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update wood carving introduction
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CarsonDavis committed Oct 13, 2024
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## Overview
Wood carving has to be one of the coolest hobbies Ive ever picked up. You can get started with high-quality tools and materials for around $50, and you’ll be carving impressive projects on your first day. Early projects can be completed in about 1 to 1.5 hours, and there’s something magical about transforming a simple block of wood into a little character.
Wood carving has to be one of the most instantly rewarding hobbies I've ever learned. $50 will get you professional-grade tools and materials, and a couple hours practice will have you carving impressive pieces on day one. Most early projects can be finished in 1 to 2 hours, and there's simply something magical about turning a rough block of wood into a lively little figure.

## Getting Started
I learned everything I know from watching YouTube videos. [Doug Linker's](https://www.youtube.com/@dougLinker) channel in particular has been the single best resource in my wood carving journey. Doug creates excellent caricatures in easy-to-follow videos. He always makes several versions of a project before recording the final one for public viewing, so by the time he shares it, his advice is clear, concise, and full of helpful tips. Doug excels at using minimal cuts to convey the shape and emotion of a piece, and I cannot recommend his videos enough. Here are a few I followed along with:
Expand Down Expand Up @@ -89,7 +89,7 @@ Here are a few other notable tools that I'd like to talk about.
- [Flexcut Chip Carving Set KN115](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0057P4ARM) - $48: A specialized 3-piece set for chip carving, which involves creating intricate designs by removing small chips of wood. While high-quality, it’s not essential for beginners, and I don't use it nearly as much as I thought I would.
- [Morakniv Wood Carving 120 Knife](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09JJ8HRBH) - $30: This is an excellent roughing knife for larger projects. It’s thicker and longer than the Flexcut knives, making it great for removing large amounts of wood quickly. I own the laminated variant, which holds an amazing edge due to its hardened core (60-61 instead of the CS's 58-59).
- Handmade Knives: There are many talented makers of beautiful, high-quality carving knives. I own two by Mike Shipley from Ozark County Carving Tools, both purchased for less than $30 each. I have the [1" Detail Knife](https://mountainwoodcarvers.com/products/copy-of-occt-original-walnut-whittler-1-1-4-flat-grind) and the [1.5" Carver Knife](https://mountainwoodcarvers.com/products/copy-of-occt-original-walnut-carver-1-3-4-flat-grind), both in Walnut and made from O1 tool steel. These are excellent knives and well worth the money.
- [BeaverCraft Whittling Knife](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B071WCH6T4) - $13: This was my first carving knife, and I *hate* it. The blade is double the thickness of the Flexcut, making it insufferably hard to use. I also own their strop, and it was a waste of money. <b><i>Avoid BeaverCraft tools.</b></i>
- [BeaverCraft Whittling Knife](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B071WCH6T4) - $13: This was my first carving knife, and I *hate* it. The blade is double the thickness of the Flexcut, making it insufferably hard to use. I also own their strop, and it was a waste of money. <b><i>Avoid BeaverCraft tools.</i></b>

### Maintenance
Your knives will get dull, no matter how expensive they are. If you get into wood carving and decide to stay with the hobby, invest in a balsa strop and diamond compound for about $20. If you carve a whole lot, you should also consider getting a 3000-5000 grit stone. Check out my post on [Japanese Whetstones]({% link _posts/2024-08-11-whetstones.md %}) for specific recommendations.
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