Is Wood Carving a Good Retirement Hobby?

I’m going to answer this question by saying, yes. Definitely yes! Wood carving is a great hobby for retirement, and in this article I’m going to be sharing six reasons I believe this to be true.

In this article, I’m focusing more on hand carving, but I’ll also talk some about power carving. There are so many kinds of wood carving to choose from. I’ve personally done a lot with caricature carving, spoon and bowl carving and general power carving.

For the most part, I believe that hand carving is a perfect hobby for retirement. I’m a few years away from retiring, and I look so forward to doing more hand carving. I also love power carving, but hand carving really rocks in light of the benefits it offers!

If you’e a more visual learner, I’ve also put together a Youtube video that summarizes the points below. Check it out.

So what are the benefits of wood carving for retired people?

Benefit #1 – Wood Carving gives you a purpose.

Everyone needs a purpose and that’s just as important in your retirement years. For many years, we’ve gotten up early to head to a job where we built something, served a customer or provided a service. Wood carving can offer this and much, much more. Having purpose is good for the mind and spirit and we get to serve others through our hobby. Hobbies should never be just about us – but they are good for us.

Benefit #2: Wood Carving is good for your health.

It keeps the brain, and the body engaged and active. Carving can be good exercise for the hands, arms and upper body in general. You probably noticed in the introduction, I used the word “maybe.” If you’re having some challenges with, say arthritis or hand strength, then hand carving might present some issues. Consult a physician for advice or therapy. I’ve personally benefitted from following the Bob & Brad YT Channel. They’re a group of physical therapists and have great videos on strengthening the hands and arm. Plus, their videos address many other aches and pains that tend to accompany us as we age.

If you do have hand or arm issues, then you might also consider power carving to take away strain, particularly when carving harder wood. Power carving is very fun as well, but you have to contend with more expenses, more noise, and more dust.

Hand carving or whittling creates a positive distraction from a lot of life’s stress and worries. God has given us the gift of creativity to serve others and keep our minds sharp. And there’s just something relaxing about it. I love listening to the knife slicing through the wood, mesmerizing at times.

But wait – there are more health benefits. Hand carving normally doesn’t create dust; it’s mainly wood shavings. Now, if you like to sand your carvings then yeah, wear your dust mask, but sanding is normally an option. I think we all know that long-term exposure to fine dust particles isn’t good at all for your lungs. Hand carving is also very easy on our ears and eyes since the dangers tend to be minimal, but by all means wear eye and ear protection especially if you need to use power tools.

Benefit #3: Wood Carving is good for your wallet.

Being on a fixed income, finances can be a challenge, especially in our current period of inflation. But with hand carving or whittling you only need a carving knife or two, a pair of carving gloves, and a leather strop. You can get a good carving knife from $20 to say $40. You can easily get started in this hobby for less than $100.  Compare that to $500 or more for just one lathe or table saw.

You can get the wood relatively cheap (if you stay away from exotic woods) or just use scrap pieces of wood. I like to use small basswood blocks and they are easy to carve and inexpensive. If you like carving green wood, then use yard clippings or grab wood from downed trees or storm damage.

Toward the end of the article, I’ll list some basic tools and supplies to get started. You may also want to check out my Knife Carving for Beginners Playlist.

Benefit #4: Wood Carving doesn’t take much space and it’s portable.

Seriously, you don’t need a full-blown shop for hand carving. Just a table or desk or workbench and you’re in business. Also great for those in apartments who maybe don’t have a garage or shop. You can easily setup in the corner of a room somewhere. There’s no loud noise, so you won’t be bothering your neighbors.

In retirement, you’re probably doing some traveling. Maybe you like to camp or be outdoors. Hand carving and whittling are very portable. Just take your knife and other gear with you. You can fit all this in a small bag or pouch. Grab a stick and whittle a wood spirit around the campfire. Better yet, teach the grandkids how to whittle one.

One of these days, I know I’ll have to downsize – or rightsize, to put a positive spin on things. And depending on my health, I may or may not have to move into a retirement home. But it’s comforting to know that hand carving is something I can take with me and hopefully continue to do until I breathe my last breath. A hobby like this is a precious gift from God.

Benefit #5: Wood Carving can be a great side hustle (if you want it to be).

Maybe you’re not into selling your creations – that’s fine. The woodcarving hobby brings such pleasure on its own. And let’s face it, sometimes turning a hobby into work can ruin a good hobby. So, it’s up to you.

I’m not suggesting you will get rich from your carvings. But it could be a great way to supplement your retirement income – even if it just helps with buying another tool or more wood carving supplies. That’s what I primarily do with the small income I make off of my YouTube channel. I reinvest it back into my woodworking hobby and making more demonstration videos.

However, it is quite gratifying to sell your carvings, even if it is $10 or $20 for a carving. Just think, someone spent their hard-earned money on your creation. If you get really good and make a name for yourself, then you might be able to ask for a higher price on your carvings. You might get into doing commission work. But that’s only if you want to.

If you’re the social type, you might consider selling your crafts at some local arts and crafts shows. Some towns have monthly farmer’s markets or market days where you can sell your goods. Another option is to sell your stuff online. The popular website ETSY is a great place to sell your handmade items online, but there could be a slight learning curve. My daughter has done this and says it’s relatively easy to get setup. You get to control how much you want to sell. But you do have to promote your ETSY site to maximize sales.

Benefit #6: It’s a great way to stay engaged with others and serve others.

One thing I hear a lot from retired people is how much they miss their work community and social engagement. Being isolated in retirement is not good for your mental or physical health. But this hobby offers many ways to stay engaged with people who share your interests and values. Check out the National Woodcarvers Association for a pretty comprehensive list of clubs in your area. You can also do an internet search to find a club near you. Or maybe start your own club.

You can also serve and teach others using your wood carving skills. I created my YouTube channel and this website to teach others and introduce them to many different woodworking hobbies. It’s fun and gratifying. But maybe it’s just as simple as teaching your grandchildren a new skill. Kids love to carve.

Over the years, I’ve also enjoyed giving my carvings away. They make great gifts and there’s nothing like a uniqued, handcrafted gift. Maybe you’re in a church or civic group. Your carvings could make great door prizes or giveaways. When I go on a hike, I will sometimes leave a carving along the trail as a surprise for a fellow hiker. If you’re into geocaching, your carvings may work well there too as you exchange gifts with others.

Carving Tools and Supplies to Get Started.

The links below are Amazon Affiliate links, and I qualify for a small commission if you purchase. It’s no extra cost to you, and it helps support my website and channel. Thank you!

• Basic Flexcut Carving Knife Set
• Flexcut Whittlin Jack for portable carving
• Leather Strop
• Flexcut Knife Carrying Roll
• Cut Resistant Gloves
• Basswood Carving Blocks
• Basic Whittling Book

You may also enjoy my free eBook that is also great for beginner carvings. You can download the free eBook at this link: Wood Carving for Beginners

I hope you enjoyed this article. Please share it with others who are retired or may be getting close to retiring. Please consider subscribing to my newsletter or to my Youtube Channel.

God bless and happy woodworking!