What are the best tools for a beginner?

[pandasan71]

Hello friends!

I looked to this fine forum and read more posts. I joined yesterday, think is a good decision.

About me...I live near the Danube, in Romania, and I want to wood carve, I always found as good to do something with my own hands. Also it helps the soul, I can pray better etc.

Until now I saw more online stores, woodcraft, little shavers, mychipcarving etc. However, I do not know what would be the best tools for a beginning.

I simply want to purchase the best tools. I must tell you my goals, so that you recommend me a set of tools.

First, of course, I would learn and practice MUCH the basics of chipcarving and wood carving. Then, I would have a personal interest in wood/chipcarving various crosses. Here I add an example:



So, what would you recommend me to buy, knives, chisels, gouges, etc etc. and from where?

I need excellent tools, I thought that surely here at least a person can give me a complete advice about.

I see you use bass wood, here I have pieces of lime tree, oak, nut, etc. But I think a softer wood is best for beginning.

I thank you all much and wait for your benevolent answers.

Marian

P.S. My name is a common male name in Romania or Poland.

[squbrigg]

While most members on this site are from North America, and their recommendations for tool are directed towards North American suppliers, many of the tools that are recommended come from your side of the "pond" (the Atlantic Ocean). Swiss tools, German tools and English tools top the lists. You can't go wrong buying Pfeil tools, or Stubi, and Henry Taylors can be made quite useful with some work. My own preferance is for Pfeil tools, and you need only a few basic tools to get started. A good general carving knife, an assortment of gouges ( sweeps # 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11 and a "V" tool to start) a carving glove, and a strop will get you going.

Depending on the type of carving you wish to do, you could begin with less than that. If it is just chip carving you want to do, a single chip carving knife would suffice. Check out suppliers over there, I'm sure they would have beginners kits you could begin with.

Bob

[TreeWizard]

As far as I know Lime wood in Europe is similar to Basswood on this side of the pond. You may want to look for some carving clubs in your area to get started.

As far as tools go,Swiss Made are excellent for most uses. I use them for carving when I need full sized tools, for smaller work I like Flexcut palm tools.

Some of the other tools made in Germany are also excellent, and being located where you are that may be an option for you.

Best of luck with your carving.

[Hi_Ho_Sliver]

Shipping will be a problem for you, but without a doubt, Rick's starter kit at LittleShavers is the best deal and best package around in my opinion....whatever and wherever you get, make sure you include a glove!

[pandasan71]

Kind people,

Thank you much for your answers until now. I must say that here I never heard of a chip carving club.

Also, in the stores from here I never saw knives or gouges. I mean good brands, very reliable.

Also, for me the shipping etc. it is not a so huge challenge, I think I can afford.

Who is Rick? The Sir from littleshavers.com?

I saw until now more brands as: Pfeil, Cape Forge, Flexcut, Wayne Barton. No idea. What about Minozosaku? They seem very fine.

Well...I think I will research and just order a couple of fine knives, a book, a DVD, perhaps some gouges, some sharpening stone, etc.

I would like to come a day in which I be able to woodcarve a cross as that I posted or any other beautiful cross. Not only crosses, but also boxes, etc etc.

I am just at beginning and I know I love the wood. Yes, here I have a lot of lime wood.

Thank you again and I would be grateful if someone would directly suggest me a complete set of tools and various items. As budget, now, $300. It seems a decent amount for a passion.

Marian

[Plain_Ol_Ed]

If your main interst is doing crosses like the one illustrated. The entire thing can be done with a chip carving knife. In fact it is probably best done with that single tool.

Wayne Barton and The Alpine School School of Wood Carving
Woodcarving, Chip Carving Technique
Chip carving cross
Hand-made Wood Crosses

[mdallensr]

Hi Marian: Re. chipcarving, we have some great author/instructor/suppliers in the U.S. Dennis Moor with Chipping Away Dedicated to Wood Carvers and Wayne Barton, Wayne Barton and The Alpine School School of Wood Carving, can help you in every way with chip carving instruction and tools.

Many American carvers use tools from Europe, so you're closer to the source for some of the most popular brands than we are. Pfiel or "Swiss-made" is a very popular carving tool here, and one of my favorites. I suggest you try Chris Pye's website, Chris Pye: Woodcarving for suggestions on carving tools and sources for them in Great Britain and Europe. Mike

[pandasan71]

I really appreciate your answers. I decided to buy for first the knives of Wayne Barton. I looked to him how he chip carves and I liked that work much.

I will practices with those knives on different boards until I will see if I learned. During this learning process, if I will need extra tools, I think I will order from Pfeil. Indeed, they are close enough to me.

Thank you again. Hope to post in future a photo with some chip carving work.

Marian

[Hi_Ho_Sliver]

Good way to start, thats how I started carving...but before you go spend a lot of money on a full set of chisels etc...buy Ricks starter kit...you will be surprised at how much you can do and learn......then go buy the chisels as you think you need them....whole sets are sometimes a waste of money as we all have favorites and use just a select few, the rest just sit there...all in my opinion of course

[care4carving]

I am very new at this and used to carve animals when I was a kid out of leftover pieces of cedar. Now I want to start carving again for real. I have a large cedar log and want to carve a sort of green man/wood spirit/with my late father's wisened face. Actually 2 faces, one serious and one winking. My cedar log was lying outside about 6 months after my brother cut it. It's tennessee cedar, the same I used to whittle with. Any suggestions for the wood, tools, further curing, preventing cracks (I've read that cedar cracks though haven't seen it in stuff I used to do) etc.