Carving knife suggestions

[johnwilldo]

Hi Carvers,

I have yet to put knife to wood. I do not have a knife or a knife set and do not know which supplier and which brand would be suitable. I want to try my hand at charicature carving and need to purchase an instruction book and materials. Any suggestions?

John

[Buckskin]

I have a "Buck" pocket knife, Flexcut KN12 Bench and KN13 Detail knives. A Power Grip (Japanese) set.

That is what I use as I am still learning and growing as well. Good luck and I look forward to your first piece!!

[Iowa Carver]

Welcome John. If you need just a knife, you can get a good Murphy knife for about 12.95 that's all you need to whittle with. You need a glove and a thumb guard. At that point your halfway to the Little Shavers beginners kit. Check it out here:
For Beginning Carvers from Little Shavers
Great website and you can't beat the kit. I started with it and still using it. Also check out Gene Messers Beginners videos on You Tube: They will both inspire you and help you.
YouTube - whittler0507's Channel

Hope this helps,
Corey

[Just Carving]

Standing advice given to all newbies:
Contact Rick at Littleshavers.com

Tell him what you want to do, and he will set you up. Tools will be good qualtiy, sharp and free sharpening for as long as you own the tools.

Tell him the guys at the WCI forum sent ya.

Bob L

[Eddy-Smiles]

Little Shavers is good people and so is Smoky Mountain Woodcarvers. They also sell a beginner's kit...

Beginner Wood Carving Kit from Smoky Mountain Woodcarvers

or if you've a mind to start even more advanced they'll be glad to talk with you and make a recommendation. I gurantee you that they won't steer you wrong.

[Plain_Ol_Ed]

Yup! give Rick a call at LittleShavers. Good advice, good people, good service and good prices. Everything you'll need or want for caricature carving. His beginners kit is the deal of deals.

[Claude]

Another solution is to get on the internet and google "scary sharp", then go buy some sandpaper and take one of the kitchen knives and re-shape into a carving knife. Should only take 8-10 hours. Then go on eBay and look for some used gouges. In another month and maybe another 20 hours of working with the sandpaper, you'll have a couple of gouges all set. Why bother going to Little Shaver's and buying from Rick - he'll send it to you in less than a week, and his web site also has beginner instructions -- totally unnecessary, as you can use your kitchen knife and stuff in only a couple months; as to the instructions, just pick up the wood, picture a carving in your mind, and then get rid of all the wood that doesn't look like the picture in your mind. Rick just doesn't understand the time-honored method of making the beginner struggle for weeks with poor tools; he actually sends them quality tools and then has the gall to explain how to use them.Wink

So, if you want the easy way out, contact Rick at Little Shavers; if you want to be a real old-fashioned carver, first learn to knapp flint, make iron, hand-forging iron into steel, and then sharpening by rubbing the tool on a rock. I've been told it's much more satisfying...

Claude

[Ron T]

Hi John,

Welcome to the world of carving. Lots og good advice. All free.

[Clifford_Parker]

Though I haven't used Rick's beginner set I would suggest buying it and the book shown on the same page over the Smokey Mountain beginner set For the following reasons.

#1. Little Shavers set contains more tools for a lower price. (and free sharpening!!)

#2. The Little Shavers set contains a glove, which will cost you an extra $5 with the Smokey Mountain set.

#3. The Beginners Book Of Woodcarving is an excellent book with lots of information and patterns while the First Projects Book only contains three projects.

[Hi_Ho_Sliver]

You can't go wrong with Ricks beginner set.....great start and excellent price! Wish it had been available when I started carving.....we could have used it on the Ark........