hi every one!!!!!!!!!!!!!

ok firstly im realy sorry because every thing i am about to ask has probanly been asked beor but i dont have the knowlege of the net to find it all.
Anyway I am toalynew to wood carving and have know knowlge of anything to do with it exept that it uses knifes and chisels (for all i know thats compleatly wrong aswell) but I have decided it is something I would like to do so if anyone could gve me a list of all the tools i am going to need and any outher advice it would be much apreciated.
cheers
cornysnake

Christina, first off welcome aboard. In answer to your question check out the post below titled 'What do I need to have to start carving?' One of the answers is from Rick_in_Seattle, that's the one I would go with for starters (ignore everything fateddy says). If you still have questions, feel free to ask.

Welcom to the wonderful world of woodcarving Christina!
I was in your place five years ago and did not have anyone to turn to about carving. I started with knives and chisels. That turned out to be five minutes of carving and twenty minuts of sharping. After a short time I thought there has to be an easier way, that's when I turned to my Dremel. I found that the bits were cheaper and did the same job. I teach power carving at a local Woodcraft store and find that the ladies learn power carving easier then the guys do. Now I carve full time and have done a number of comishions. One, was two mantiles, 57'L X 8' H 5/8' inche deep. All done with a heavy duty Dremel and flex-shaft. It took me a week and a half to do each mantile, And I had never done that kind of carving before. If you use a Dremel I tell all of my students to start out by playing with each bit, starting at the slowest speed and presure and find out what they will do. It is the quickest way to really get to know how to use them. If I can be of any help e-maile me your questions and I will try to answer them. Jack D.

Hi Christina,

Welcome to the fun and addictive hobby of carving.

What type of carving do you want to do? There are many types of carving, relief, in-the-round, chip carving, caricatures, birds and animals, you namne it and somebody probably carves it.

The type of carving you choose to do will determine what tools and supplies you need to get started. I would suggest starting by checking your local, school, or college library for carving books. They will give you an idea of what you might want to try first and then you can get what you need to start your first carving.

I started with a 3 blade pocketknife and a copy of Tangerman's 'Whittling and Woodcarving'. I first learned to make balls-in-cages, chains, and 'whimseys' which taught me a lot about working with the grain and keeping my tools sharp.

My next step was to wood spirit faces and I bought a 'german bench knife', a 1/8' v tool, and a 3/8' #6 gouge.

I have since bought and made more knives and tools but still find that I use these three the most.

Good luck and good whittlin, Cliff