New carving question

[Teresa]

I have started (unsuccessfully) to do wood carving. I purchased a cheap set of wood carving tools to see if I would like it. They don't do what I want them to do. I don't think they are sharpened properly to make the cuts I want. I am thinking of asking Santa for a Dremel tool. I prefer to be able to do relief style wood carving. Any suggestions on what tool to start with?

[carver6]

The first thing you need to do is sharpen your tools. Do a search for "scary sharp" method of sharpening. It is probably the most less costly and quickest way to get started. You can't do anything without sharp tools. There is a good chance you may need to replace the cheap tools as soon as you are able. A lot of cheap tools are not worth carrying home.......not always, but a lot of the time.
Garon

[Colin-Partridge]

Teresa,
Dont get discouraged we have all been there. When I first started I purchased a set of twelve chisels for $10 and a knife for $6 ended up carving my hands more than the wood. Let me give you a little advice. Purchase yourself a few good tools and one good knife to start. You can always add as you go. Even if you only purchase one tool a month or every few months. Check with Rick at Little Shavers http://www.littleshavers.com
He is the best to purchase anything from he will only sell you what you need and is a pleasure to deal with.
I would not advocate going to a power carver before you try sharp tools and anything you get from Rick you can garantee will be really sharp.
Power carving can be very costly those bits and burrs can run you a small fortune.
Just my two cents worth.
Colin

[Donna_T]

Teresa,
Fighting dull tools is a sure way to undesirable results when learning to carve. Starting on relief carving can be done with 2-4 tools. My recommendation is that you contact a carving tool supplier and order them and ask if they will sharpen them for you.

Consider Rick at Little Shavers (one of the moderators of this board and a peach of a fella to help new carvers)--he can suggest the best tools to start with and any other supplies you'll need (like a carving glove, wood, beginner project, sharpening stone/strop, etc.)

Good Luck and keep trying.
Donna T

[Dylan]

Hand tools are the best to learn relief carving with, unless you want to try the low relief style used on gunstocks. You can do a lot with a few sharp tools.

Once you've got some good tools you might want to look at my website, I've got a step-by-step pictorial on it that could help.

Happy Carving!
Dylan

[squbrigg]

Sharpening is the first skill a new carver should master. Get yourself a good stone or scary sharp sandpaper method, and sharpen those tools you have. Strop them well and then use them. Practice with them. Plenty of practice.

You can spend enormous amounts on tools, power or edged, but it comes back to basics. Learn to sharpen, learn to use your tools and practice. It will be worth it. Smile Even poor tools will cut and perform. You may have to sharpen more often, but they will cut until you can afford better tools. If you have no tools, and are just starting out, I'd say buy Rick's Beginner set at LittleShavers.com. His set is great, especially since they come sharpened, so you have something to compare with.

Nothing turns off a new carver faster than dull tools!

Bob

[schemmy]

I started out with a couple of good knives. If your first carving is not too complicated you can do alot with just a knife. As i progressed (and I still have a long way to go) I added gouges and v tools. These added tools helped me carve faster and do different cuts. But I was able to find out that carving was a great hobby with just a knife. A sharp knife.
Steve

[Kenny_S]

Good advice given here. Best bet is Rick and Thresea of Littleshavers and like it has been said, great people to do business with.
Above all, a carving glove is a must,which you will get with Rick's beginner set. Rick ensures the gouges and knife are sharp and will sharpen them again when dull.

See if you have a local Carving Club and contact them for help.
JMHO and Welcome

[brent]

If you need any further advice, check out Chris Pye's web site....just google his name. He has answered most carving questions that have ever been asked and has a load of info to help carvers who want to really give it a try.

Beats buying all of those books like I did when I first started 20 yrs. ago.
No offense meant to Fox Chapel and there business. It was a let down to purchase a new book to find half of it was the exact same thing written in the others I had purchased before hand

[Ashbys]

I would suggest going to this web site and read the tutorials. I would strongly suggest you contact Rick for a set of starter tools and a good detail knife.

www.carvingpatterns.com

Susan Irish's site will give you a lot of informaton, directions for starting first projects and free patterns. You can also get free patterns from this site , if you look to the left you will see free carving patterns.

Buying cheap tools is not cheap , with what you will spend in time , effort , and cost to upgrade to working tools , it would be much cheaper to contact Rick at
www.Littleshavers.com and get a starter set .

I have nothing against the other suggestions here , but for starting these two will place your feet on the path , where you go from there is up to you.

Garry