another beginner looking for advice

[hedhunter]

Hi everyone! My name is matt im 25 and live in Ohio. I'm just getting into this hobby and im quite intrigued. I havent created anything yet but I just went out and bought a few nice blocks of basswood. Right now im looking for a decent folding knife.. im not looking to drop alot of money(because i dont have it lol) in the hobby but once i get going i will. Any suggestions on the knife will be great. I believe my first few projects will be turtles because thats what my "friend" ashley likes and what better of a present that something handmade. any suggestions on making turtles will be great too. I have so many ideas! I just hope i can come through with them. Thanks for your time and hope to here from you soon.

[louis]

HI Hedhunter, nice to see another potential carver, and one so humble at that. Thing is anyone can learn to carve but ideas are the thing and you say you have so many ideas. Wonderful: write them down with rough drawings if possible. Just remember technique is fine but it is content that sets carvers apart. Just don't lose your head. Regards LouisStar Wars

[William]

Hi Matt,

Some carvers have a folding whittler ($40 +/-). There is at least one very good carver in this forum that uses a non-retractable utility knife (box cutter from Lowes $5 +/-), one good thing about them is that you can buy extra blades ready to start carving. By the time you finish a few carvings you'll know if carving is something you would like to do and if not you will have a box cutter in your toolbox, everyone needs a box-cutter.

Bill
^v^

[AlArchie]

Matt there is a reasonably priced folding whittler sold by the Boy Scout Supply Office for around 30 bucks. It used to be made by Camillus but that outfit shut down last year and the new knife is made in China so I can't vouch for the quality and it will need some sharpening and honing to get it up to good performance.
The Scouts traditionally maintain a fairly high quality in the items they sell.
Whittler

I just checked the Scout catalog and this item is unavailable agin until the 17th so maybe they found another supplier...that's what happened with the delay last time.

Here's a link to a reasonably priced fixed blade bench knife by Stanley...it's their "Whittlin' Jack, also made in China now, but a good knife. Stainless blade that WILL DEFINITELY NEED SHAPRPENING !
Whittlin' Jack Original Woodcarving knife

Al

[Hi_Ho_Sliver]

I would recommend you get or make a strop, a carving glove from Rick at little shavers and maybe the folding Kershaw crossfire from Rick.. modified of course or maybe the one I have, the "Oar Carver" a two blade folder...great knife as well......

[Bill Anderson]

go the little shavers web site. they have got good knives cheep. look at a murphy.
you can drop a lot of money on a knife and we all have more knives than we neede but you can't go wrong with a murphy or little shavers.

[CarverFromNoWhere]

I would go to little shavers, Rick will set ya up with a great starter set.
This issue of a diferent magazine not WCI has a great little turtle project.
Inside Carving Magazine's Issue #21
Hope this helps.
Carl

[JJireh]

Welcome to the addiction Hedhunter. I can't say much more than has been said about knives, but I will say this about the hobby. Take your time! I started with a regular old cheap folding knife (not even a whittler) and a hand held scroll saw. Worked great for me for years. Get a feel for what the wood does (I wouldn't start on my basswood) just pick up a stick and put a knife to it. make a turtle out of a fallen branch, see what comes out. I wouldn't spend a lot of money to get rolling until you are sure that you want to continue (and you can). Some may disagree with this line of thought, which is fine too my 2 c.

[Lynn O. Doughty]

Welcome to the forum Matt. First thing I'd do is give up on the notion of a folding knife. What unfolds will just as quickly refold and usually on your fingers. Ouch! A pocket knife is fine for the times you need something in an emergency to trim off a hangnail, cut the string or ribbon on a birthday present, but for serious carving buy something that is oriented for carving with a fixed blade. Sure, there are those who swear that the only way to go is with a pocket knife. However, for everyone of those they are a hundred others of advise just the opposite. I'd tell you what my main tool has been for the past 35 years but you wouldn't believe me so I won't mention it here. Rick of Little Shavers will set you up with a good knife with a fixed blade and aim you in the right direction.

[hedhunter]

thank you all for your advice. I just had a look at little shavers and i think im going to get the beginners kit.. it looks like it has everything i need, if not more. and the safety equipment is pretty great so I leave all the modifications to the wood.. not my fingers lol. so until i get the kit im going to be using an x-acto knife and a small piece of wood to see what i can come up with wish me luck