[Woodcarver] Help again with tools!

[Steve Nordhauser]

I would go one step further on the sharpening.  I would suggest buying 
your starter tools presharpened (several brands were mentioned - Flexcut 
for one) or find a carver who will help you sharpen them.  For sure, 
sharpening is a basic skill that all carvers must master but for a 
beginner, poorly sharpened tools will kill the hobby for you before you 
begin.  Once that bench knife and palm tools prove you are having fun,  
order you next ones unsharpened and start learning the next new skill 
you need.  Oh, and buy a couple of pieces or basswood or some other 
quality carving wood or roughout from a carving company.  The wrong wood 
is worse than dull tools since you can't resharpen the wood.

If you want to know which tools are good on ebay, avoid any 'buy it now' 
and look for the ones that have multiple bids days before the end of the 
auction.  Most go for too near the retail price to make the sets a great 
buy (usually 30% or 40% off or so) and for a novice too much of a risk.  
There is always the exception but everyone here is right.  Buy your 
starter set from one of the known good dealers.  Or, check with a local 
carving club.  Someone usually has a basic set of palm tools they can 
sell.  We all try different brands and don't always like the handles, 
etc.  I can't imagine any club would allow a novice to walk out the door 
with poor tools from a member.
-Steve

-- 
Steve Nordhauser
snordha1 at nycap.rr.com
"When your shots are consistently going in the wrong place, move the damn target."  -Me