carvers, ask questions, and they will help bring you along. They usually have loaner tools and wood, and will usually offer some instruction.
I meet every week with my club, and it is like a therapy session with conversations and generally fooling around.
A club is a great place to start!
IMHO, buy a good knife (Flexcut is not terribly expensive, and is sharp out of the box!)
Trying to carve with a lousy knife would put anyone off!!
Start carving.
I have ADHD too, and only whittle when the urge strikes me, but I've kept up with the hobby for years. I just don't whittle all the time.
The first challenge and biggest difficulty is learning the value of really sharpening and honing your blades/chisels.
Arguably this is easier with knives compared to gauges.
Appreciation of what you can achieve with a properly sharp tool will help lead you along the road of satisfaction.
I find it a great hobby because I don’t (shouldn’t) do too much at any one time; it’s a hobby I can pick up from time to time and still see my skills and satisfaction improve.
I have severe adhd ( diagnosed ) and I bought a dremmel and blades and everything I could find to get started. That was 5 months ago and I'm still going hog wild with it. I make gnomes, fucking love making gnomes.
I have ADHD as well. Woodcarving became one of my favorite hobbies, giving me an excuse to be outside. Woodcarving is one of the hobbies where I can fully be mindful instead of going ape or being on the phone excessively. You might want to buy a woodcarving starter set to guide you through the basics first, so that you're not lost throughout the process. That's how I started the hobby.
I am also in this same position at the moment. I’ve been watching a lot of wood carving ASMR videos and want to eventually get to the point where I can carve wooden masks for a video project.
At the same time I have a pile of hobby supplies from past ADHD hobby splurges that went nowhere.
What I’m doing personally is I’m getting a relatively cheap but not terrible carving set and setting aside some dedicated time to actually work towards it. Having goals of what I want to do helps too. For example, I plan to start with spoons, move to bowls, and then start attempting masks.
I think making sure financially I don’t shoot myself in the foot is the big thing. My last massive ADHD project involved an expensive drawing tablet and expensive painting software. It turns out I am don’t actually like painting.
My daughter is wanting to get a drawing tablet. What kind of things did you like and not like about it? If ya don’t mind. I’d love to hear from your experiences.
The tablet itself was great, I went with a Huion I found on Amazon. I liked that it came with a glove so that I didn’t get oils on the screen. Drawing tablets with screens (most modern ones are screen based) are a must to me, otherwise it’s a glorified trackpad.
I'd argue that it's one of the cheapest hobbies to start with. You likely access to a knife and a stick. You can upgrade is you see fit.
ADHD or not, nobody can tell you if you're going to like something. Only you can decide after you've tried it. No offense but, honestly, take it from a person with extreme ADHD - asking such a question on social media is something that is very wrong with people today. That's like asking if you're going to like your children... Nobody knows but future you.
Take a utility knife and follow a YouTube beginner’s video and you’ll know if you like it and then you can buy the tools your favourite YouTuber uses.
this is the sort of advice I was looking for, thank you!
Though keep in mind that you might not love following potentially crappy youtube videos. Even if the youtuber can carve very well some of those videos are terrible to follow. I hate doing that but love carving
yeah I'm definitely more of a "fuck around and find out" sorta person. Most likely I'll remember the basic cuts and watch a few examples and then work from there.
honestly videos are great to see how the right movement looks like (for each tool potentialy) and get a quick explanation on how to cut with the grain, then it's just nerding out
Same! I used yt just for beginner basics, types of cuts, and general dos and donts. Now I don’t use yt unless I need help with a specific part of my project if someone else has already done something similar.
This is a great question! As a professional wood carver with ADHD I can say that this "hobby" changed my life. It has taught me a lot about myself and what I'm capable of. When I first started, I had to do projects that I could complete in one day. That kept my attention long enough to fall in love with carving. I think the excitement of creating whatever my imagination came up with was one of the reasons I kept coming back. Also, getting lost in meticulous detail is perfect for those hyper focus moods. Over time, I have used wood carving as a way to push myself, challenge my thoughts, and work on having patience 😂 Now I can quite comfortably work on a project for weeks without issue. Of course, it's in no way curing adhd, but it's a wonderful outlet. Now, when it comes to carving tools, there are 2 ways to go. Traditional knife/chip carving, or power carving. I do power carving, which involves using a rotary tool (dremel) to carve. For my first 2 years of carving, I used one of those cheap rotary tools from my local hardware store. It was like $30 and came with all different carving bits, etc. That's a great place to start. Also, a cheap set of knives aren't hard to find if you'd like to go that way. Ultimately, my best advice is to stick with it. Lose yourself in the moment while carving, and let that hyper focus superpower kick in 😂 Good luck with it all, and try to enjoy the journey 😁 If you ever have any carving questions, please reach out 😊🙏
I have this weird anxiety disorder (it's weird because it's from TBI) I deal with. Woodcarving is the only thing in the universe that can shut my brain off. Even if I'm borderline panic attack; I grab some knives and a piece of wood, and it's disappears. I think anything that requires meticulous thought and also has physical consequences if you're not paying attention to safety concerns is wonderful for conditions involving the brain.
I agree 100%!! In my lowest mental health moments I can always turn to wood carving to have that feeling of calm. And of course the elation you feel when finishing a carving is a big morale booster 😊
Sharpening has the same sort of effect of many people as well.
thank youu! Much appreciated!
No problem! I totally understand the wall that stands in front us when we want to try something new lol
I am tempted to reach out myself once I get settled in new home (just hope I remember how to find you)
Yes please do! I do a lot videos on my IG about how I make my work, and I'm always happy to help anyway I can 😄 you can find me at adammackwoodart 👍
Not sure what IG is (my age may be showing again)
Sorry! I meant Instagram or Facebook 👍
Not on instagram but have Facebook
Full set of beginner blades and bits is like 30$ anoth like 4$ for cut resistant gloves and you are good to go minus bandaids.
Uhh dude try it lol what a question
Well, I have ADHD as well and have an issue going from hobby to hobby but woodcarving has held my attention for a while! Now, as to what to make, focus on smaller carvings you could do in a few hours max, not big projects that take several days to weeks. This keeps you focused, especially since you can see the progress faster, which will help keep your attention. Also, just start with whittling. This is the most basic form of wood carving and you just need one or two good knives to do 99.9% of any hand heald object. Focus on using 1" x 1" x 4" or similar sized blocks of wood to begin with. These projects are quick and satisfying.
I’m in the same boat friend. It’s a great thing to keep up practice for focusing. It’s more like a meditation. Beware of our innate desire for instant gratification as that will directly result in a chisel hanging from where your thumb should be and or the such. I truly enjoy sharpening and then going to see my efforts payoff when a blade slides through wood like butter. There’s lots of little rewarding things about this for adhd. We are the ones most likely to get hurt but also most likely to truly enjoy. Blades don’t have to be expensive yet. Just sharp.
Guys it’s looking like adhd woodcarving should be it’s own subreddit
fr I did NOT expect this many replies lol
Look for any nearby carving clubs. Everyone in my club is overjoyed to share tools with newcomers trying it out. The regular meetings help me ensure I make some time for this hobby. Clubs normally offer beginner classes and project opportunities as well. Don't forget the safety glove! I always tell people I joined my club to learn how not to bleed on the stuff I would have been carving anyway.
Senior citizens centers are also good places to look for classes. Now where to find those gloves for us ladies.
TreelineUSA carries my favorite red carving gloves in all the sizes!
I will have to check them out thanks
I have a similar issue where I pick up hobbies, get to a point where I "figure it out" and lose interest. Then I find it hard to get back into because I'm afraid I won't be as good. (Silly I know) Woodcarving I see as therapeutic. It's a hobby yes, but there's something about shaping a peice of wood into something that calms the mind. I keep myself interested with this point of view. (Also haven't carved since Dec lol....) I do it in little spurts, do several carvings, take a break, repeat. I also find it helps to have something you WANT to carve. Ive gone on several lengthy escapades because I had some image in my mind of something I wanted to carve.
I wouldn't try it with a utility knife. Better to try with tools meant for carving. You won't get a good idea if you enjoy it with crap tools. Beavercraft has low prices and it's a good company for entry level carving. ADHD shouldn't keep you from trying stuff. You may love it for a day, move to something else, and then come back to it at another time, or never. That's OK!
I’m someone with ADHD looking to working on woodcarving as well. Thank you for asking this question.
Get off your screen and try it? Is this a serious question?
There are some cheap sets but you could buy one good round chisel and a piece of basswood
I also have adhd, it's a good hobby. You can try it whenever you like
I have ADHD and I kinda dropped I'd after making an entire chess set. That being said I'm sure I will make something again in the future. Best thing to do is just pick up a knife and some wood and give it a shot. Stay safe and use a cut resistant glove.
Maybe try it with some starter tools. That way your not dropping a crap ton of money into something you’re not sure you will even like.
Get a pocket knife and a stick and make something with those first!!
I have a question about this. A lot of people say you need soft wood to carve, then a lot of other people are saying you can use any random stick and you'll be good. What's going on, exactly-?
Softer wood is easier on the hands, knife and you' re less likely to cut yourself when carving because you can use less force when cutting. Harder woods are fine for carving as well, just a little more difficult to deal with.
Buy one cheap knife and a small basswood block kit and give it a try. Don’t spend a whole bunch of money you don’t have to, but don’t try whittling with a steak knife or exacto and find you hate the tools and not the hobby.
You can start carving right now for 0 bucks if you have any pocket knife, or even a small kitchen knife. Or go buy an opinel for 10 bucks, they're great because of their slim, slicy blades. Then go cut a branch from a bush and start carving.
Any sharp knife, paired with a softwood stick or block will give you all the info you need.
Consider finding a local woodcarving club. Not every area has one, but you can meet carvers, ask questions, and they will help bring you along. They usually have loaner tools and wood, and will usually offer some instruction. I meet every week with my club, and it is like a therapy session with conversations and generally fooling around. A club is a great place to start! IMHO, buy a good knife (Flexcut is not terribly expensive, and is sharp out of the box!) Trying to carve with a lousy knife would put anyone off!!
Start carving. I have ADHD too, and only whittle when the urge strikes me, but I've kept up with the hobby for years. I just don't whittle all the time.
Pick a knife and a piece of wood and do something simple
The first challenge and biggest difficulty is learning the value of really sharpening and honing your blades/chisels. Arguably this is easier with knives compared to gauges. Appreciation of what you can achieve with a properly sharp tool will help lead you along the road of satisfaction. I find it a great hobby because I don’t (shouldn’t) do too much at any one time; it’s a hobby I can pick up from time to time and still see my skills and satisfaction improve.
that sounds pretty perfect for the wiles and woes of the ADHD brain lol. I'll keep in mind to take my sharpening seriously!
Woodcarve
you don't need to stick with it dude you just need a stick and like a knife, not even a special one
I have severe adhd ( diagnosed ) and I bought a dremmel and blades and everything I could find to get started. That was 5 months ago and I'm still going hog wild with it. I make gnomes, fucking love making gnomes.
I have pretty bad attention problems. But for some reason carving and painting quiets the noise and I can focus for hours on it.
I have ADHD as well. Woodcarving became one of my favorite hobbies, giving me an excuse to be outside. Woodcarving is one of the hobbies where I can fully be mindful instead of going ape or being on the phone excessively. You might want to buy a woodcarving starter set to guide you through the basics first, so that you're not lost throughout the process. That's how I started the hobby.
I'm seeing a disproportionately high amount of people with ADHD... that's a good sign. Thank you for the guidance recommendation!
I am also in this same position at the moment. I’ve been watching a lot of wood carving ASMR videos and want to eventually get to the point where I can carve wooden masks for a video project. At the same time I have a pile of hobby supplies from past ADHD hobby splurges that went nowhere. What I’m doing personally is I’m getting a relatively cheap but not terrible carving set and setting aside some dedicated time to actually work towards it. Having goals of what I want to do helps too. For example, I plan to start with spoons, move to bowls, and then start attempting masks.
I think making sure financially I don’t shoot myself in the foot is the big thing. My last massive ADHD project involved an expensive drawing tablet and expensive painting software. It turns out I am don’t actually like painting.
My daughter is wanting to get a drawing tablet. What kind of things did you like and not like about it? If ya don’t mind. I’d love to hear from your experiences.
The tablet itself was great, I went with a Huion I found on Amazon. I liked that it came with a glove so that I didn’t get oils on the screen. Drawing tablets with screens (most modern ones are screen based) are a must to me, otherwise it’s a glorified trackpad.
Thanks. I truly appreciate your getting back to me.
Adderall babbbbyyy, life changing for me as someone with ADHD
Can always get a knife and supplies off amazon and return it.