Please , Please , Invest In A Good Carving Knife

[gene-messer]

Now I will probably catch some slack from this .. but remember .. Iam talking to beginners .. not persons who have been carving a long time or have developed the skill of using a knife safely or understands wood grain and how to carve it .. but to beginners just starting carving ..
Please , please .. at first .. invest in a good carving knife that is suppose to be used for carving .. not any thing else ..
I get alot of messages everyday from beginners who watch my videos that have been hurt using knives that are not carving knives that someone said would work and they try to make them work .. Now Iam not against what ever a carver wants to use .. I know some carvers that can use a scapel and turn out good carvings .. but for a beginner that is just understanding the carving process .. please use a good quality carving knife that is made or sold by people who know something about carving ..
Learn the proper technique in sharpening one and you will have that knife for life if you treat it well ..
Too many beginners are getting the wrong idea that you can use any old thing to carve with and get by and you will be just a s safe as a experienced carver and thats not always true ..
Please .. just take the time to invest $30.00 or more in a good knife and learn with it .. then as you understand carving and move forward and learn .. then you can experiment with using other tools .. but we have too many good carving knife makers that can give you a good knife rather then start off carving with the wrong thing .. Can you cut yourself with a good carving knife ? Of course .. But what iam hearing people using to carve with is certainly unsafe for beginners ..
just because its a knife doesnt mean its for carving .. Remember $30.00 is alot more reasonable then the cost of a emergency room visit

Gene

[pallin]

I'll second what Gene has advised for beginners. Carving knives have evolved by trial and error by experts. They are designed for the purpose. While it is possible to carve with a folding, box cutter, X-acto, hunting, or Bowie knife, it is just adding challenge to learning to carve.

[Tom-H]

I couldn't agree more! As Gene states, the only thing as important as a good carving knife is knowing how to maintain it.

A question that has been on my mind: I remember a project for beginner chip carvers, that involved carving a "sampler". A sampler being a practice piece of wood where the beginner could make a whole series of the knife cuts required of a chip carver. Is there a "project" or "sampler" for a newer carver to practice the standard knife cuts, and knife technique. One with lots of repetition. The intent being practice, but getting familar with your knife??

Tom H

[Mark Dellinger]

I also diddo Gene's message. A good carving knife maintained is a safe carving knife. I commented on a post the other night when a new carver was asking about buying inexpensive tools. "CHEAP TOOLS" can do two very dangerous things to a new carver.

#1 - Get then injured
#2 - Swear them off carving

Those of us that have carved for any length of time do not want to see either of these happen to any carver.

Safe Carving and God Bless,

Mark

[Eddy-Smiles]

Ditto from me also! A good carving knife is going to hold a good edge and most injuries don't come from sharp knives, they come from dull ones! And most of are speaking from experience!

[Inadv]

Gene's advice is good as gold, people. I'd like to add that a good carving glove is every bit as important. My hand has been spared many times from serious and perhaps even permanent injury because I have and use a glove, as well as a thumb protector and vet tape on my knife hand. Thanks to the good folk on this forum who suggested these safety items I have not (yet) had an injury that required medical attention.

L.P.

[Gulf Coast Handyman]

I also agree 100 % with Gene!! Good advice Gene!

Dave

[bob easton]

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[Agoodknife]

Well said Gene. I love a good knife .

[Clifford_Parker]

I must disagree with the "more expensive is better" train of thought that seems to be running here. A properly sharpened Murphy bench knife can be bought for far less than $30 and will serve a beginner just as well as a more expensive, custom made, carving knife.

More important, IMO, is buying your tools from a reputable carving supply dealer who will make SURE that your tools come "carving sharp" instead of "factory sharp".

Little Shavers sells pre-sharpened Murphy knives for $15.95, recommends them for beginners, and includes one in the Beginner Set that is often suggested here.
Murphy Knives at Little Shavers

Beginner's Carving Set at Little Shavers

The Woodcraft Shop sells pre-sharpened Murphy knives for $13.95
Murphy Knives