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 is the guide I wish I 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…”!