How Many Carving Tools Do You Need? Do I need to Buy a Lot of Tools?

One of the most common questions that I get asked is, "how many tools do I need" or "which tools should I buy?" Carving tools can get expensive, and I have purchased thousands of dollars of tools over the past year to give you the best possible options for carving. This video goes over several reasons why I have so many different tools and what tools a beginner should buy.

[jeffwhitehead]

I’ve found that one doesn’t need a lot of tools but, sometimes I go through a few different kinds/brands to find the one that feels just right and so, I end up with more than I need or actually use. If I find a knife I like on a handle I don’t, I’ll whittle or mod the handle or just whittle a new one. Flexcut blades are pretty easy to split out of the handle and install in a different one (i like flexcut blades). there are also makers who sale just the blade without handles to place in your own. These might be more “advanced” options but, making or modding your own handle goes a long way toward having a knife you love to use. And it is not difficult to do if you are already inclined to carving

[OldMeanGeezer]

Ahhh, the "profound" question.... The definition of "NEED"! I find this definition in in a constant state of change depending on... The proximity of my Wife, the Money in my bank account and my ability to convince myself that it is ACTULLY a NEED and not just a "WANT" - LOL As a general rule, you can always apply the following formula: If ANY other person is about to buy it is a WANT; if YOU are about to buy it, it is ONLY because you NEED IT!

[bertbennett]

The Flexcut beginner kit will handle the vast majority of your carving needs. If you carve really big figures, a set of gouges with a mallet would be useful. Micre gouges for very small pie es. Of course you need a strop and at some point, some type of stones for sharpening.

[Anita]

If you just want to whittle small projects, a good pocketknive and a pocketstrop is enough.
The hard part is, figuring out what kind of pocketknive works for you. But that is half of the fun also.

[SavageVoyageur]

I got all my Dad’s carving tools, about 10 different types. He got them from other guys who gave them to him. So nice that I have the same tools he used. I also bought the Flexcut carving jack from Rockler when they were affordable $65. My new strop comes today and I can start carving again, so fun.

[CodingCorvus]

in my home im gonna be making a little working corner for all kinds of stuff like carving, but also just general woodwork. im gonna take over my grandpa's electronic jigsaw and probably also get a good whittling kit from beavercraft or flexcut. thanks for the education on what kind of kit i need with the basic tools and the very many tutorials on the channel to help me get started.

[vortega]

Nice one, after lockdown hit the warmer months, me and the wife started hiking and taking on more challenging trails. I decided to make us walking sticks.

My first knife to use was my everyday carry - a Benchmade folder that was a trooper (Yoda I love this knife) as I sliced and shaved off layers of bark and knots. I found wood files at my local dollar store, and also sandpaper to smooth it down. Finally, some water-based weather stain and finally Paracord for the handles and some more used at the end of the walking stick to make sure the wood wouldn't split - and I had two new hobbies.

Hiking, and wood carving/whittling. The carving part came when I started to add runes and designs to the sticks. Later I started to make ornate pieces and magic wands.

It all started with one knife. I got a few more - including a hunting/bushcraft knife I use for harvesting found wood (I only take wood I find on the ground, never living trees) and a Beavercraft set my wife got me. But one good knife is really all you need. (and the gloves - people please stay safe - you cut yourself so easily).

[brinkleysfield]

When someone asks me if they really need a gouge or V tool I ask them if you can drive a nail with a wrench. Yes, you can, but a hammer works much better. Having the right tool for the job makes it much easier.

[cobbler]

I would only add that you do need more than the knife. Especially if you want to give yourself the best chance of falling in love with whittling. For that you want your tools to be sharp, and for THAT you need various blocks to sharpen and hone them. You'll at least need one "sanding" block and one leather strop. If you want to make those yourself, you can do it for about $12. Then you'll need the polishing compound for the strop, which will be another $5 on the low end.

Still, if you start with a FlexCut (you can go about $9 cheaper with a BeaverCraft, but there is a strong likelihood you'll end up upgrading anyway, so why spend twice?) and are willing to do the shopping and put in the work, you can have the knife and two blocks for about $45, and if you want two sanding blocks (about 400-600 grit on one, and 800-1000 for the second), that's only about an extra $5.

That said, I do get the feeling that whittling knives are kind of like ukuleles and guitars. If you buy one, you'll likely buy at least three. And those knives with the colored wood handles in the vid are damn sexy. I started with a FlexCut carving knife, so maybe I'll look at those for roughing knife. 🤣

[dalecaytonjr]

Carving in the round is so much fun. It seems to me that relief carving is where the other tools are needed. I’m sticking with my flex cut for now. The artistic ability required for relief carving is beyond my scope right now

[tomevans]

I have a lot of wood carving tools, that said, there is about 6 or 7 I reach for the most. I was on Amazon last night looking around 😂

[martins.]

I really miss a good oil in your listing.... like Ballistol or sinensis camellia oil, for rusting blades and handles. Both are food safe.
Impressive bunch of knifes and tools. A good tool is part of the fun at carving.
Good one! 👍

[johnm.withersiv]

I like tools. They tend to populate and grow around the house and shed.

[BeaverCraftTools]

What a great collection you have here 😉

[alfonsocalventeiglesias]

You need to record another video: Where to find the Wood for Whittling!

[madzthedad]

Thanks for the advice! I've gotten myself one of the BeaverCraft knife sets and they're working well for me. Good place to start so I can figure out what I like. The hardest part is resisting the urge to buy more knives until I feel more comfortable in my skill set hahaha

[beepIL]

I bought a flexcut whittling set (two whittling knives in a plastic packaging)
And later on i added the flexcut micro palm set, and even that was because i wanted to be able to refine details with a tiny gouge and make small lines for beards and hairs etc,
just couldn't find one sold on its own so had to buy a set of 4.

but other than that, i really don't see any reason i would ever need more tools...

The only reason i can think of is if i want to increase the size of the workpieces i work on,
as long as they are these palm size blocks i am fine with 2 knives and a small gouge \ V shape

[beepIL]

A more interesting question is - since stropping seems to be such a good thing to do even while you work every now and then,
when you go out traveling and you say you throw into the car that folded knives set, what do you do for stropping?

[name]

Why doesn't flexcut offer bent gouges in their line of mallet tools? I want a one tool option for quick removal of wood for cereal sized bowls. Do you think the no.3 two inch wide straight chisel they offer will let me swoop into a cereal size bowl all the way to the bottom?

I just bought the carving jack and standard size sloyd knife after watching your content. Love it

[fenris]

The ONLY correct answer to this question is... ALL THE It doesn't matter what projects you are undertaking. Thank you for your attention...