Where to find knives

[Whittled Thumb]

I'm just starting out in wood carving. I have looked all over the crafts stores and hobby shops for knives but I can't find any. I have found carving tools, which i bought a small set. Where can I get knives. I don't have 30 bucks to pay for a knife as I'm unemployed at the moment; which is why I got into this hobby in the first place.

Any thoughts or suggestions on where to pick up some knives would be appreciated.

Thanks much guys

[Ron T]

Hello and welcome.

Try this website previously posted by Al Archie. Whittlin' Jack Wood Carving Knife - The BudK Catalog

[Riverman]

Hi Whittled Thumb, welcome to the group!
Bob

[Just Carving]

Got 3-4 bucks? Start out with a fixed blade utility knife--which can be bought at any Lowe's, Home Depot, Wal-mart, etc. Ol' Reliable can do a lot. Check out Lynn O. Doughty's work if you don't believe me. Also, invest in a good carving glove--8-10 bucks. Some wood? There's free wood if you look around. Pallets are made from all kinds of wood. Just stay away from the super hard woods, i.e. maple, oak, etc., and pallets that were used to transport chemicals.

The 2 things you need to do as a beginner: First, learn how to sharpen--which can be done with sandpaper, i.e. "Scary Sharp" method--which you can also pick up cheap, and what better way than to learn on a blade that can be thrown away. Better yet, strop often, and just throw away the blade when it's at the point of needing to be sharpened. Also, keep in mind you can shape the blade to suit your needs, e.g. a detail blade--allows you to get into smaller places.

Second, pick up a piece of wood--pine, basswood, aspen, doesn't matter as long as it's a wood that's carveable--and learn about the grain. Carve in all directions and you'll see that wood carves different with respect to which way you're carving. Keep in mind wood is like a bunch of toothpicks compressed together, If you go through the side of the toothpicks, it will cut cleanly. If you go through the end of the toothpicks, it may lift and tear depending on the angle that you're slicing. Learning which way to carve will come with time and practice.

Hope you have a lot of fun with carving. Be patient, and read everything you can here. THere's a lot of stuff to be learned. You can read for hours just by searching on a single word. If you have any questions, feel free to ask. Carvers are a strange bunch--they like to give away their secrets!

Bob L

[Mitchell]

Look through this site - especially in the "beginners" section for previous suggestions on tools, sharpening, and more importantly SAFETY.

There are many posts on knives also.

Welcome aboard!

[Whittled Thumb]

Hey guys thanks for the links and suggestions. I have been using a utility knife. My wife freaked out when she saw me whitteling with it. LOL

Anyway thanks and I'll frequent the boards and learn from the best!

[big dave]

howdy and welcome, tell us a little more about yourself where you live? and what you want to carve?

[Whittled Thumb]

Ok

Well I live in Flowery Branch Ga, my name is Richard but I go by my middle name Shannon, I have been married now for three months and its going great, I have been unemployed for five, thats not going so well, as you have read the current events. I am a designer by trade. I went to school for design and its what I have been doing all my life. As for things I want to carve, I like charicatures, I like animals and cars. I've seen very few cars but I'd like to carve Car charicatures lol, right now I'm just practicing on things I see here, mostly just whtiteling wood, its fun and its relaxing and its a good get away!

[mikeg]

Welcome aboard!

I think Lynn Doughty does a lot of his carving with a utility knife and he does some great carvings. You can see some his work in these forums.

If you want a common yet inexpensive carving knife, Rick at littleshavers.com has Murphy knives for $12-$13 and he sells them SHARP. Or, spend about $45(?) and get the beginners set from him and you have everything you'd need to get started including a carving glove, thumb guard and a few gouges and v-tools. I use a pocket knife I modifed to my tastes a lot of the times.

mikeg

[Gulf Coast Handyman]

Shannon, take a look at this link also, there prices are good and their S & H is very fair, actual shipping plus $1.00.
Murphy Knives

Dave