Tools for Walking sticks

[CountryPine]

What are the best tools for carving into a walking stick? And where can I find a decent yet not too expensive carving kit?

Also what is a really good book for a beginner like me looking to carve faces?

And, I took someones advice that I saw on an earlier thread to check out your local appliance store for wood crates because sometimes they are made of Basswood. I went in and the guy took me in back and showed me all the crates and said I could take any of them and he said I could come back. The wood I got has a really strong nice smell to it. It smells like a cedar closet. It's also very soft so I just want to thank whoever that was that said that.

[Kenny_S]

Try Rick at Little Shavers Wood Carving Supply on beginner's kit. You will get knife, a set of gouges, glove, end protectors, a leather strop, compound and a wood box . The tools will come sharp ready to use.Rick ensures they are sharp.
Most of the sticks and canes I have carved has been with a Knife.

[Swamper]

Doesn't take a lot of tools. I bought a bunch I didn't really need. Mostly I use Knives, 1/8" veiner and v tool, plus 1/2"gouge, 1/2" v tool and the best one is the small fishtail gouge, I love that little darling. Books, Skylar Johnson's book, "How to carve a woodspirit in a hiking stick" is nice. But I mostly use "Woodspirits and Green Men" by Irish,Pye, and Cipa as a guide. And there are several others available. Good luck, have fun.

The beginners set will do great

Jimbo

[CountryPine]

Thankyou Kenny and Swamper I appreciate it.

I'll take a look at your guys links.

[big dave]

Countrypine , you can send a pm to agoodknife(allen goodman) he has the best dvd on carving a woodspirit in a walking stick that i have seen

[Waitpinga Whittler]

G'day,

I might as well throw my two cents worth in...

I carve lots of sticks and my primary tool is a good quality 3-bladed pocket knife. With 3 blades, modified and sharpeded for carving, you can do most things. A 'v' tool 12/6 and a couple of gouges 11/12 and 11/4 will take care of the rest.

Although not directed at stick carving specifically, Pete Le Clair's book 'Carving caricature figures from scratch' is very good for teaching you methods for safely using these tools, especially the knife and the faces are easily addapted to stick carving.

The attached are a couple of spirit faces in mallee and cypress carved with the above tools only.

[cobra4246]

I bought the beginner's kit from Little Shavers Wood Carving Supply. It is a good investment. You will not be sorry. I have a walking stick to craving I am hoping it will be good enough to post

[CountryPine]

Cool guys. I will give him a pm Big Dave. Those are nice sticks or I mean peices of art Waitpinga, I'm glad you put your two cents in, it's good to hear that I won't be needing the best tools. Since Id on;t have the best. And Cobra, I was looking at those tools at little shavers. I think they are 70$? Mabey I will get those.

[CountryPine]

I can;t find a place on the site to look up members. Where might I find agoodknife(allen goodman) Big

[CountryPine]

Big Dave, where can I find agoodknife(allen goodman)?

I have tried but cannot see a members search anywhere on here. MERCY!

Oh, I forgot. What size begginers kit should I get at Littler Shavers if I am carving in sticks and making faces and what not?