[Woodcarver] Want to start carving

[PAUL B MCCAIN]

Hi Tom,

Relief carving is my favorite thing to do.  I think you will be very well
pleased with the Stubai tools.  I have a set of 12 Stubai palm tools
purchased from Larry Yudis at the Woodcraft Shop in Iowa.  His folks got
them all super sharp and I have only had to hone them since then.  I am
sure the long tools are just as good

While there are many books on relief carving available I would recommend
the first book by George Keilhoefer. That book has a picture of oak
leaves on the cover.  The book provides as very simple step-by-step
project (the oak leaves) which introduce you to the fundamentals of
relief carving.  I have done a number of other projects but am about to
go back and do the oak leaves again and kind of test myself in terms of
skill progress.

Once you get your tools, I would recommend simply getting a hunk of
basswood and trying them out without trying to carve anything.  Just
learning to hold the tool and learn what you can or can't do with it is a
huge benefit.

Happy carving.  God's blessings. Paul