How to Get Started Wood Carving - It's Less Expensive Then You Might Think

A beginning woodcarver can get started very inexpensively. For much carving, a great deal can be done with just a knife. Relief carving will necessarily require more tools but for the beginning woodcarver interested in carving small figures a knife or two will suit the beginner well. Many carvers never use another tool. Although there is a wide variety of shapes and sizes and, of course, costs, the beginner does not have to search far or spend a lot for a very serviceable knife.

Though many a carver, me included, has started with one, a typical pocket knife is not the best choice. The pocket knife is made with a short bevel which makes it strong enough to cut things like strings, cardboard and thin wire without damaging the blade. That short bevel, while sharp, will not easily cut into wood. A longer bevel will allow the blade to slice through wood more effectively. Of course there is a compromise, the longer and thinner the bevel the better it will slice into the wood, but also the weaker the blade will be. You cannot pry the wood with a carving knife without risk of breaking the blade. A pocket knife will work if you grind out a new longer bevel.

Although woodcarving pocketknives are available, most carving knives have a fixed handle and blade. They are called bench knives. You'll need to find something to protect the blade or you will find yourself spending a lot of time re-sharpening it. I use a small section of clear plastic tubing from the local hardware store, which fits over the blade and onto the handle far enough to hold it.

My first carving knife was an eleven dollar Rick Butz knife sold by Woodcraft. The cost has gone up since then but the knife can still be found on sale occasionally for under fifteen dollars. I've bought a number of knives since then, some for far more money, but when kept sharp, this knife serves my needs as well as any.

There are many knife makers out there with as many shapes and styles of handles and blades. Blades can range from very small detail blades for very intricate work to large blades for roughing out a larger figure. I find that if I keep my knife sharp, I can use it for detail and rough work. If you ask a group of wood carvers what their favorite knife is you will get many answers, Helvie, Flexcut, Ron Wells knife now made by Mike Shipley, the Denny knife, the Harley knife and many others. They will all suit the beginning woodcarver fine as long as you take reasonable care of them and keep them sharp.

So if you want to try your hand at wood carving, don't think that high cost will get in your way. Just get yourself an inexpensive knife and get started.