Hand Carving a Viking Valknut

In my very first video I am attempting my very first hand carving which is a Viking Valknut symbol. I opted to carve this as I thought that it would be good to start with something that had straight lines.
I did struggle a bit with skinny areas to carve and had to resort to a rotary tool.
Overall when I look back at the whole process it was very enjoyable and I feel that there is no better feeling than whacking a chisel with a mallet to remove some wood.
The timber species is Limewood.
The music used in this video is from artlist.io/.
Recording Equipment
DJI Osmo Pocket (bought used from MPB)
Sony ZV-E10 Mirrorless Camera
Sony 16-50mm lens (came with camera)
Sony GP-VPT2BT Shooting Grip (bought used from MPB)
Rode Wireless ME
Rode Auxillary VideoMic Go
Rode Deadcat Go
Godox LEDM150 LED Video light
Velbon video tripod (had this tripod for a very, very long time)
Photography Equipment
Nikon D850
Nikon 18-55mm f3.5-5.6 G AF-P DX VR Lens
Nikon AF-S Nikkor 14-24mm f/2.8
Sigma 105mm f2.8 Macro EX DG OS HSM
Manfrotto BeFree Aluminium Tripod
Manfrotto PIXI EVO Tripod
Woodworking Equipment
Machinery
Axminster Workshop AW318BT Benchtop Thicknesser
Axminster Workshop AW1950B Bandsaw
Axminster Workshop AW50E 50L Portable Dust Collector
Evolution R255PTS 255mm Table Saw
Evolution R255SMS-DB 255mm Double Bevel Sliding Mitre Saw
Energer ENB672DBT 290mm Brushless Electric Pillar Drill
Carving Equipment
Rider Carving Mallet - 98 x 280mm
Veritas Small Journeyman's Brass Mallet
Ashley Isles Sweep 7/6
Ashley Isles Sweep 9/25
Pfeil Spoon Bent Chisel 1a/6
Beavercraft Compact straight flat chisel single bevel K1/10
Beavercraft Compact straight rounded chisel K5/12
Beavercraft Compact long bent gouge K6L/15
Beavercraft Compact straight rounded chisel K8/08
Beavercraft Compact straight rounded chisel K9/10
Beavercraft Compact short bent gouge K8a/14
Beavercraft Compact straight V-profile chisel K12/02
Rider Bevel Edge Chisel Hornbeam Handle - 6mm
Rider Bevel Edge Chisel Hornbeam Handle - 10mm
Rider Bevel Edge Chisel Hornbeam Handle - 16mm
Rider Mortice Chisel - 6mm

[@saramulry]

Great first video & great music!

[@stuffbyneilsmith]

Thanks Sara, I don't go for that other style of music that you hear all of the time 😁

[@briangustin3745]

Not bad for a first. May be helpful down the road to explain techniques (I.E. tool control, etc.) and perhaps you'll eventually do a piece on how you hold down your work securely, if you get it figured out.. :)

[@stuffbyneilsmith]

Thanks for your comment Brian, I was thinking sometime down the line to do a video that's broken into down into different parts, to almost become a series, showing the techniques I use or I'm learning in more detail.

[@tom314]

Well done making your first video and first piece of carving! That's a lot of material to hog out by hand and especially well done for not accidentally removing a big chip from your valknut.
I'm sure you're style will develop with time but one suggestion, please normalise the sound levels a bit, I have to turn it right up to hear you speak then a few seconds later when the music kicks in my children are asking me to turn it down... I do like your music choice though :)
I liked a piece of advice Jimmy DiResta gave, trust your viewer, show them something once then trust they can assume you've used the same technique to finish the next steps. (might be slightly paraphrased)

[@stuffbyneilsmith]

Cheers Tom, yeah the sound thing is something I definitely need to work on, I'll need to find that happy medium of volume from speech, which at time I do talk quietly to letting the music rock on.

[@gregmislick1117]

First off - KUDOS - you’ve dive j to the deep end and come up first another go. Carry on.
B) The Val Knut came out quite well, as noted above well done to not split off a chunk.
3) Audio levels also as noted. You got better in the last 3rd, but I believe that was due to speaking louder rather than improved levels balance between clips.
Steady on, the outlook is for clear skies and following seas.

[@stuffbyneilsmith]

I have to admit the sound was all voice over and never recorded with the software I have. I'll have to do some tests and trials.