[NewWVcarver]

I am a pretty new carver. i started last october but i have been blessed to be at home with all the carving time in the world. my favorite types of carving are relief and i am starting to have a love fir differant chains and ball in cages. the only carving tools i really have are the 6 pc starters set i originally got. i continuously have run into the same problem. limited tools. not even counting how dull the are. any suggestions for the next types of tools i should get. money has been the issue, but next month is my birthday, so i am getting at least some. i do have a bench knife, but i am obsessed and wont stop until i have every tool i will need, haha.

[Just Carving]

My suggestion--a carving glove, strop, strop compound, and a good book or DVD on sharpening--Everett's comes to mind, but there are probably others--are what you need right now. If there is a club in your area, pay them a visit and mention about your need to learn to sharpen, and they'll probably show you how to get your tools sharper than they've ever been. Don't even think about buying any tools until you know how to sharpen the ones you have. Once your tools are sharp, then you will probably see that the tools you have are fine and that the money would be better spent on some great wood and some books or magazines that will open up your world to carving. I say this because all you really need to do whimsies, i.e. chains and cages, is a good knife. If you choose to buy tools, you will in all likelihood be coming back here looking to learn how to sharpen them along with the original seven you started with.

[Hi_Ho_Sliver]

"but i am obsessed and wont stop until i have every tool i will need, haha."

You do know that will never happen!! They keep making more! lol

[Mottles]

Hello and welcome.
I mostly carve relief, and the tools other than my knives I use are mallet tools (large works) and palm tools (smaller works) chisels, gouges, v-tools and vieners. I also have a powercarver that I added last year (but not necessary).
A good sharp knife and chisel can carve a relief nicely. The other gouges, v-gouges etc. just make it easier.
I too, hope you are using a carving glove and thumb guard---(make your own using Vet-wrap). Oh, and yes keep your tools stroped and they'll serve you well. You can make a strop by just cutting an old or new leather belt to size and mount it on a piece of wood--say 2" wide 8" long and 1/4"-1/2" deep. You can also buy stropping compound. The one I have came with a kit and is a golden yellow color.
Hope this helps,
Kathy