[Iowa Carver]

Marty In the past I have made the mistake of buying so called "beginners kits". Most are a way for a retailer to make a good buck on the new buyer and I think the Woodcraft set is one of those and is way over priced for what you get in my opinion.
1 book - 8.95 value
Knife 12.00 - 15.00 value
Strop - 7.00 value
Thumbgards - 8.00 value
2 x 2 x 12 Basswood - 2.00 value
55.00 for a 40.00 in items if bought seperately.

The Little Shavers kit is an exception of the rule. No comparison really of the two. Plus at LS you get the box as well.

Marty if you want to go to Woodcraft because they are local I think your better off to buy the Butz carving knife, a beginners book and a Ramelson 1/8 Vtool and 1/4 gouge, a strop and some rouge, glove and thumb guard. You would end up with a nice kit for the money.

Go to Heinekee: http://www.heineckewood.com/ and buy some practice sticks for very nice prices. You can get basswood at the Woodcraft and will be ok for starters but like most things they sell, it's over priced. Hope this helps.

Marty you may also want to consider this kit for about the same price as Woodcraft, again, much better kit.
http://www.woodcarvers.com/begkit.htm

Corey

[martyslc]

Corey,

Thanks so much for the time you have taken to show me the light. I went to the woodcraft store to buy the things I thought I needed only to realize I didn't know what I needed. LOL It had been a long time since I had carved and I knew I better get up with the time before I buy anything. I thought about asking for help there but knew there would be experienced carvers online somewhere, I then started looking online for advice and help and that's when I ran across the website.

I'm going to defenatly by the Little Shavers kit but didn't know where I could get wood. I was wondering about woodcraft that way I wouldn't have to pay for shipping costs but it sounds like I can order wood and have it shipped for less. Where a good place to order wood?

Thanks,
Marty

[Iowa Carver]

I have ordered basswood from Itasca Wood Products : http://www.itascawoodproducts.com/
I liked what I got fine but I will try Heinike as well next time. I like how there sticks come.
http://www.heineckewood.com/
I am a newbie as well and I found that the LS is a great kit, you will be happy you went that route. Even if you upgrade or fill in you will to the set these will last a long time.

Just so you have it, the kit includes the following palm tools per Rick:

Tool profiles of Beginners Kit
3/8" #6 long bent Gouge
3/8" #6 straight Gouge
3/8" #1 straight chisel
1/4" #9 straight Gouge
1/8" x 70 degree V-parting
1/4" Skew Chisel

The tools in the set vary somewhat; these are the nominal sizes.

[Robby]

Marty, go ahead and get a few pieces from Woodcraft, they'll be fine for now. Once you get going, you can decide to order from somewhere else like Heinecke wood products to get better quality, not that it's too bad at WC. I've found WC to be good on tool prices but a little high on wood prices. I'm lucky that I can shop around, have a Rockler and wood carving store nearby to compare.

[Kenny_S]

Biginners kit from Littleshavers is a definite. Service is fast and the best around. Woodcraft wood is way overpriced. Better to mailorder it. As for the Butz knife, It needs work before it is useable. Anyway, the one I bought from Woodcraft wasn't sharp and I don't have it anymore. Didn't like it after I honed it so gave it away.

[Just Carving]

I don't know how much Woodcraft is charging for anything, but I'd take my business where I know I'll get a better deal. Rick's sharpening skills, quality, and service at Little Shavers beats Woodcraft hands down. Dale's wood, service and prices at Heinecke is very hard to beat--where else can you call, order the wood, get the wood in a few days--drool over it, and be carving long before the bill arrives a week or so later. Send him a check, and you're done. The quality of the wood is excellent, and the prices are fantastic! And with either vendor, if there's even the slightest problem, they'll make good for it, and then some. Tell me Woodcraft can do all that and more--I DON'T THINK SO! LOL It might seem that the convenience and being able to hold what you're buying in your hands is an advantage, but from what I've heard from people here, the inconvenience of sharpening brand new tools that are dull and cost too much, and carving not so great, expensive wood isn't worth the aggravation. I'd wait for quality products at reasonable to excellent prices. Just my opinion...

Bob L

[martyslc]

Thanks so much folks for the help!

I emailed Dale at Heinecke's last yesterday at like 7pm mountain time and thought I'd here back sometime today but nope. I got an email back last night. Wow what else can I say. He even told me that I could double the order for only a 1.50 more in shipping costs.

I'm ordering the starter kit today and the wood. Thanks so much for all your help. - Marty

[martyslc]

I order my kit today. Didn't really like it though, not use to ordering things by phone hmmmmmm. Hope I gave them the right address and that they wrote it down right etc. No confirmation record incase you don't get anything. I guess I should of faxed it that way I would at least have my record. Should be here by friday. - Marty

[Iowa Carver]

I know Marty, it's kind of an old school set up for these days but Rick has a great reputation and well thought of around here and a member, not to mention an awesome carver!

Corey

[martyslc]

Originally Posted by Iowa Burn

I know Marty, it's kind of an old school set up for these days but Rick has a great reputation and well thought of around here and a member, not to mention an awesome carver!

Corey

I think I must of got his wife, not sure. Kinda hurried my off the phone so I'm a little on the dissapointed side. Must of been a bad day of somthing for her.