I am just starting to carve relief. I want to buy tools to get started, and have a total budget of 100 bucks including a sharpening stone and some wood.

My question is whether these sets on ebay (imported, for like 25 bucks for 18 knives / chisels) are crappy or if they work well???

Am I better off with just two or three really good tools, or are these okay?

THANK YOU!!!

[Callynne]

Hi Steve, Welcome! In my opinion I think a couple good tools would be better than going for a set. I have found the only problem with sets is that you end up using only a couple tools out of it, for what you've paid for the whole set you could have bought those couple in a better quality range.
Starting out I'd recommend you try a couple tools recommended for the project you're doing, you will soon get a feel for it and have a better idea what you actually need. Rick Ferry at Little Shaver's is a great person to ask about tools, he really helped me when I started out. His web site is www.littleshavers.com and/or you can e-mail him at rick@littleshavers.com. He'll treat you right!
Of course, you can always come back in here and ask for more advice anytime, I've been carving almost three years and I don't know when I'll be done learning...or done bothering these nice people with all my questions (and opinions : )! Good Luck! Callynne

DON'T, DON'T, DON'T, Â*buy cheap or bargain tools sight unseen Â*(un-hands on)! Â*There are tons of junky tools floating around, and NONE are worth the money. Â*I'll make one exception....I couldn't pass up a set of six chinese mfg. palm tools. Â*I knew they were junk when I bought them, but the steel seemed pretty decent and I wanted something to carve driftwood and other found wood that has grit, sand etc, embedded in it, and not ruin my good tools. Â*These were sharpened up (took about 20 minutes apiece) and are 'servicable', but I'm under no illusions as to their quality.

Nothing will kill your enthusiasm quicker than starting out with tools that won't do what they should. Even if you by high quality tools you may need to hone or strop them to get them into A-1 carving condition!

A decent start for relief carving is a 35 mm (1 1/4') #3 or #5 sweep gouge, (#5 for Henry Taylor, #3 for most others) as there is a difference in sweeps in some brands, a 12 0r 13 mm (1/2') gouge (same sweep) and a good quality bench knife. Â*surprisingly you can do most of starting relief projects with these few tools.

You can add to this list as your experience increases, but the prices of these three tools shold keep you within your start up budget and still give you some quality tools to work with.

Al

Steve, I've seen the sets on ebay that you are talking about. I don't have any first hand experience with them, but suspect that there is a reason why they are so cheap (inferior steel and/or forging).

I imagine that they will require sharpening. If you are not an old hand at sharpening, you may ruin a few tools before you get it right. Buy tools that are ready to use.

I think that Callynne is right, first figure out what you are going to carve and then buy the appropriate tools. My first projects only required a knife and a v-gouge and I spent under $35.00 for both tools together.

Good luck!

[Ric]

Welcome Steve to the world of carving. The advice mentioned above is good. I wish I had access to a group of people like the ones on this board when I started. I spent a lot of money on tools I never used, and ended buying one at a time later to meet my 'true' needs. Keep your investment low and your interest high when starting out. When you find out what type of carving really catches your interest, you will slowly build up your tool pouch. I would also recommend attending a couple good classes or get a couple videos in the area of your interest. A good reference for relief carving is the Nora Hall site. She has videos available which are the best instruction I've seen on the subject, and tool recommendations. her site is http://www.norahall.com/
Best wishes.
Ric

[Randy48]

I bought a set of those from ebay, they are junk! But I wanted a small set of chisels to do a little detail work and couldn't afford to buy good ones. they do work, but took alot of work to put an edge on and sharpen. As an example, the 1/8' 'V' groove was almost square. I had to recut and shape it so it was a 'V' groove chisel!

Unless you want to become a 'tool manufacturer' buy good tools, it'll save alot of work and cussing

[Hi_Ho_Sliver]

I agree...I too bought a cheap set and what I got was a CHEAP set!! lol Talk to Rick at little shavers and also to Dale at Timberwerks...they are both on here...and both have carving tools.

[Colin_Partridge]

You have your answer and I ditto all of these comments when it comes to tools if they are cheap they are junk. I did that when I started out and I had all kinds of problems. Now I only buy the best, dont try and buy them all at once you will go in the hole. Get a good starter set and a good knife and add as you go. Stay away from Ebay.
Colin

I have my Brand new E=bay tools. Not my best move. There are three tools that are identical and some shapes I can't figure out what their supposed to be used for. I would recommend refraining from investing in any of these tools. As you will avoid feeling as dumb as I do whenever I run across mine sitting in the corner of my shop. Ron

THank you all for your advice. Ill be skipping EBAY for sure!!!

Its great to be starting in a craft that has such helpful people. I really appreciate it.....

Thanks again!!!!!


Steve