New Carvers Going Broke?

[Whittled Thumb]

I read this site often and I see alot of veterns pointing new folks to tools that cost a alot. While I'm all about getting your moneys worth, I'm also about keeping it real. I've seen post directing new carvers to band saws scroll saws, grinders for sharpening, fancy knives ect ect. In todays times folks are hurting for money and very few want to go out and drop a fortune on a hobby they might not even like. I know I'd sure as hell hate to buy a 50$ knife and find out I hate the hobby. Someone even blasted me for my choice in gouges. They work fine for me and always have, yet they were not 60$ for the set. This is not a pitty party for myself. Sure when I started i couldn't afford this expensive stuff because I was laid off for 12months. Things have since then changed for me but I still stick to the methods and cheap tools I started with. I can see all these new carvers trying to use these 50$ knives and not get any results and wonder what the hell happend. I always direct them to Lynns videos and what he can do with a 7 dollar stanley knife.

Whittling has been around for decades and folks have always used very simple methods and very simple tools to achieve great results. I don't think you have to have a wood shop in your garage to start carving; and it makes me sad to see all the new folks being mislead into believing THIS 50$ KNIFE WILL MAKE THINGS GREAT FOR YOU!

New carvers you do not need thousnds of dollars worth of tools and 50$ knives to carve with. Ya need some paitence, some general knowelge you can gain from videos (I reccomend Genes and Lynns) Ya need to learn your cuts and start with easy projects.

I'm in no way a vetern carver nor am I a seasoned carver, I'm just a novice withou over a years experience who got into the hobby cus he was laid off and broke and needed an outlet. My carvings are getting better YET my tools remain the same.

Just a rant........

Carve On

[BobT]

I have to agree with you. I probably have over $300 worth of carving knives, in the closet, in a cigar box. For almost a year now I have not wanted to use them. I have been doing all of my carving with the 6 dollar ' Old Reliable' that Lynn favors. I really like the knife and it has become addicting.
I have almost every gouge that Denny makes, but find myself grabbing the Flexcut gouges if I am going to use one. If a person needs gouges it is better to add one or two as the need arises. The Flexcut gouges are certainly inexpensive.
I have seen the better tool train of thought in so many hobbies, better golf clubs, better cue stick, etc. It is purely amazing what the pro's (like Lynn) can do with simple tools.

[Jschipcarving]

I agree with the idea that there is no reason to spend hundreds of dollars, if not more for tools, when you might decide that you don't even like carving. Good point guys, but be careful, I ruffled some feathers in another post trying to make that point. I'm not saying that when the need arises that there is anything wrong with buying the best, even if it is the most expensive, I do.

[Eddy-Smiles]

No argument here Whittled Thumb except that the longer you remain in carving the more the tendency to buy a tool here and there for one purpose or another until you do end up with those sets that you seem so dead set against. I started out with Xacto knives and over time graduated to Flexcut, Murray, Denny, and an assortment of other knife manufacturers. Then I discovered that gouges and V-tools could do what knives couldn't so I bought a small beginner's Flexcut set but then I got into larger relief carvings and needed larger gouges and V-tools so gradually that 7 piece collection grew to close to 30-pieces. I guess what I'm saying is that it's easy to take a purist postion at this point in your carving experience but over time I'm betting that you'll end up like the majority of us with a good size collection of carving tools. But hey! That's also part of the fun of carving!

[mdallensr]

Your best investment will be lessons. Those will probably be accompanied by advice from your instructor about what you really NEED to get started in carving. Once you're hooked, you'll be able to decide what else you need as you become more advanced and specific about the style of carving you like. You don't have to spend a lot of money to get good tools, but junk tools are junk tools and are a waste of money. Worse yet, they may discourage a budding carver from pursuing what many of us know to be a great hobby or avocation. Ditto bad wood.

Carving tools are a bit like golf clubs. You can convince yourself your game will improve if you break down and shell out $1,500 for that new and improved set of clubs. And the $500 driver. And you'll play better with those $150 shoes, glove, hat, shirt, golf slacks, country club membership, etc. You can only use one knife at a time; most of us can do just about everything with 2 or 3. I use a #11 Xacto as much as my carving knives. I have a lot of gouges because I use a lot of gouges for the style of carving I do. Others don't need as many gouges for the style they choose.

Most of the tool advice I've seen on this message board comes from experienced carvers, and most of it reflects the carving and woodworking learning curve. If you've ever spent $250 on something that turned out to be a piece of junk, you learned an expensive lesson. If that piece of junk is gathering dust in the corner of your shop, and you see it every time you go in your shop, you know where I'm coming from. So when carvers on this board recommend a woodworking tool or carving tool, most are speaking from experience and that primarily is don't buy junk. Buy less or fewer if you have to, wait if you have to, but don't buy junk. Tools or wood. Mike

[Ron T]

Well said, all of you. I couldn't afford tools or wood when I started but fortunately I met a couple great guys at the carving club I used to go to. One guy was a knife maker who gave me several knives and taught me how to make them. One gave me all the wood I could use and another showed me how to carve. Without them I probably wouldn't be carving, certainly not at the level I'm carving at now. It's not always about money.

[A_Swope]

My first knife was a $13 mountain woodcarvers Benchknife and it works great. I don't use it quite as much any more, I 've probably spent around $150-175 on knives but I always find myself reaching for my $2 Stanley knife.

Alex

[Gulf Coast Handyman]

After starting with a Walnut Hollow knife, I totaly DISAGREE ! Just my opinion.

Dave

[jimmy joe]

My first choice for a beginner would be the kit from Rick or one like it . Second choice for a beginner would be fixed blade and a carving glove . The fixed blade utility knife is good but it won't do every thing that is why my first choice is the kit . The kit and a fixed blade utility knife is even better . Any way you cut it ........ put on that carving glove ! You mad end up being a relief carver or power carver . The thing is a kit like this will get you carving and you can figure out where to go from there .

[Buffalo Bif]

I started with a knife I had in my toolbox, a Murphy thaqt probably cost about $10. I've made every knife Ive used since that one, cost per knife about $2.
Bflobif
bflobif.blogspot.com