Interested in carving

gdr2004 · #1 03-22-2005, 11:20 PM

Hi everyone,
My name's Yohan and I'm a freshman in college looking for ways to increase my manual dexterity (since my ultimate career goal is to be a dentist). I've always wanted to get into carving and I figured now is a great time to begin.

To begin with, I picked up a basic book on how to begin wood carving. Now all I need is a kit. Where can I get started? I don't have too much money to spare (poor college kid budget) and since I'm just starting out, I suspect I won't be making use of a lot of advanced tools. I'm from the Dallas area so there is a woodcraft store I plan on visiting real soon. How much should I drop on a kit since I'm just starting out? Which ones should I stray away from? Any help would be greatly appriciated!

Yohan

Big_Al · #2 03-23-2005, 07:31 AM

Hi Yohan; When you go to the woodcraft store, ask for a bench knife ( or a Murphy bench knife) That is all you need to get started. I do not suggest that you buy a "kit". A good bench knife will cost under $15.00 and maybe a sharpening stick a some compound. I have taught a lot of aspiring dentists the basics of carving since that is one of the courses you will need. Ask at the store if they have a name of a teacher and see if you can do a one or two day seminar. Good Luck

squbrigg · #3 03-23-2005, 07:37 AM

Welcome aboard Yohan, or do we call you "College Kid"? Big step heading off to college, lots of challenges, and dentistry, wow, that's great field to get into. Carving on teeth for a living, with lots of cool tools! Actually you will find many similarities in tools, I use a lot of dental tools in my own carving and ship modelling, and the power units are super for detailed work.

Best advice I could offer is to go to www.littleshavers.com and have a look around. Rick's one of us and a great guy to help get you started. He has some great beginners sets at reasonable price, and they will come truly "sharp". Sharpening is the first difficulty a new carver must overcome, and nothing will turn off a new carver faster than a dull tool. Sharpening skills are as important as carving skills, and Rick is a master. Be careful in buying at first, it is easy to spend too much too quick, spend carefully and buy good quality, just what you need and they will last forever. Rick has some great starter kits set up.

Good luck with your carving, and your school when you go. Carving is a great way to relax and help control stress, you will find that handy in the coming years. You made the right choice when you stopped in here, there are some great, experienced and very friendly folks aboard, all willing to help you along the way.

Bob

Callynne · #4 03-23-2005, 08:20 AM

Welcome Yohan, nice to have you join us! You've come to the best place for help that there is! I totally agree with the advice already given, I wouldn't recommend any 'kit's' either, you'll end up with lots of tools you never even use!

Bob's right, Rick Ferry and his wife Theresa, at Little Shaver's are terrific to work with. Rick will give you the best advice about what you really need and don't need!

One other very important thing, wear a safety glove and thumb guard right from the start, you will get used to them quickly and will save yourself lots of pain and grief if you do!!

Again, welcome!

Callynne

Mitchell · #5 03-23-2005, 09:44 PM

Another piece of advice - find someone else that carves locally. Look for a club. If you live in a town with a wood working supply store, go there and ask if they know of any carving clubs and/or carvers. Your best chance at success is to find someone to SHOW you some carving techniques.

Mitch

Donna_T · #6 03-23-2005, 11:24 PM

Glad to welcome you, Yohan,
Carving is a great way to improve your "carving" skills. There are quite a few excellent carvers who are dentists--lots of similarities in the process!

All I can add is ditto on what the others have posted. There are a number of great carvers in the Dallas area and some pretty good suppliers, too. Dallas Deege is one supplier that comes to mind--and another Danny (Reb) has a store in Sherman area. Try this site for other club contacts: http://www.woodburning.com/clubs.htm#TX

Do you get Wood Carving Illustrated (our host) or Chip Chats? They both list clubs and suppliers.

Good luck with carving and school. Both are great endeavors.

Donna T

Chahlie · #7 03-23-2005, 11:36 PM

Hi Yohan,

Welcome to our little corner of the web. I can only echo the advise already given. Rick at Littleshavers is the best source for what you might need to get started and please pay special attention to Callynne's advice...get used to wearing that carving glove and thumb guard...soon it will be second nature and you wont even think about them and it will save you lots of unnecessary pain and loss of blood, as well as reducing your expenses for bandaids...LOL!

Any way...again, welcome and I hope we can see some of your work here soon!

Chahlie