With the current technology and machinery being used to create and duplicate wood carvings, the art of wood carving is more and more becoming a hobby. While there still are professional carvers it is getting to be tougher to make a living strictly from carving or sculpting wood.
So with this in mind speaking to the hobbyist wood carver you can spend countless time, energy and money, searching for and adding to your collection the latest and greatest gadget, gizmo and tool. All of these come with the promise of making you the next Michelangelo of the wood carving world. Also, it is important to remember that with any art or craft the tools do not make the craftsperson and nothing will make you a better carver other then practice.
While collecting gadgets and tools seems to be a hobby within this craft of wood carving, this is not necessarily a bad thing, it is entirely really not needed to sit down and start carving on a piece of wood.
If you are really looking to get your hands busy with carving all you need to have other than a block of wood, is a very basic and sharp flat backed knife, a sharpening stone and some safety equipment. This could be a specialized carving or whittling knife called a bench knife or something as simple as a pocket knife. This is the most basic tool that current wood carving hobbyists will have and for some it is the only tool they use. This kind of knife can handle all but the most intricate types of cuts that a wood carver needs to make.
The pocket knife can come in all shapes and sizes, and some of these shapes are better then others for wood carving. The size of the blade is important, for “roughing out” the carving a wide blade is best. When adding detail, it is best to use a thin blade. Most pocket knives come with at least two or three blades of differing sizes so you are essentially getting two or more tools in one. For safety’s sake it would be best to have a locking blade, but it is not entirely necessary to have.
Learning to sharpen a blade needs be in your list of must have tools. Not only is a sharp blade is a safe blade but it is absolutely necessary to be successful in carving a piece of wood. Don’t be overwhelmed about this, it is easier then it appears and there seems to be as many ways to sharpen a blade as there are blades. To start get a basic sharpening stone and follow the directions that come with it. Over time you will learn what works for you.
The last basic must have tool is for safety. If you are holding your carving with one hand while holding the knife in the other you need to wear a glove. Similar to a fisherman’s fillet glove, which you could use, the carvers glove will help protect you from most slicing type injuries from a knife. There are many gloves made of different materials, pick one that is comfortable to wear for the length of time that you typically will be carving. There are also leather finger guards that can be used as well, but a glove will offer the most protection.
So the basic tools needed for carving wood, a pocket knife, a sharpening stone and a safety glove will get you on your way to carving the masterpiece that is hiding in that simple block of wood in front you.
