Same Ole question...verify Tools

[TexasSteve]

I am new to all of this also and will be doing caricature carvings as well as cabinet size door carvings. (I hope) Anyway, My wife just bought me this set and I am curious if it is a good set or if I should take it back and look for a different set that would work better. I really have no idea, that is why i am asking in here.

This is the description for the set I was given.

Complete carving chisel set comes protected in a tough leather roll-up pouch and features beech wood handles with steel ferrules. Set includes 7/32" straight, 15/32" straight, 3/8" V-tool, 7/32" right skew, 7/32" double skew, 3/8" gouge, 7/32" gouge, 5/16" gouge, 7/32" spoon bit, 7/32" beading, 7/32" round nose and 7/32" V-groove. Each chisel measures 7-1/2" overall.

She purchased them through Grizzly. These are not palm style, they are a little longer.

Thx for any advise

[pallin]

I would seriously doubt the adequacy of this "complete" set. There is no knife or any sharpening items. Most of the chisels are quite small. The ultimate test is the quality of the steel - will it hold an edge. This set probably proves the old adage: "You get what you pay for!"

[TexasSteve]

That is kind of my thought as well. Although it seems like a really well built set, very sturdy and seems very sharp. After reading other blogs it seems like the little shaver beginner set may be more of what i should buy. The cost is about the same as the set i was given by my wife as well.

[cowtown]

I have no opinion on the set you have. I advise not to buy sets but to buy individual tools as you find a need for them. You will find that you will not use all of the tools in a set, therefor wasting money.I don''t know where you are in Texas but Dallas Deege of the Old Texas Woodcarvers Shop or George Vaughn of the Tool Box are good suppliers that will advise you and help with sharpening. Both have websites. Also check out the Texas Woodcarvers Guild site as a resource.
Be advised that new tools have a factory edge and do not come carving sharp.
Bigboy

[TexasSteve]

Thanks for the advise everyone. I have decided to take the set back and buy a good bench knive and maybe a V grove to start. I will fiddle with those for a little bit as I start this adventure in learning a new skill. If i need another knife I will go and get one. I have a Rockler and a Woodcraft close that i can look at knives ad then I will order from one of the recommended places on this site. Thanks again, I look forward to being able to post my first carving by end of the month.

Steve

[Benjamin]

Steve, look at the flexcut sets. They have small sets and larger ones that have most of the tools you need and you can get a sharpening block and polish too. Flexcut is very good steel and they come sharpened very nicely. They are a good cost and hold up very well

[Whittled Thumb]

You can not do charactures with chissles, you need knives. I've said it before a thousand times I'm still using a stanley retractable knife to do most of my characture carving, an xacto wood carving knife for details. I think the wife is buying me new tools for xmas...dunno

Good luck with your new tools

[twilli227]

Steve, Woodcraft carries Pfeil knives and gouges. Pfeil is a very good brand. I use their gouges and chip carving knife and am very happy with them. If you like them, then you will not have to order them.

You can not do charactures with chissles, you need knives.

Everybody has their preferences to the tools they use. I would not say you only have to use knives to make caricatures though.

Todd

[bigEd_H]

Hi Steve, welcome to the forum. The Little Shavers beginner kit and starter kit are both very good sets to start with. Rick Ferry puts them together himself. They differ only in expense of tools included, but both have a decent knife and enough palm tools to start out in several styles of carving. They also include a carving glove and thumb protector, plus a strop and strop compound.

Beginner's Carving Set at Little Shavers
Startup Carving Set at Little Shavers

Both come with a nice wooden box to keep the tools in.

[susieq]

Hi Steve,
Most of the time, the advice to not buy sets is right on, because you wind up with several tools you will probably never use....but in the case of the Little Shaver's set, you can bet that Rick Ferry has put together tools that nearly anyone would find useful as a beginner. Not only that, most new tools need sharpened. Anything you buy from Rick will be sharpened to the max....ready to use.

Many new comers to carving don't realize that new tools are not sharpened yet. I didn't. I bought a nice German set years ago and struggled with them for a long time. It was awful and I finally gave up carving. Then I happened to go to a local carving show and speak to some of the carvers....found one that had a class and only then, was I informed that my tools were dull when I bought them..... it is amazing what sharp tools will do for you....lol.