Regardless what you may have heard about wood carving, it is not hard.
The most difficult part about it is sharpening your tools (which takes more skill than one would assume) and applying cutting styles. Before you can learn what the cutting styles and techniques are, you first need to answer this question:
“What woodcarving style do I like most?”
Whittling
By far the most popular choice, whittling is used for spoon carving, making whistles, and many other figures. All you need to start with this wood carving technique is a whittling knife, just one will do for now.
Chip Carving
This style utilizes a primary and stab knife, like the wayne barton chip carving set, to make varying geometric patterns in the wood. Because all anyone needs to start this style is 2 knives, it is one of the most price efficient choices to begin with.
Relief Carving
Relief carving begins with a flat panel of wood and the carver using the best wood chisels creates a 3-D perspective of the objects he carves while maintaining a flat background. The process creates objects or designs that project towards the onlooker.
What To Look For
There are several factors that are synonymous with good quality wood carving tools. No one enjoys starting out something new only to have odds against you from getting better with poorly made tools.
Good Steel Material
When I say good, I mean a steel material that can hold up against hardwoods and not just softwood. Find wood carving tools that are made of high carbon steel, if you are consistent with routine honing and sharpening then this material will last you a long time.
Full Tang
Most of these tools that have a handle, also have what is called a tang. The tang of a tool refers to the way the tool is attached to the handle. There’s a partial tang and full tang available, but for the sake of your own safety and quality assurance: go with full tang. This means the steel material goes all the way through the handle to significantly decrease chances of the steel coming out of the handle (partial tang tends to be much more hazardous because of this).
Need help finding wood?
Edge Retention
A knife with good edge retention means it’s sharp, so this goes without saying you need to sharpen your tools. Not only is this good practice, but it’s also good maintenance for taking care of your tools. Believe it or not it is more dangerous to carve wood with a dull knife than a sharp one!
Best Woodcarving Tools