Advice Needed

[jesters_tools]

If you had $100 to get started carving, what would you buy?
Jesse

[Mitchell]

Depends on what you want to carve......

[jesters_tools]

I want to carve birds and animals.

[Gergie]

Are you going to use power or just hand tools or both?

If your going power, I took a drill and clamped it in a vice and put a 5 in round sanding pad on it and it works great for rounding decoys and removing tool marks. When I started I could rough out a duck head with this set up also.

But I start with a draw knife and rasp to shape the rough body first.

Here's a list of tools that are a must for carving. My Opinion of course.

1. A sharp carving knife $10.00 to 30.00 dollars

2. Set of gouges. My first set was cheap $30.00 I have got a set of flex cut now.

3. Rasp

4. Draw knife. I found a good one at a second hand store for $15.00.

5 Sanding sticks.

6. sand paper for finishing. I don't use sand paper until last because it leaves residue that can dull your knife.

This should take care of your $100.00 dollars.

Other tools I use on a regular basis.

Sears Bandsaw $350.00

Sears Dust collector $250.00

Fordom flexable shaft grinder. $125.00

little detail files. $15.00

feather burner. $100.00

I have also bought a lot of tools a I rarely use so be wise when buying tools. Good luck.

[tucker1931]

Gergie, that sounds about rite,(SO FAR) now you still need a good table saw, in my case a magnifier that you wear like a hat, A good program that will enlarge and rduce pix, ket me see, oh yes, a shop vac, drill press, an assortment of different acrylic paints, mostly, an understanding wife, thet'l let ya spend all this money and make all this mess. I think that's about it. But soon, you'll need (want) a spiffy new knife you seen at a show, maybe a couple new gouges, and a fairly decent assortment of band aides, man yer cookin. But, " are you havin fun", hell yes.
Cliff

[Thomp]

good stones a hone, compound and a real good knife is about you can expect for that amount,

many projects were carved with a knife only

[squbrigg]

$100 to get started.......... get a Beginners kit from Rick at Little Shavers. Then with the money left over buy some Basswood and Butternut and a copy of "How To Carve Wood" by Rick Butz, from Fox Chapel here.

Bob

[lorax]

Wow Gergie, don't scare Jesse off! Actually $100 is alot more than I had when I started. I f you get a starter set of chisels, a knife, sharpening supplies and a glove, you should have enough to get started. Then you can slowly figure out what you need and develop an arsenal of tools. I still buy tools one at a time (mostly for econmic reasons). One of the most economical ways to get the wood down to size is by using someone elses resources. I have a $800 bandsaw that no new carver in their right ming would go out and buy, but I am happy to let folks use it. There are also tons of rough-outs out there. I know that www.woodcarverssupply.com has alot of them that include a casting so you have a study to go from.

[GeorgiaCarver]

I agree with Rick's (littleshavers) kit. Can't be beat for a beginer

[Eddy-Smiles]

Like the man said, a starter kit at Rick's or Smoky Moutain Woodcarver's is the only way to go. You don't know what you need until you get your hands dirty!