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Tools

One of my favorite things about carving is that it really can ultimately be done with just a knife. Of course, there are tools that make certain tasks easier and more time-efficient, but having one knife need not limit you. You may just have to be a little more innovative with your methods. That said, here’s a look into some of the tools I use in my projects.

Safety Gear

Every carver should invest in a carving glove, thumb guard, leather strop, and stropping compound in order to keep blades sharp and hands safe from injury. You’ll wear the carving glove on your non-carving hand (the one holding the carving) and the thumb guard on your carving hand (the one holding the knife). No project is too simple or small for safety gear; I have drawn blood on simple whittles as well as complex carves. Wear a dust mask and safety goggles when using power tools such as band saws. Taking precautions ensures that you can keep carving without difficulty for years to come!

Band Saws

Because of the size of most of these projects, you will need a band saw to cut the blanks (the rough shapes of the pieces) before you begin to carve. Practice proper precautions as you cut. All blanks for this book were cut on a 10" (25.4cm) band saw.

Knives

A classic bench knife with a 1"-1½" (2.5cm-3.8cm) blade should suit you for most everyday projects, but not all knives are created equal. Carving knives come in an endless array of shapes, sizes, and materials, but one of the most important things to consider is how the tool feels and fits in your hand. The knife is quite literally an extension of your hand, and if it isn’t comfortable to hold and you don’t have complete control over it, you’re creating a mess for yourself before you start carving.

Case in point: because I am a fairly petite female, knives with a large or girthy handle don’t work for me. When you’re out looking for the perfect knife, hold each one in your hand. If you have friends that carve, ask if you can visit their workshop and test some of their knives. Figure out what you like and don’t like. Helvie makes some fabulous knives and blades; I am fortunate enough to have a friend that took some Helvie blades and made handles for them that fit my hand perfectly.

A classic bench knife with a 1"-1½" (2.5cm-3.8cm) blade works well for the projects in this book.

Gouges, V-tools, and Micro Tools

I also use an assortment of gouges, V-tools, and micro tools.

Gouges are great for scooping out large quantities of wood in just a few passes, or adding small details like nostrils and buttons. You’ll notice throughout the project instructions that the numbers next to the gouges vary. The lower the number, the flatter the gouge. A #9 will have a more dramatic curve than a #3, for example.

V-tools are great for adding textures—such as hair, fur, or grass—because of the clean, sharp lines they create. They’re also useful for separating clothing layers.

I use Dockyard micro tools for a number of things; they’re useful for adding close textures, facial features, and small details on clothing and accessories. As with your knife, strop these tools often to avoid tear-out.

Other Useful Items

I recommend investing in some stylus tools. You can find them at most craft stores; they often come in a pack of two or three with differently sized ends. I also use a micro hand drill, which I found online for under $10, with regularity. In this book, I used it to attach the flower for the Romantic Raccoon (see here) and to affix the Forgetful Wizard (see here) to his rock base.

Gouge

V-tool

Micro tool

Micro hand drill