Xact-o for carving?

[Dwhitt1981]

How much can be done with a xact-o knife? And should I look at getting the hobby set or just a regular xact-o knife? I would like to do mostly flat plan. I am a total beginner so until I get the knife set from little shaver's this is something I can pick up for very little cash. I plan on going to the hobby shop and getting some wood this weekend.

As for wood I know most use bass but is balsa a good choice to? Most of my carvings are going to my girls to paint.

[Rooster]

Hi again, I'm no expert, but... Oh I was going to say that some of the best carvers here mostly use the X-Acto knife, but after looking it up on Wikipedia, I'm not so sure. I think they use mostly a Stanley knife.

Check out this thread new-carvers-going-broke

It might help some.
Rooster.

[Dwhitt1981]

Thanks for the reply. The thing that got me thinking of it is Gene's vid about making a handle for one. My biggest think that keeps me for doing it is keeping it sharp. I'm not sure how to or if you can keep them sharp or make it replacable.

[Dicky]

I now have an extensive collection of knives but I started out with an Xacto #11 and still go to it in a pinch. They use disposable blades but they can easily be honed to razor sharp. I wouldn't recommend balsa wood for carving or painting (just my opinion).

[squbrigg]

Stay clear of balsa for carving, you can't get any kind of finish on it. Basswood is your best bet to start with.

Exacto tools will do to begin with, until you get your starter set from Little Shavers.

Good luck and have fun.

Bob

[Dwhitt1981]

I just thought the xact-o would be a good one to use for the hand carved handle. What do they need as for honing just a little time on a strop or what?

Thanks

[squbrigg]

Stropping will keep their edge good. Look for the set with the gouge blades included, that will give you a wider variety of blades to play with.

Bob

[Dwhitt1981]

I found a set yesterday at Ace Hardware in town. I didn't get them because I didn't know if they would be a waste of my money.

[pallin]

The main problem with Xacto for carving is that the blade is held by a collet and may work loose with certain carving pressures. This could result in a slip that might cause injury to you or your carving. I have used Xacto #11's for many years, but not for wood carving.

[Robert Cahill]

Not certain how it is where you are but here I can not find carving blades for my x-acto handles unless I buy the whole kit. I can get excel blades in hobby lobby. For me it is not a problem as I seldom use them anymore. Someone on this site put up a bunch of pattern sites ,Two of them had booklets with nine to ten projects for x-acto knives. There was also one for a lot of scout carving . If you are looking for fairly easy patterns to do and fun thing for your girls to paint you may want to check it out..I did a print out for the new carvers in the carving club and it was well received.