I'm looking for suggestions for wood carving hand tools for somebody
just getting started. I've poked around online and the price ranges
vary greatly. I'd like to give carving a serious shot, but I'm not
sure I'm ready to dump $200-$300 on gouges. I'm looking for something
mid-range, and some suggestions on what sort of sizes I should be
picking up.
Thanks in advance - d
Look around your area for a carving club. go and talk to the members.
There is 3 magazines on the the news stands that give out a lot of
info.
If you live close to a Woodcraft store, there is usually someone there
that is in to carving.
On Mar 22, 7:36 am, [email protected] wrote:
> I'm looking for suggestions for wood carving hand tools for somebody
> just getting started. I've poked around online and the price ranges
> vary greatly. I'd like to give carving a serious shot, but I'm not
> sure I'm ready to dump $200-$300 on gouges. I'm looking for something
> mid-range, and some suggestions on what sort of sizes I should be
> picking up.
>
> Thanks in advance - d
Puckdropper wrote:
> I'd recommend getting a good pocket knife and starting from there.=A0=
=A0You'd
> be surprised at some of the stuff people come up with using nothing b=
ut a
> pocket knife.
One step up from that would be chip carving. Only needs two or three k=
nives,
depending on which expert you listen to. Easy to learn, but complex pa=
tterns
can still be quite challenging. Take a look at:
http://www.chipcarving.com/
--=20
It's turtles, all the way down
Thu, Mar 22, 2007, 7:36am (EDT-3) [email protected] doth
mumbleth:
I'm looking for suggestions for wood carving hand tools for somebody
just getting started. I've poked around online and the price ranges vary
greatly. I'd like to give carving a serious shot, but I'm not sure I'm
ready to dump $200-$300 on gouges. I'm looking for something mid-range,
and some suggestions on what sort of sizes I should be picking up.
Go to your local library, borrow a book or wo on carving. Than,
like you've already been advised, and if you don't already have one, go
to your local hardware stre and pick up a decent pocket knife. Might
want to pick up a sarpening stone too. Then ge som chunks of 2X4 or
similar wod. No prob.
JOAT
Custom philosophizing done. No job too small; must be indoor work, with
no heavy lifting.
Good luck buying a pocket knife with decent steel for $20.00.
"Puckdropper" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>
> I'd recommend getting a good pocket knife and starting from there. You'd
> be surprised at some of the stuff people come up with using nothing but a
> pocket knife. From what I've read/seen/heard, you'll need one with two
> blades. A short blade that's about 2" and a long blade that's about 3.
> You should be able to find them for about $20 at a hardware store.
> (Don't buy any knives you can't hold first. If they don't fit your
> hands, you won't enjoy the hobby.)
>
> For the record: I'm not a carver. My experiences in other areas just
> tell me that this would be a good way to start out.
>
> Puckdropper
> --
> Wise is the man who attempts to answer his question before asking it.
>
> To email me directly, send a message to puckdropper (at) fastmail.fm
[email protected] wrote in news:1174574176.864391.324590
@l77g2000hsb.googlegroups.com:
> I'm looking for suggestions for wood carving hand tools for somebody
> just getting started. I've poked around online and the price ranges
> vary greatly. I'd like to give carving a serious shot, but I'm not
> sure I'm ready to dump $200-$300 on gouges. I'm looking for something
> mid-range, and some suggestions on what sort of sizes I should be
> picking up.
>
>
> Thanks in advance - d
>
>
I'd recommend getting a good pocket knife and starting from there. You'd
be surprised at some of the stuff people come up with using nothing but a
pocket knife. From what I've read/seen/heard, you'll need one with two
blades. A short blade that's about 2" and a long blade that's about 3.
You should be able to find them for about $20 at a hardware store.
(Don't buy any knives you can't hold first. If they don't fit your
hands, you won't enjoy the hobby.)
For the record: I'm not a carver. My experiences in other areas just
tell me that this would be a good way to start out.
Puckdropper
--
Wise is the man who attempts to answer his question before asking it.
To email me directly, send a message to puckdropper (at) fastmail.fm
On 22 Mar 2007 07:36:16 -0700, [email protected] wrote:
>I'm looking for suggestions for wood carving hand tools for somebody
>just getting started. I've poked around online and the price ranges
>vary greatly. I'd like to give carving a serious shot, but I'm not
>sure I'm ready to dump $200-$300 on gouges. I'm looking for something
>mid-range, and some suggestions on what sort of sizes I should be
>picking up.
>
>
>Thanks in advance - d
I would advise against purchasing a set. Look at this site for some
really good info:
www.norahall.com
I suggest you stick to dropping pucks.
On 22 Mar 2007 15:15:44 GMT, Puckdropper <[email protected]>
wrote:
>For the record: I'm not a carver. My experiences in other areas just
>tell me that this would be a good way to start out.
>
>Puckdropper
On Fri, 23 Mar 2007 22:48:16 -0400, [email protected] (J T)
wrote:
>Thu, Mar 22, 2007, 7:36am (EDT-3) [email protected] doth
>mumbleth:
>I'm looking for suggestions for wood carving hand tools for somebody
>just getting started. I've poked around online and the price ranges vary
>greatly. I'd like to give carving a serious shot, but I'm not sure I'm
>ready to dump $200-$300 on gouges. I'm looking for something mid-range,
>and some suggestions on what sort of sizes I should be picking up.
>
> Go to your local library, borrow a book or wo on carving. Than,
>like you've already been advised, and if you don't already have one, go
>to your local hardware stre and pick up a decent pocket knife. Might
>want to pick up a sarpening stone too. Then ge som chunks of 2X4 or
>similar wod. No prob.
>
>
>
>JOAT
>Custom philosophizing done. No job too small; must be indoor work, with
>no heavy lifting.
I'm sure I'll get some flak for saying this, but I don't like and
would not buy a pocket knife for carving. Most of the ones I've seen
or used don't fit the hand comfortably for extended periods of
carving. Secondly, the handle to blade length is not well
proportioned (look at any professional carving knife).
I bought a set of folding carving knives - essentially pocket knives
with short blades, and they've been sitting in my tool cabinet for
about fifteen years (probably ought to dig them out and take a look).
That said, if you do decide to buy a good pocket knife, make DAMN sure
that it has a securely locking blade.
Bill
Sat, Mar 24, 2007, 9:48am [email protected] (remove) doth ssayeth:
I'm sure I'll get some flak for saying this, but I don't like and would
not buy a pocket knife for carving. <snip>
I bought a set of folding carving knives - essentially pocket knives
with short blades, <snip>
I made up a batch of short bladed carving knives from short lengths
of bandsaw blade. Glue into slitted handles, then grind to shape - and
sharpen. You can shape the handles as you want. Not fancy, but free,
and works.
JOAT
Custom philosophizing done. No job too small; must be indoor work, with
no heavy lifting.
On Sat, 24 Mar 2007 12:49:33 -0400, [email protected] (J T)
wrote:
>Sat, Mar 24, 2007, 9:48am [email protected] (remove) doth ssayeth:
>I'm sure I'll get some flak for saying this, but I don't like and would
>not buy a pocket knife for carving. <snip>
>I bought a set of folding carving knives - essentially pocket knives
>with short blades, <snip>
>
> I made up a batch of short bladed carving knives from short lengths
>of bandsaw blade. Glue into slitted handles, then grind to shape - and
>sharpen. You can shape the handles as you want. Not fancy, but free,
>and works.
>
>
>
>JOAT
>Custom philosophizing done. No job too small; must be indoor work, with
>no heavy lifting.
I do the same thing. After a few earlier attempts, I have a pattern
for a handle that fits my hand very well. I even have a couple of
blanks on hand that were cut to rough shape on the bandsaw for future
knives.
For blades. I like the large industrial hacksaw blades when I can find
them for the beefier blades, Standard hacksaw and bandsaw blades work
well for me for smaller detail blades. They flex more and just seem
to feel right.
You are right about the cost. With scrap lumber and scounging the
steel, they only cost a few cents for the glue. However, I like the
current set I have better than a couple of knives I bought for around
$20 ea. and they look a good as any of the ones I've seen posted on
the web.
Bill
On 22 Mar 2007 07:36:16 -0700, [email protected] wrote:
>I'm looking for suggestions for wood carving hand tools for somebody
>just getting started. I've poked around online and the price ranges
>vary greatly. I'd like to give carving a serious shot, but I'm not
>sure I'm ready to dump $200-$300 on gouges. I'm looking for something
>mid-range, and some suggestions on what sort of sizes I should be
>picking up.
>
>
>Thanks in advance - d
I'd recommend a couple of knives similar to the ones shown here to
start with:
http://www.traditionalwoodworker.com/product_info.php/cPath/1_7_354/products_id/2149
and maybe a set of palm chisels soon thereafter such as the standard
set for $32.00 shown about half way down on the left on this page:
http://www.qualitycarvingsupplies.com/store/page10.html
Once you have gotten your feet wet, you can decide which direction you
want to move in and start buying full size gouges or smaller sets of
chisels. I've bought a few individual gouges and they do pretty much
all I need.
I've been carving small figures (4-10" high) and some relief carving
off and on for about 20 years and I've made my own knives similar to
the ones noted above. Those knives and the palm chisels are my most
use carving tools (along with a band saw).
HTH and Good Luck
Bill
I highly recommend the below site. It has lots of info for new carvers,
including free projects to learn on with a recommended tool list. I found it
very helpful.
http://www.2carve.com/welcome.shtml
-roger-
<[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> I'm looking for suggestions for wood carving hand tools for somebody
> just getting started. I've poked around online and the price ranges
> vary greatly. I'd like to give carving a serious shot, but I'm not
> sure I'm ready to dump $200-$300 on gouges. I'm looking for something
> mid-range, and some suggestions on what sort of sizes I should be
> picking up.
>
>
> Thanks in advance - d
>