Tools, Tools, Tools!

Woodcarving tools come in all shapes and sizes, each with its own special purpose, and if you’re not careful, you’ll find yourself lost in a sea of chisels, gouges, and knives before even making your first cut. There are straight chisels for clean, precise lines, gouges with deep curves for scooping out material, and V-tools that carve crisp, dramatic details. Then there are hook knives for spoon carving, mallets for extra oomph, and even power carvers for those who want to let electricity do some of the work. It’s easy to imagine an old-timey woodworker with a cluttered workbench, every tool neatly arranged—but the truth is, most beginners don’t need an arsenal to get started.

If you’re just dipping your toes into the world of woodcarving, you really only need a good carving knife, a few basic gouges, and a honing strop to keep everything razor-sharp. A softwood like basswood makes carving easier and more forgiving while you learn the ropes. As you get more comfortable, you can add specialized tools to match your style—maybe a detail knife for fine lines or a hefty chisel for removing big chunks of wood. Before you know it, you’ll be up to your elbows in shavings, completely hooked on the magic of transforming a simple block of wood into something truly unique.

A good starter knife is our Scout knife or our 1 1/2” detail knife. Both of these offer a comfortable handle and the perfect sized blade for getting started.