Beginner Needs Help!!!

Hello all,

Â*I want to start woodcarving, but don't know if i want to manually arve or use a power tool. ??? I was thinking of getting a DREMEL....any suggestions?? Please help!! Â* Â* Â* Â* Â* Â*

Bob

Hi Bob!
Â* Â* Â* Â* Â*I consider myself a beginner also. I like both ways of carving. I would try both the Dremel and chisels.. Dremel has a variety of inexpensive bits you can try. Chisels can run into some money if you get the top quality kind, but you can get a couple fairly reasonable..
Â* Â* Â*This is a good time of year to get some new TOYS, just drop some hints to the relatives !! Â*
Â* Â* Â* Â* Â* Â* good luck! Â*ol' fred

Hello Again,

As you can see I registered. Anyways...I wanted to ask Old_Fred two more questions. You said that I should try both chisels and the Dremel.

Question #1: I've heard on other sites that the Dremel can get too hot to handel. Any truth to that? And, should I get my Dremel with the 'extension cable' ?

Question #2: Where could I get some decent chisels or carving equipment. I was in an hobby store the other day, and they were selling a complete boxed set of about 15 different blades...I think they were made by X-Acto. Sound good, or should I look elsewhere?

Bob

[AlArchie]

Bob, Dremell is an OK device, and I use mine quite a bit, but it is not the best unit for power carving.

I also have the boxed set of X-Acto tools, and they are also OK, but not the best. Â*For the price, they will get you started.

You can pick up a set of Warren, or similar gouges for around 30 bucks, and they will do you better than the X-Acto's. Â*These are all small tools used for hand held projects, which are good ones to start with. Â*

A reasonably priced bench knife is also a good tool to start with. Or, if you are inclined toward a pocket whittling knife, which I also have and use, try checking out the BSA catalog at www.scoutstuff.org Â* Go to the 'enter' button on the bottom right and follow the left hand site guides to camping nad then knives. Â*Tehy list a good whittler for $23.95. Â*I mentioned this in another post and said to order early as the BSA National Supply is not a 'rapid' mailer.

Another supplier, I'd higly recommend is Rick Ferry, he is a contributor (albeit quietly) to several carving forums, and is quite helpful with advice. His prices are more than competitive, and he sends stuff out promptly. Try him at www.littleshavers.com

Al

Hi Bob,
Welcome aboard
Please don't forget to get a kevlar type glove if you knife carve. A leather glove if you power carve. Check out www.chipchats.org for some carving clubs.Sometimes high schools have adult ed classes. The best benefit of carving is all the great people you will be meeting.
Michele

Chele just gave you some very valuable advice. I've been carving with a knife for many years and started with chisels about 4 or 5 months ago and had never really cut myself, a few nicks here and there, little blood drawers nothing more. About two weeks ago I was relaxed and kicked back carving away with my favorite knife and big slip cut a gash in my hand about an inch long and 3/8 of an inch deep. Next stop Walmart and got a kevlar fillet glove. Sooner or later it's gonna happen so take defemsove measures first.

hey Bob letme second AlArchies recomendation for Rick Ferry. You can start an e-mail dialog with him saying what you want to carve and he won't stear you wrong, even if he tells you where you can buy something he doesn't sell.

You didn't say what you wanted to carve other than wood. I always recomend to beginners a good knife and a piece of northern bass wood. The knife is always something you can use (even if it is just for opening a new package of power carving tools). Bass wood has a forgiving grain but still demands attention so you know what wood is all about.

A decent knife is the murphy for about $10. wood depends on where you are but most craft stores have some for more than you would pay elsewhere (any wood you find can be carved but stay away from hard stuff and coarse grains in the beginning) . Learn to sharpen your blade and have fun.

Advice on getting a carving glove should not go unheeded as most learned the hard way. Find a club for good free advice. Don't forget about the public library as a great source of information.

Dave

Â* Â* Hi Bob, welcome! Â*You have picked a good way to start, asking questions before you really get into carving. Â*I didn't find this bullentin board till after I had made some major mistakes. Â*There is a wealth of knowledge here and always someone to help.
Â* Â* I was directed to Rick Ferry also, he is great. Â*He really helped me with tool selection. Â*Don't buy too much at first, you really will find your way once you get into this. Â*I would recommend a really good knife, a gouge and a strop and compound. Â*You will want to keep your tools VERY sharp! Â*And a glove is an absolute must. Â*I'd recommend a thumb guard also for the 'non gloved hand!'.
Â* Â* Check other postings, sharpening, etc, or just ask us anything, someone will definitely have an answer for you. Â*
Â* Â* I have the flex shaft attachment for my dremel, the reciprocating kind. Â*I love it! Â*It use it to get as much waste wood off my carving before starting with my 'hand tools'.
Good luck, and be careful...buy that glove!! Callynne

Welcome to the gang, Bob. The advice to talk with Rick Ferry is invaluable as far as getting the proper chisels/knives to get started. As for power carving, I'd sure recommend you try a reciprocating carver, rather than the 'grinding' kind. Reciprocating heads act just like your hand and chisel, except much faster with the cuts. I've never used the dremel reciprocating attachment, but I've heard good things about it.

Teri

Hello all,

Thanks for all the great advice. All of your help, kind words, encouragement, and all the nice people on the message board has further boosted my interest in woodcarving. I will take all of your advice to heart when I go and shop around for my supplies. I just have one more, pretty dumb, question:

What exactly is a 'bench knife', and what will it do for my carving?

Thanks again for all your help,
Bob
P.S.--I'll make sure to get a glove!!