[Rev Dan]

Greetings woodcarving fraternity,
I am new at wood carving. In fact, took my first class this March in Silver Dollar City. It was great. Kind of gets in your blood. It took a bout with cancer and the required surgery to wake me up to the fact of just how frail this thing we call life is and how important it is to make the most of each day. In making the most of each day I did something I always wanted to do; begin woodcarving. I joined the forum to learn from all of you beginners and experts alike. I am going to throw out a question at you already. What would you recommend as a good all around bench knife? Thanks for listening to all the chatter. I look forward to our journey together through the woodshavings and saw dust.

Dan

[gene messer]

Welcome Dan ... Gald to have you here ... I hope your illness is getting better ....

Silver Dollar City is great and join in anytime .. We need some good men to join in with the discussion .. Please feel free to join in anytime ..


Gene

[Eddy Smiles]

Dan....

Although different knives have different hardnesses, most of the knives sold at Woodcraft, Little Shavers and Smoky Mountain Woodcarvers are comperable. I know that I'm going to get jumped for that statement. But I say this because you can pay $20-$30 dollars for a knife and some folks will swear by it while others make their own knives out of all kinds of razors and band saw blades and swear by them.

What I recommend, if possible, is to find a wood carving tool supplier near you and go in and try out each knife in your hand and see how the heft of it feels. Everyone has their own preferences as to shape and size. Everyone's hands are different in size and structure. Once you find a shape that you like then buy a short bladed detail knife and perhaps a longer bladed roughout knife. That will certainly get you started.

God's Speed!

[GeorgiaCarver]

I would not disagree with Eddy s... Here are some other thoughts as well.

If you can ever get hold of one of Ricks (Littleshavers) hand made knives buy it!

I also like the Helvie brand and the Cape Forge brand. I use both brands almost on a daily basis. I use the Helvie roughout for.... you guessed it, roughout and I like the Cape Forge sweep detail knife for detail work.

Back to Ricks knives, I use his knife a great deal. Seems to hold an edge as good as any knife I have ever used.

Eddy s mentioned something very important, that is the grip and feel. You can buy knives in various styles (handles). If at all possible go somewhere (another carvers house?) and try out some different styles of handles and see which one is the most comfortable. Being confident with the knife (but not too confident :>) can save you a trip to the emergency room.

One other thought, this may be strictly personal, I like a large handle on my roughout knife. I prefer an oval but just as long as it is big, not to big to hold comfortably though. For the detial knives I like the small handles like the pencil or taper handles. Most likely just a personal preference, would be interesting to see if others feel the same way?

When Rick made my knife he actually custom made the handle to fit my hand. I do love that knife.

Greg

[doris]

hello dan, welcome... i am sure glad you found in your difficult health situation the strength to see what counts in life. ... hope your greetings include the female 50% of wood carvers too ;-) ... just kidding... glad you found us

[snickerbocker]

Welcome, my husband and I use the Denny 2 1/4" blade for everything, you can roughout with it and then choke up on it for detail. Very good knives at a reasonable price.

[slather]

Welcome Dan , You Will Find Everyone Here Very Helpful And Courteous ? .as For Knives ,the Most Important Info That You Have Gotten So Far Is Try Them And Find One That Fits Your Hand.

[tnartist05]

::::WELCOME::: Dan Oh Yes members here are always here to help and have so much information about anything plus Ive never seen on this board that someone didnt know about a question or idea in some way or form.

Once again....glad to have you here and it seems as alot of us,you now have slowed down to smell the roses as they say...heck,I know I have!!

[Donna_T]

Welcome Neighbor!
The SDC workshops are a great way to get started. Then checking in here from time to time...and even reading some of the back postings on specific topics for even more help--all a great way to progress.

I agree with the other postings--I've got Helvie, Rick's, Denny's and mostly Stubai tools--plus some power carving tools. I love them all. Probably have a dozen tools that I've bought in the past 15 years that I don't use any longer, but pull out the same 6-8 every time I carve. It's kind of trial and error. If you get a chance to join a carving club, you'll find the members usually quick to let you try out one of their tools so you can see if it "fits" and does the job for you BEFORE you buy. Then if you go to workshops/shows where there are vendors, that's a good way to buy, too.

Anyway, welcome to our favorite website for carving. Stay well and enjoy each day!

Donna T

[kitaye]

Welcome Dan. I'm a beginner as well and I find I use what is listed on the Lee Valley site as a German Chip Carving Knife (E in the catalogue) for most of my carvings. The handle fits my hand quite well and the blade is straight enough to remove alot of material. So far mine has held it's edge very well, now that I've learned how to sharpen it .