Elderone56

[Elderone56]

I'm 66, retired, disabled (but not that disabled) and looking to get into carving. I'm quite ignorent on this matter and would like to know more. Don't have a lot of money but lots of scrap wood. Oak, Maple, Black Walnut, Popular, Teak. Is there any carving clubs in the Bay City Mi. area? What's needed to start? Where should I start, on what type of project?

[Donsexton]

Hello and welcome to the gang

[Bob K.]

The first thing you need to do is invest in a good carving knife. A Murphy bench knife is where a lot of carvers start out...you can get one for about $12 or $13 ( a good inexpensive knife to start off with). The next step up would be a FlexCut knife for about $15 (very good knife). I personally like to use a Mike Shipley knife which sells for around $23 (excellent knife). The next thing is to get a leather strop and some stropping compound to keep your knife sharp (a dull knife is very dangerous to use). A strop and some compound will run you around $15. That's about it for starters, so for around $30 you will have some good tools to get you started. You can buy this stuff online at several woodcarving supply shops. I like to use Smoky Mountain Woodcarvers www.woodcarvers.com .

Oak, Maple and Black Walnut are quiet hard woods and are therefore more difficult to carve. Teak is probably the easiest to carve followed by poplar. Basswood is the best and easiest to carve...it is soft and holds detail very well. You can buy some really nice northern basswood "practice" carving blocks (1/ 12" x 1 1/2" x 6") for about $1.50 each from Smoky Mountain Woodcarvers. I use them all the time and have carved loads of nice things with them.

Finally, the best advice I can give you is to regularly use this forum for all your questions and to get all kinds of excellent carving advice. There are tons of extremely talented woodcarvers on this forum that are more than happy to share their knowledge with you. Good luck and if you don't know don't be afraid to ask.

[Bob K.]

You will also do well to get yourself a kevlar carving glove. They are around $25 but it will save you tons of money in band aids and stitches! You can also get this at Smoky Mountain Woodcarvers www.woodcarvers.com .

[Gulf Coast Handyman]

welcome to the forum.

Woodcarving Illustrated - Club Search

Dave

[Doug R]

Welcome to the forum, I to would start with a Murphy Bench knife as they are a good beginning knife, some basswood because its easy to work with, a thumb guard and glove. As you progress in your skills you will be able to have a better idea what it is that you need or would like to try, this fourm is a great source of information and full of ideas and instiration, I carve with mostly Denny Knifes now but still use and have my bench knife from 20 plus years ago so start carving and be prepared to catch the BUG! Again welcome.

[Tom-H]

Welcome, Bay City Michigan..I think that there are more wood carvers per capita in Michigan than anywhere else...Find a local club....I'll bet there is one...

Tom H

[jmischel]

Tri-City Carvers Club. Tri-City Carvers Club

[Elderone56]

Thank you for the info; sorry for not getting back to you sooner. Trying to learn how to run these "reply to threads" boxes. Been to the West Branch Victorian "Arts & Crafts" show this past week end and met a nice WW ll vet whos was carving "Spirit Faces" on small branches. Was facinated and looks lik something I could do. So be blest and be a blessing and have a great day.

Originally Posted by Bob K.

The first thing you need to do is invest in a good carving knife. A Murphy bench knife is where a lot of carvers start out...you can get one for about $12 or $13 ( a good inexpensive knife to start off with). The next step up would be a FlexCut knife for about $15 (very good knife). I personally like to use a Mike Shipley knife which sells for around $23 (excellent knife). The next thing is to get a leather strop and some stropping compound to keep your knife sharp (a dull knife is very dangerous to use). A strop and some compound will run you around $15. That's about it for starters, so for around $30 you will have some good tools to get you started. You can buy this stuff online at several woodcarving supply shops. I like to use Smoky Mountain Woodcarvers www.woodcarvers.com .

Oak, Maple and Black Walnut are quiet hard woods and are therefore more difficult to carve. Teak is probably the easiest to carve followed by poplar. Basswood is the best and easiest to carve...it is soft and holds detail very well. You can buy some really nice northern basswood "practice" carving blocks (1/ 12" x 1 1/2" x 6") for about $1.50 each from Smoky Mountain Woodcarvers. I use them all the time and have carved loads of nice things with them.

Finally, the best advice I can give you is to regularly use this forum for all your questions and to get all kinds of excellent carving advice. There are tons of extremely talented woodcarvers on this forum that are more than happy to share their knowledge with you. Good luck and if you don't know don't be afraid to ask.

[Elderone56]

Thank you all for the nice invite. Been a busy week, went to the West Branch (MI) Victorian "Arts & Crafts" fair and met a WWll vet carving "Spirit faces" in small tree branches. Quit interesting, looks like something I could do.