Hey everyone! I'm looking to dive into woodcarving as a fun hobby, specifically making spoons and utensils. What essential tools or starter kits would you recommend for beginners? Also, I'm curious about where to find wood for my projects. Is it okay to use freshly chopped wood or wood I can scavenge from the forest? Ideally, I'm looking for options that are free or inexpensive. Thanks for any tips you can share!
3 Answers
Starting with spoons is a solid choice! My first project was a spoon, and it turned out great. For a good starter set, you might want to check out options like the Morakniv wood carving set; it’s versatile enough to grow with your skills.
Consider buying a kit that includes a sloyd knife, some wood blanks, a strop for sharpening, and some green wax. You can find these kits for around £35-40. For wood sourcing, limewood or yellow poplar are excellent beginner options since they're easier to carve. Also, reach out to local woodshops for scrap pieces—they often have offcuts they might give away or sell cheaply.
For a starter toolkit, definitely grab some cut-resistant gloves, a hook knife for detailing, and a short sloyd knife. You'll also want sandpaper in various grits for smoothing and some kind of axe for splitting logs if needed. As for wood, I recommend using something soft like linden or pine, but make sure to let the fresh wood dry for a couple of weeks. If you're looking for free wood, consider asking your local forest service for permission to take some from harvesting areas, especially dead branches that are already on the ground.