How to Whittle a Chain out of Wood

Co-authored by Vic Tesolin

Last Updated: January 8, 2026

How to whittle a chain out of a piece of wood with just a knife and a block of wood. It's a fun project to do and the finished project is a fun piece to show off and could be used for a decoration or even as an elaborate gift wrapping trinket.

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Start with a piece of wood that's relatively square and is already as long as the chain that you wish to carve. Basswood is recommended and you can get this fairly easily at lots of woodworking supply stores.^{[1]
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Vic Tesolin
Woodworker and Furniture Designer

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- You could also use a 2x2 from the lumberyard, but pine wood splits easier than basswood and this will be frustrating until you get more advanced at wood carving art.
- You will also need a sharp wood carving knife or a jack knife.
Cut a notch into the length of the wood on each corner of the wood so that the wood's profile becomes a cross instead of a square.

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The example shown in this tutorial has a variety of shapes. While you can use any shape that you wish, it is suggested that for your first attempt at whittling a wood chain that it is best to select one shape only to ensure consistency and ease of getting used to the whittling. For example, choose all rectangles or all ovals.
Carefully hollow out the insides of the links, freeing the links of the chain as you go.
For the tutorial example, the octagon links have an octagonal profile, the diamond shaped links have diamond shaped profiles, the square links have a square profile, while the round links have a round profile. For your first attempt, it is suggested to keep to using just the round profile.
You could use the chain as a decoration, a piece of jewelry or perhaps as a baby or pet toy.

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Question

What carving tools or knives should I get?

Community Answer

Start with a detail knife and a chip carving knife. Some carvers say those are the only two tools necessary.

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Is this a good project for beginners?

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Yes, because it is a fairly simple project that is well explained.

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Tips

Use straight grained wood without knots.

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Make sure that your knife is very sharp. It makes it much easier to control.

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Go slowly. Don't expect to be able to cut more than one link a day.

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Warnings

This is a great project for learning to use a pocket knife correctly, but for younger wood workers, adult supervision is recommended.

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Bandage your wounds when you cut yourself, because chances are, you'll cut yourself at some point. When you do, it's likely because either your knife is getting dull or you are getting tired.

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