Your First Carving Tools: A Beginner’s Guide
When I started carving, tools were a total mystery. Sure, people made suggestions, but these were rarely a good fit for my situation or my goals; a tool that some guy at a woodworking store deemed “essential” was often too expensive, too big, too small, too dull, too loud, too heavy, or too weirdly-shaped for me.
Searching for the right tools was expensive, discouraging, and added years to my learning curve. This guide is what I wish I had had back then. It contains just enough information to get you started with more clarity and less frustration.
I’ll tell you not just what I recommend, but why I recommend it, so that you can adjust accordingly. These recommendations may be particularly relevant if you:
If you find this information helpful, or if you have questions or comments, please get in touch! I am working on a couple of other guides that I hope will help new carvers to bypass some of the struggles I’ve had over the years. I don’t want anyone who is interested in carving to be intimidated or discouraged!
PS: If you are learning to carve a specific form or a specific style from a specific teacher, trust their tool choices. Please don’t say, “But Julia Harrison said…”!
Searching for the right tools was expensive, discouraging, and added years to my learning curve. This guide is what I wish I had had back then. It contains just enough information to get you started with more clarity and less frustration.
I’ll tell you not just what I recommend, but why I recommend it, so that you can adjust accordingly. These recommendations may be particularly relevant if you:
- want to test the waters before commiting
- have a limited budget
- don’t have a dedicated workspace
- have smaller hands or aren’t particularly strong
- want to start out on small-scale projects
If you find this information helpful, or if you have questions or comments, please get in touch! I am working on a couple of other guides that I hope will help new carvers to bypass some of the struggles I’ve had over the years. I don’t want anyone who is interested in carving to be intimidated or discouraged!
PS: If you are learning to carve a specific form or a specific style from a specific teacher, trust their tool choices. Please don’t say, “But Julia Harrison said…”!
