Gift Whittling Set

Hey everyone. My boyfriend mentioned last night how much he used to enjoy whittling/carving and was hoping to get back into it sometime soon now that he's moved into his own place. I'm trying to find a good beginners set for him as a gift (probably Christmas, but I like buying early). He was mostly using a knife before, and once his Mom bought him a set but now the pieces are all scattered. Could someone please offer me some advice on where and how to get a nice new set? Nothing too fancy, but just solid, good tools.
Thanks!!

~LJ
ljinindia@yahoo.com

[Kenny_S]

Rick at Littleshavers can help ou out. Denny's has some good knives as well as Helvies. Gouges, Flexcut, Cherry,Ramlson and a host of others. Flexcut are supersharp from the biginning as well as Denny's and helvies knives. Flexcut has some great knives also. But give Rick and e-mail at littleshavers.com. You can't go wrong with his advice and he also sells and backs up what he sells. You can bet the tools will be sharp no matter the brand you get from him.

[AlArchie]

I'll go along with the recomendation to contact Rick....good advice and great service. Â*

As far as starter sets and carving knives; Â*I would recomend either a cutting or roughing knife from Flexcut, (about $20 each), a Beginner's Carving Tool kit from Warren Cuttlery (just over $40), or a set of 'Store Brand' palm tools from most any carving supply ($25 to $35). Â*

Flexcut also markets an excellent set of palm tools in the Â*$65 price range, but great beginners tools.

All these can bee seen online at

www.leevalley.com

www.woodcarverssupply.com

And I believe Rick Ferry carries all these also, but I haven't ordered anything from him for a while, so I Â*don't have a current catalog!

www.littleshavers.com


My basic starting set was one of the store palm sets, and a Whittlin' Jack bench knife (very similar to the flexcuts) but the WJ's are stainless steel and hard to sharpen the first time, whereas flexcuts come razor sharp! Â*The 'store brand' palm sets need final honing or stropping, and the Flexcut palm set is, again, ready to go. Â*

Al

I will also add my two cents worth I hear that Rick at Little Shavers is the best. Evidently if you buy a tool from him it comes razor sharp and he backs everything he sells so good advice you have here.
Colin

[don]

And if you are getting him a knife get a safty glove as well. Only a few bucks but worth a fortune in Emergancy Room bills. Don