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.

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

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!

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.

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.

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).

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.

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. 🤣

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.

Thank you for the good information.

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

Thanks for what are you doing!

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

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 😂

very well said!!!!

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

What a great collection you have here 😉

Just 1 more!

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

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! 👍

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

Could I ask where you purchased your knife holders? Thanks!

Thanks for sharing your knowledge! I got the beavercraft hook knife featured, and find it has a very square shape, and chatters when scooping the bottom of a spoon. And advice for how to change the profile? I've only got wet dry sandpaper and a simple file

Wise words.

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?

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

Potentially a silly question, but what do you do with all of the wood shavings? Do you repurpose them or something?

Is that the Beavercraft kit in the shoulder bag in the background? I saw it on Amazon and it looked really cool but dunno if it’s worth $250. I’d love to see a review of it!!

where did you buy that simple set of the detail, ruffing out and scooping knife's.

Great content. Would any small warncliffe work?

That knife you used on those fox's and that bunny, does that have a specific name? or where can we get those?

I don't like using to many tools on a job, as I just have more things to sharpen!

Are there any good quality tools I can get on amazon, like a set of carving knives, wood gouger, leather strop and sharpening stone in one kit, im having trouble finding anything that I trust Please link me to anything good, thank you!

What was the name of that first kit you showed?

This whole time, I thought that was Yoshi, but now I see the bunny XD

Did you like that BeaverCraft deluxe kit with bag?

I have a question for you. I’m just getting started with wood carving for Christmas my wife has bought a set from Olerqzer have you heard of this brand of carving tool.

I have a sloyd knife and thinking of just getting a ryobi rotary tool and a set of carving bits. Hand tools are just so bloody expensive.

Will you eventually make some videos about your stone-carving adventures?

What’s your best tool roll?

What say you about Kirchen carving tools?

Somehow strange why you never explain which exact size knife best to use.. When I read comments I see every time different sizes.. Very confusing. So from multiple videos my setup: OCC 1 3/8" Detail Knife OCC 1 3/4" Carving Knife OCC 2 1/4" Roughing Knife #3 15mm ~ 5/8" Gauge #9 10mm ~ 3/8" Gauge #11 5-6mm ~ 3/16" Gauge/Veiner #9 10mm ~ 3/8" 60degree V-tool

What is a sloid knife

Do you have a social media where you post all your creations?

👌👍

😃

You should have asked “you many do I want!”

I made my own knives

the answer is always more, MOOORE!

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

Я из России Сибирь у нас вообще нет такого инструмента в интернете из вашей страны не получается выписать . У нас не развито такая резьба , а мне очень нравится делать и смотреть ваши видео , я конечно не понимаю о чём вы говорите , смотрю просто , очень хотелось бы хоть немного такого инструмента

Your not naming the knives.

First

I thought I repeated myself too much…..damn.