Starting out

I'm 16 and just starting carving i am particular interested in animal carving especially birds and was wondering what would be the best type of wood for me to start carving with?

[Kenny_S]

Basswood

Yep.

And welcome to an absorbing hobby!

Al

[bcarvings]

Hi,
If you plan on carving with a knife basswood will be the best.

However if you want to powercarve then tupelo will be the best. I highly reccomend you start off with carving using a knife though.

Also I WARN YOU DON'T BUY THE WOOD AT MICHEALS, OR JOAN'S. THAT WOOD IS EXTREMELY OVERPRICED. A 4X4X12 THERE COSTS $30 PLUS TAX. I reccomend you try eBay just type in basswood carving blocks and you will get results.

And you MUST have a sharp knife to carve. When you slice a peice of wood the wodd should come off easy without it being hard. And a smooth surface should be left be the knife, if it is sharp. You need to buy a carving knife however I myself am new, and am not sure what to do. I might be receiving one in the mail from a very gerneous person. If you ONLY want to carve basswood, and like the handle, then try flexcut knives. www.woodcraft.com is expensive but they will have a lot of knives. They also have basswood. Hope this helped

[bcarvings]

One more thing. Get a book, a good book will have lots, and lots of pictures. Like 100 or so.

??? Did we create a monster : LOL

[bcarvings]

I'm just trying to help him out. >

Now, Now Dave try not to tick off the troops, bad for moral.
Colin

Mathew - I sound like a broken record with this, but do yourself a favor and check out
littleshavers.com
then beg Rick for info. You might even consider buying the beginners kit he has put together. The price is better than right, don't know how he did it, and you can use the tools for almost any kind of carving you may decide to do. At the very least get one of his catalogs, it has books, tools, and accessories that you just can't find under one roof at any other place. Also, for getting a good look at what bird carving is all about
whisperingeagle.com
will give you a little insight into the technicalities involved.
Let's see ... wood ... Hand tools, basswood, I recommend either Itasca wood products or Dale Heinecke 715 822 8642 for a first order. After that you'll have an idea of what good basswood looks like and if you want can place small test orders with other suppliers. For power tools I hear tupelo is great stuff, but can't give any first hand info on it. Books for birds and animals ... anything by Desiree Hajny or Laura S. Irish. but as a first book, 'The Beginner's Handbook of Woodcarving' by Charles Beiderman & William Johnston. Used to have a couple other favorites, but this one has recently been added to my collection and is far and away the best.
That ought to keep you confused for a week or so. Good Luck, Ed

[Kenny_S]

Ditto what Ol Ed said. Tupelo can be carved with a knife also, Just a little hardewr than basswood but with a sharp knife, no problem. Do a Google on wood carving and look at different sites on how their carvings look.

Again, You won't go wrong with advise and a beginners kit fro Rick of littleshavers. Try www.littleshavers.com. May be the best investment in wood carving.
Well the house smells great and the families ariving. Happy Thanks Giving everyone and I thank the LORD for what he has givin us.