Hello everyone, I am very interested in learning how to carve wood. I have never done it in my life, but came across it in a hardware catalogue and thought it'd be really fun, and a good creative outlet.
I have no idea even where to get started so if anybody could help that'd be real cool. What tools should i start with? What types of wood are best for starting out? Any suggested literature???
Any help would be awesome!
Thanks in advance

[Nancy_G]

Hi King - welcome aboard. We're glad to have you.
We can better answer you question if you'll tell us what sort of carving you'd like to try first. Do you want to do relief carving, duck decoys. caricatures, Santas, etc.?

You will probably want to start off with bass wood (I started on it and never left) - it's certainly the easiest wood to carve by hand. The only tool you HAVE to have is a sharp knife and a method of keeping it that way.

Read some of the threads about sharpening and favorite books. And wait a bit -- lots of people will soon join in.
You've found a great spot.

id like to be able to carve reliefs and figurines
i dream of being able to carve a chess set :P
as for knives..... in the lee valley catalogue that i have there's sooo many different types of knives! should i get a small set of 4 or 6 or do i just need a straight blade to begin with?

Hi KingCrimson and welcome to the group.

Have you looked around to see what style of carving you want to do first? This would help us know what tools and books to list. For instance, if you want to carve small caricatures you need different tools than you would to carve larger sculptural works or reliefs.

Basswood is possibly the most common wood for carving and there are many online sources if you can't find it locally at a hobby/crafts/arts store, lumberyard, or sawmill.

I would reccomend E.J. Tangerman's 'Whittling and Woodcarving' as a great first carving book. This book covers just about every type of carving and whittling, tools, sharpening, the works. I have gotten many ideas and a lot of knowledge from my copy.

oops
i accidentally logged out
that's my post right above (Nick B)

Take a look at this site http://www.carvingpatterns.com/ there are tons of free tutorials/hot-tos/patterns and info on carving tools. Most of the patterns you have to pay for, but there are still alot that are free.

The tutorials take you step by step in creating the different types of carvings and what tools you should use for each type.

[Hi_Ho_Sliver]

Probably the best one stop for questions/answers and equipment is Rick at Little Shavers

Find someone near you that carves, and get their suggestions. You can get lots of help from this board, but to be able to talk to someone one-on-one is invaluable. Plus, you can try their tools before spending the money!

Another benefit is the safety tips that you can learn from the start. It seems trivial, but a good (?) cut across the finger has stopped many an inspiring carver from continuing to pursue the craft.

On top of that, don't be afraid to ask questions here too!

Forgot to add.......

This topic is a frequent subject. Not only how to get started, but beginning tools, and sharpening tips, painting ideas, and safety pointers too.

Plan on spending a little time searching old threads. You can get a lot of your questions answered before you can even think of them all.

Good luck. Look foward to hearing about your progress.

[Cut_Fingers]

Welcome King,

I've been carving only about a year & know where you are at. I don't have much advice to give you other than to listen to the members on this site. I found it about 3 weeks ago & have found that everyone is very friendly & very willing to give you good advice!!

I take that back, I do have a couple pieces of advice:
1: Get a good knife
2: Start with Basswood - (depending on what type of carving you are wanting to do)
3: Get a glove & finger guards - just check out my name on the board - It's True! Just last night I was setting in my recliner & had a curved knife in my hand & no wood in the other. I reached over to get the current piece that I'm working on & somehow my index finger ran across the blade. Just a little nick, but blood soon followed.
4: Get some of the books that the others have mentioned - Once again, this msg board members gives GREAT advice.
5: Finally, remember it's just like life, you have to crawl before you walk. (at least that's the case for me)

Good Luck & Good Carving!!

Jim