WARREN knives and gouges?

[tucker1931]

New to the hobby, trying to assemble some tools. Are the Warren tools a good choice?? I am hoping to do Wood Spirit carving. I can buy them from Lee Valley here in Ontario Canada

[mikeg]

Are you talking about one of the kits that comes with a number of blades and one handle or the individual Warren tools? I've got a couple of the individual tools and they're ok. Not my favorite but they get the job done. I don't have one of the kits but I did buy a knife made with one of the blades and it works fine.

What size woodspirits are you talking about? If you're talking walking stick size, the beginners kit from Rick at littleshavers.com might do the trick and those tools come sharp! Plus you get the glove and thumb gaurd. Where ever you buy, make sure you get those! It doesn't gaurentee that you won't get hurt but it definitely reduces the chances.

Welcome to carving and have a ball!

mikeg

[EdO]

LIke MikeG said, the Littleshavers starter kit is the way to go. You can't beat the price, service or quality.

[tucker1931]

thanks Edo and Mike. I bought the set some 20 years ago and am finally going to get some use out of them, I have just got home from buying all the gouges that go with the bigginers set. Now all I gotta do is "git ER done"

[Clifford_Parker]

Before you try to jump in and "git er done" you might want to make sure the blades are sharp. Sometimes simple stropping will hone the edges to a useful state but other times I have had to resort to the stones.

[tucker1931]

Hey Cliff, thanks for the input regarding sharpening. Well sir, my name is also Cliff and when it comes to sharpening, I don't have a clue. I've been hacking away at a piece of cedar (trying a wood spirit) and I guess yer right, these tools need help. I've carried a pocket knife all my life and I can tell you, most of the time it won't cut paper. I had a look on your web site, GREAT STUFF, love those spirits. Thanks again, too bad yer so dang far away, I definitely need helpTucker

[Eddy-Smiles]

Tucker... Since the Warren's generally come with a decent edge you can probably get away with a fine or extra fine diamond hone for a starter. Invest in one and a strop and some compound and then refer to sharpening advice at both the Little Shaver's site and the Smoky Mountain Woodcarver's site. Experiment on an old knife or even a wood carving blade that you don't hink that you'll use. Sharpening is an art in itself but even an amatuer, with a little practice, can put an edge on a blade sufficient enough to keep from cutting themselves while using it. I say that because it's not the sharp balde that cuts... it's the dull one!

[tucker1931]

Thanks Eddy. I'm looking into hooking up with someone that knows how to sharpen locally. I'm one of these guys that can't really learn unless I see it done, seems to get worse with old age. I'm going to join a local club in Sept. hopefully I'll find some help there.
Tucker

[DADDIO]

tucker i have several warren tools and have been pleased with them course mine did a little time on the stone and hone and strop,but as beginner tools which is kinda of when i got mine,there pretty good,i also do a whole lot of carving with just my pocket knife,but learning to sharpen is a huge part of it.
when you go to the club meeting take all your tools and ask around there's usually at least a couple of people that everybody considers the sharpening gurus!!! lol they'll probably be glad to show you some sharpening tips or maybe even work on your tools for you,good luck and welcome aboard

[tucker1931]

Thanks Daddio, great idea, take 'em with me. Darn meeting ain't till Sept 25 but I'm gonna hack away in the meantime, gotta get started pretty soon for sure.