Ricks Beginner Tools Set

[Tom-H]

Open question to all, and especially Rick. Is "Ricks Beginner Toolset" appropriate for an 11 year old grand daughter, who seems motivated? She has watched her mom carve a doll, and sands what her mom carves. She wants to learn to carve her own dolls. She wants to carve with me this summer. Thanks Tom H

[Hi_Ho_Sliver]

Give her a bar of soap and a wooden or plastic knife and see how she does? Age is different for different kids, some are more mature, especially girls imhoThumbs Up

[rick-in-seattle]

Tom,
An eleven year old will require an adult to teach them the proper way to carve.
They must be reminded to keep things that bleed behind the sharp edge.

Very important; if they should cut themselves, they need to tell an adult immediately.

They should have a system to clamp their work so they can keep both hands on the tool.

Their attention span at that age is limited to about an hour of carving.
Continuing to carve beyond that point is not a good idea.

Whatever tools a beginner uses should be sharp.
Consider a carving glove for each hand on young carvers.

[Linda L]

Just a quick comment/question. Don't know about her folks, but last year for Valentine's Day, with their parent's permission I gave my grandson and granddaughter each one of those pocket knives with a long blade and an Exacto type replaceable blade. The plan was that they would use them under my supervision while we carved together. Figured it would be a good start---cheap enough that if they didn't like carving I wasn't out a lot, but sharp enough and versitle enough they could learn about safety and maybe even carve something.

Granddaughter's Mom went ballistic! "Do you know how sharp that is? I said you could give her a knife, not a razor blade!" Gave it back to me.

As Paul Harvey would say, "And now for the rest of the story." Few weeks ago we show up at our summer place and the kids got there first. Granddaughter was SO proud to show me she was carving! She had gone down to the beach and had a whole stack of sticks she had removed the bark from. Never guess what she was using for a knife???

One of those 2" swiss army knock-offs you hang on a key chain. Couldn't tell which side of the blade was the sharp side.

Another one of those things they don't tell you that's NOT fun about being Grandma! By the way, Granddaughter is 10-1/2, grandson is 12. Grandson so far not interested, but I don't see him often. Granddaughter sees me carving all the time.

Ah kids, ya gotta love'em or eat 'em!

Linda

[Greyhair]

It really helps the young ones if you take some tape and tape the top of the gloves onto their hands. The gloves are always too big and a little clumsy so they will take them off if given half a chance. Carving one of Rick's christmas ornaments is a great beginner project for a begginer. The designs are posted on his website and the kids do enjoy them.

Do not expect them to keep the tools sharp, you will just have to sharpen them after each use. They can learn how to protect the edges though.

[JIM QUILICI]

I am teaching two of my grandkids how to carve . youngest being 10 now , 9 when I started teaching him . of the two he has one of Rcks "beginner Kits" I highly recomend . the other is using some odds and ends from my knives,that I gave him . when he started , I did not know about Rick. but I have bought him for birthdays , christmas different knives from rick since. Rick is right, the attention span of the 9 year old is about 66 1/2 min. I found out , make it simple but interesting and very cute so they feel that they just did not carve something, but carved something everyone says , "wow you carved that.thats cute will you carve me one? I sharpen the knives as sharp as I can get them, make them wear carving gloves and thumb guards. and keep my good eye on them all the time because they will try to get tricky. with that knife. to answer your question is Ricks beginer kit any good--the answer is , they are very very good and very sharp . with a good selection of things to carve with.Lots of Bang for the buck. my two cents worth.
Just old Jim

[Pablo]

Who sells ricks beginners toolsets?

[Linda L]

RICK!!!

rick@littleshavers.com

As far as I know, his beginner set is something he has put together himself and at a VERY reasonable cost. Wish I had know a year ago when I purchased mine. I think of the 5 gouges I use maybe 2! Paid more than Rick charges for his entire set which includes a glove and some other stuff.

Good guy, he'll get you set up with what you need, and won't sell you what you don't!

Linda

[Pablo]

Thanks, Linda. I have sent off an email to him and hope to hear from him soon. I appreciate the input. I am a "ground level" beginner, so I need all the help I can get.


Pablo

[mdallensr]

I had not checked out Rick's beginner's tool set before, but after looking today, I'm convinced Rick is making a charitable contribution to the carving world with that set. What a deal! There's nothing better for ensuring a long-term carving adventure than the right stuff and good instruction. Here's to Rick; it's after 5:00 here and I just lifted a nice glass of Napa (sorry Rick, not Washington state) red wine to Rick.