Letter Class: MEREDITH

Free-Hand Carving a Jumbo Walnut Wood Name Keychain (with videos).

Preface: I welcome you to to my “Learning Center”. This is for “Paid” subscribers only and reveals my method of carving names that has evolved over the last 43+ years. It is valuable information, whether you just want to learn it to make a batch or keychains for everyone at the next family reunion or wish to add it to your business repertoire, I welcome the competition. There is plenty of work for everyone.

Here I intend to show you how I free-hand carve names into wooden chopsticks and keychains (I hope to publish weekly, on Saturdays). I also intend on posting excerpts of my eBook as it develops. Tentatively named “Free-Hand Carving Wooden Names for Fun and Profit”, I hope to publish it mid-2026.

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Letter Class: MEREDITH

Today we have an order for a Jumbo, Walnut wood name keychain to say MEREDITH.

I start with a 3/4” x 3/4 x 12” inch billet of solid Walnut wood. After checking it for structural defects (hairline cracks, splits and loose knots), I tick off the letter placements with shallow saw kerfs (about a blade width deep).

I do this quickly by eye. On my Jumbo 3/4” keychain, the letter length averages about the same as the 3/4”” height, with Ms and Gs being a bit longer and Is being shorter. These lengths can conveniently be condensed for longer names and expanded for shorter. It is up to you and your material. Develop your own style.