can someone recommend a beginners' whiitling kit?

[Jon25]

Hi there, it is my girlfriend's birthday soon and she has recently become interested in whittling. She's an absolute beginner so I'm wondering if anyone can recommend a beginners' whittling kit.

Please don't use too much jargon in your replies: I have no knowledge of whittling or woodcarving at all! In fact, are whittling and woodcarving just 2 different names for the same thing?

Many thanks in advance,

Jon.

[Claude]

Welcome, Jon!

A few bits of advice for you:
1. Get her the beginner's kit from Little Shavers Wood Carving Supply Search this forum and you'll see it has more positive recommendations than any other.

2. Get her to join the forum. Tons of useful advice for beginners on here; we have lots of female carvers and welcome more.

3. Don't buy her wood from a craft store or hobby shop - way too expensive. Instead, buy basswood at Woodcraft or Rocklers, if you have one handy. If not, then go to Heinecke Wood Products and buy from them. I've been buying wood from them for years - it's top quality basswood. Don't get her to start with construction grade pine or fir, as it's much more difficult to carve than basswood.

4. Over on the left side of the screen, under WCI Community, click on Carving Clubs, then select your state or province and see if there is a carving club within driving distance. If there is, take her to a meeting. Most clubs are more than happy to show a new carver their tools, techniques, and provide patterns. Some even offer wood for sale. Also a very good place to have her learn to sharpen her tools correctly and keep them sharp. Little Shaver tools come carving sharp, but she'll need to learn how to properly strop with to keep them sharp.

Claude

[Donna_T]

Jon,
What Claude said, DITTO.
He's right on target. I'd even go one step further and recommend you to go to Moore's Roughouts and perhaps get her a small roughout or two. A roughout is where someone has carved an item, then it's taken to a duplicator and it removes the waste wood to get the general shape of the carving. All roughouts usually come with a photo of the finished carving that goes with your roughout. Maybe that could be a follow-up Christmas present!
Donna_T

[Just Carving]

I have no knowledge of whittling or woodcarving at all! In fact, are whittling and woodcarving just 2 different names for the same thing?

Whittling is usually done with just a knife--and the end result may not necessarily be what you set out to be. Sometimes whittling can be just making chips and passing the time. I carve with a knife and I use a pattern. But I still consider it whittling because I like to keep it simple and just use a knife. Carving is done with knives AND/OR just tools namely chisels and gouges--shaped tools. You usually set out with a pattern or design in mind. Bottom line--the terms are used interchangeably and it is mainly based on the user's interpretation. So there you have it--an answer with just a minute amount of jargon.

My advice to you:

Follow Claude's advice with one exception: I would recommend talking to Rick Ferry at Little Shavers. Unless you know what kind of whittling or carving your girlfriend is specifically interested in, you won't know exactly what to get her. If your girlfriend is only interested in whittling, i.e. carving with a knife, a beginners set may not necessarily be of benefit to her. However, a beginners set could be the next step if she has a good knife and wants to expand her interest. And there are a lot of different ways to to do that. So, I would talk to Rick--maybe get a gift certificate--maybe have your girlfriend talk to him, etc.

I don't want to make it difficult for you. I just don't want you spending money on tools that might end up sitting in the drawer. And anybody who has been carving for a while has either done that or knows someone that has.

Advice to your girlfriend:

Learn to sharpen knives and tools. Dull tools produce less than desirable results and can result in injuries. More force on the tool, more chance of the tool going where it shouldn't.

Get a kevlar carving glove and wear it. The glove won't stop the point of a tool from penetrating the weave of the glove, but it will stop the edge of the tool/knife from cutting through the weave. Hint: You could get your boyfriend to buy you a glove for your birthday. It may not be as exciting as getting a new knife or set of tools, but it sure beats the excitement of going to the emergency room for stitches.

Know where the tool is going. Slicing off a chip without regard to where the tool could follow through to will result in injury. So, know where your tool is going and make sure fingers, hands and any part of your body are not in the path of the tool.

Good Luck

Bob L

[uvawyo]

I will agree with Claude on everything.
If you live in an area with cottonwood trees, cottonwood bark is easy to find and easy to carve it is sort of unforgiving till you get the hang of it but if you are gathering it it is cheap.

[Steve Reed]

Jon, I totally agree with everything above. You have some excellent carvers giving advice. I would add one small tidbit as well. Have her start with something fairly simple to begin with. One of the biggest problems with beginners is that they get frustrated with the amount of time it can take to create a piece. Patience is the key in this hobby/vocation. Simple first projects, with lots of encouragement will go a long way in helping her in her new-found endeavor.
Happy Carving!

[Jon25]

Thanks everyone for the excellent advice!

I'll let you all know how we get on.

Jon

[Gulf Coast Handyman]

DITTO what Claude said!

Dave

[Donsexton]

I say whittling and woodcarving are the same thing and throw wood sculpture in as well all the same thing.

[Whittled Thumb]

I have some advice for you girlfriend......MAKE HER WEAR A GLOVE. I learned my lesson, and the wife had to take me to the ER. I got off lucky compared to some here. G L O V E