Frustrated with my knife

[revnate]

You guys are great. Thanks for all the help.

[Thomp]

nate,
i agree Al especally if your hogging off big chunks you need to move to mallet type chizles, or invest into a bandsaw,
it makes work easier and much faster getting to that point in the carving from a block or log.

knife care:
if for nothing more than to experience it all carvers should buy good German made straight razor and follow the tutorial on http://www.littleshavers.com and make your self a favorite carving knife,
if for nothing more than to experience the time, effort & patientest thats put into these tools,
I'm not saying flexcut is the same quality of a cold ground straight razor, but, even good tools can be tormented to the point of uselessness, and broke..

if i was breaking good tools, i would doubt my sharpening techniques, or check if i could cut the wood with another tool, wood struck by lightning can be super hard. its not unreal thing to get a piece of it occasionaly.

[Colin-Partridge]

I have been lurking on this topic. I used to have all the flexcut knifes but have since either given them away or sold them. I for one do not like them but that I think is a preference. I do own five knifes from Rick Ferry of little shavers and after carving with a a Rick Ferry knife it is hard to go back to any other knife. I have had problems with Flexcut tools as well my problem is with the V gouges I have broken so many but I am hard on tools. Dont know what to tell you except to follow the advice given here. I am not an expert carver by any means and do very little small carvings. I prefer a chainsaw gets the work done a whole lot faster and I can sharpen them with no problem LOL
Colin

[Kenny_S]

Rick Ferry of littleshavers carries several different brand names of knives, all great knives including Flexcuts. I have several Flexcuts and find them to be great knives and they stay sharp. Rick sells Denny knives and are again great knives and Denny stand behind his products. Helvies are great knives, just bought a 2 inch Bud Murry knife while waiting around at the hospital, my Mother IL is in there. Found a little carving shop close by the hospital so set outside till it got way to hot to carve. Back to knives, The Bud Murry knife is another great knife and when we go back next week, planning on getting another one.
Boils down to preferrences on knives. I use many different brands and which do I like,,,,,,,,ALL!! But, I always go back to my Case pocket knife.
Just my two Abe Lincolns worth.

[revnate]

Thanks Colin and Kenny,
I do have a band saw. I am not taking off great big chunks. I do not twist or bend. I may have just got a bad knife from flexcut.

I did check out the "make your own" interesting concept. I think I will try a Denny knife. I was at Floyd Rhadigans and he has some knives a guy in the group let me try. Really, really nice! Floyd makes them I believe. I might get back up there and buy one of those. The detail knife was amazing.

[grggraham]

Hi,

I see that someone else has already mentioned my personal favorite for a roughout knife, but I like it so much that I thought a second on that suggestion was in order.

My absolute favorite for taking off a lot of wood fast is the Sweedish Mora Knife by Frost. These knives hold an edge forever if you strop them regularly and are very comfortable to work with and are quite reasonably (some may even say inexpensively) priced.

Woodcraft has a nice selection of these knives from around 10.00 to 15.00.

The blade is also quite sturdy. I have a feeling that if you try one you will like it.

[revnate]

Thanks, I am going to woodcraft and will check it out.