So What do I need to do this ??

[MNChips]

1. First off Is the attached photo considered relief carving??
2. What tools do I need to do this kind of carving. I see alot of sets for sale but not sure if I need all of the stuff in them or what ?? Can you suggest a good set.
3. Can I use my ceramic stones to sharpen these types of tools (since I already have chip knives too)??

[TreeWizard]

A beginner set from Little Shavers will give you what you need to get started. From the look of the background it looks like a texturizer was also used. The ceramic stones can be used to sharpen gouges and V tools but the kit from Little Shavers will contain a strop thelp keep the tools sharp without needing a stone to sharpen them unless you nick the blade.

[MNChips]

Thank you for the reply.
I have to say that in no other hobby I do would I ever buy or recommend a "beginner kit" to anyone.
They are almost always full of low quality items that will just frustrate someone into quitting that hobby.
Musical instruments come to mind quickly. Most beginner instruments are garbage and I couldn't even make them sound good lol.
The beginner kits also usually includes items that one would not buy normally. In this case the glove is useless to me as I have no use for it so paying for it is a real turn off.
I would love to hear other suggestions.
Ebay sets.. other retailers...
I really appreciate the input.

[AlArchie]

If you are not interested in that beginner's set from Little Shavers and are still interested in a "set", heres a link to Woodcraft and their Pheil "starter" tool set. It's gonna cost ya THOUGH. Somewhere around 250 bucks but they mightr dicker a bit.
Buy PFEIL "Swiss Made" Full Size Starter Set, PFEIL ?Swiss Made? Full Size

Check the list of tools in the set and if you don't think you'll need all those, go to their individual tool list and you can pick exactly what you want.
Carving Tools, Wood Carving Tools, Woodcarving Tools & Hand Carving Tools at Woodcraft.com - Woodcraft.com



There is always FlexCut Tools for a mite lower price.....just google flexcut and you will find several suppliers.

Carving Tools - Power Handle Sets « Flexcut Tool Company

Here's a couple more.....Sayers' Carving Tool Selection - Lee Valley Tools
and Smoky Mountain Woodcarvers Supply, Inc.: wood carving supplies, woodcarving, ... - Openfos.com

As for your first question, this may be a relief carving or it may be an applique. Hard to tell from the photo, but this type of work often is relief.

Ceramic stones can be used quite effectively, as can water, oil, and diamond stones. It would be a good idea to either buy or make a good strop and get ome stropping compound.

I'd suggest getting and using a glove, but to each his own.

I'm not pushing any of these suppliers or kits, just giving you a sample of what's available out there.

You can find similar beginner sets to the ones at Little shavers at several different on-line suppliers...just google "wood carving supplies" or something like that and you'll find all sorts of dealers.

Oh, and I've ordered several of Rick's beginners sets for friends and relatives...they are high quality products, delivered sharp and having good service and warranty.

Al

[Irish]

I do suggest a medium price ranged beginner's set of carving tools. I believe that most people realize that such sets are not the highest quality when they purchase them.

Obviously a $9.95 set of six is junk where a $29 - $49 set will do the job well enough for you to wiggle your toes in the water and discover the fun of carving.

But compared to the price of high quality tools which can easily run $50 per tool, a beginner's set lets you try out the craft. See if you really have a long term interest in carving and which tools of a basic set you used the most.

After trying a few projects then you can begin to invest in better tools that you will use throughout your life time. For a good set of six carving tools (bench kinfe, large round gouge, small round gouge, v-gouge, skew chisel, straight chisel) you will be spending around $300-500 ... ! Good tools often appear on my Want Lists for holiday presents

I would add to your "what do I need list" some way to hold or secure your wood while carving. You will need to push a cut without the wood moving. For relief carving that can be a bench hook, bench dogs or large c-clamps if you will be working from a carving table or bench. For these three add some scrap wood to go between the carving wood and the clamp to prevent the clamp end from indenting the carving wood surface.

You can also secure a relief carving blank to scrap plywood that is larger than the carving surface. Determine where you high points will be in the carving. Then drill a guide hole for a screw through the plywood into the carving wood so that the screw is about one half the depth of the high point into the carving wood. You need three or more screws for a medium sized carving. Now you can clamp the plywood and avoid any chance of damaging the surface of the carving wood.

If you will be working on your lap (rec room carving) I suggest a heavy terry cloth towel folded several times or a leather apron. Both help to protect you from knife slips as well as catch chips.

Susan Irish

[lorax]

That design is a simple version of Acanthus Leaves. I am just starting to learn to do some of those, but I find the spoon bent and back bent gouges extremely helpful.

[Mottles]

I began with the Ramelson Macro Large set of six tools when I started relief carving. Then I later bought the Macro small set of six. The original set plus a bench knife gave me the opportunity to create a lot of relief carvings. Along with the follow-up of the small set. That was three years ago, I have sense added other larger tools and a power carver.
When just getting started for me this was a good beginning set and wonderful introduction to carving tools without a huge investment.
By the way I still use my original sets I purchased, along with the above mentioned tools.

I'm attaching a link to my thread showing a WIP on my first relief carving using my first tool set. The pattern by Susan Irish who I also bought my first tools from. Buffalo WIP and final http://www.woodcarvingillustrated.co...oeditpixel.jpg
Kathy

[RUssL.]

I started about 2 and a half years ago with a knife, carving "balls-in-cages" and other whimsies.

I then went, in short order, to a couple of different Flexcut palm tool sets, which I added some Stubai palm tools to. I now have about a hundred full size gouges, from all the major makers, past and present, as well as an uncounted collection of palm and mini gouges.

I seldom, if ever, use the palm tools, and then only because I do not have a similar sweep/size in the full size tool. I have even re-sold some of the palm tools at near full value on ebay.

I still use (and buy!) knives for whittling and chip carving, but seldom if ever us them for in-the-round or relief carving. I have started to use the Ray Gonzales tool from Ashley Iles a lot, which is almost a knife though!

It was good advice that whatever you buy make sure they are "name" brand. That way if you end up not liking carving you will be able to recoup a healthy part of your investment and be out relatively little dough for you experiment...

And if you do end up liking carving you're on your way to having a high quality arsenal that will last a lifetime or more...

Russ

[TreeWizard]

Well excuse me Chips I'm sorry I insulted you, I'll stay away from your posts in the future.

[BobD]

Beginner's kits are intended for beginners. Sounds pretty simple, but it's easy to lose sight of that.

Several people (Little Shavers, Smokey Mountain Woodcavers, Susan Irish at CarvingPatterns.com) have all put together a kit of useful tools for beginners. Don't get me wrong, I wouldn't dream of comparing these tools to Stubai or Ashley Illes. But that's not the point of these kits.

The point of the kits is to get reasonably good tools that are sharpened properly. They're intended for someone who is interested in carving, but may or may not know what they want to carve yet.

If you've got some experience under your belt, and you have some sort of an idea about what you want to carve, it's been my experience that you are better off NOT buying a kit. Chris Pye suggests buying tools individually as you need them. He suggests starting off with a few gouges in differnet sizes in low, medium, and deep sweeps. Add a skew chisel, and you can carve most things. If, when carving, you need a different gouge or chisel, buy the one you need.

I've gotten several sets and there are tools in the sets that I have never used.

Bob Duncan
Technical Editor