Wood Carving is a broad skill. Ball and claw legs, saw handles, duck decoys, and statues are all examples of different things you can make as a carver. Regardless of the type of carving you are interested in Narex has a great set of carving tools to fit the need from beginner to master carver. But choosing the right set of tools can be intimidating.
There are tons of different gouges, skews, and V-tools on the market, and figuring out which tools to start with can put your head in a spin. Narex has made getting started in carving easy by offering a few different sets of tools to get woodcarvers going no matter what projects you plan to undertake.
If you are a beginner and want to get your feet wet in carving, the Narex 5-Pc Starter Carving Chisel Set is a good point from which to start. This is the the set that master carver Bob Marek of Tampa Bay recommends to his students. It has everything you need to get started in figure carving or relief carving, and is perfect if you want to have some carving tools to maintain those sharp details in your furniture projects. This set includes the 5 most commonly used profiles, including a skew chisel, shallow gouge, standard gouge, deep gouge and a 60° v-gouge. The combination of these five tools gives the you ability to dive deep into many different projects and emerge successfully on the other side.
If you want to add one more tool to the 5-Pc set, Bob recommends adding a Straight Carving Knife. This is the knife used for almost all chip carving projects and gives the carver a great tool for adding small details to relief carvings, making it a very handy tool to have and adds even more versatility for the beginner.
Another great set of tools for the beginner is the Narex 8-Pc Palm Chisel Set. These tools are small and designed for detail work. With these you can embellish walking sticks, make caricatures, carve spoons, and tackle any number of other small or detailed projects. These tools are from Narex's top-shelf Profi line and feature Cr-V steel that is heat treated to 61HRc. They also have ergonomic mushroom shaped beechwood handles that fit comfortably in the palm of the hand and add great degree of control when you're deep in the tight spaces.
The set contains four gouges of different sizes, a 60° v-gouge, skew, straight chisel, and the extra special hollow-out chisel. The hollow-out chisel allows the carver to reach in and add exciting levels of detail when carving characters or adding undercut details which would be impossible to accomplish with a straight tool. This little guy can also be purchased separately if you already have a set of palm chisels.
The 8-Pc Palm Chisel Set (AKA Graving Chisel Set), also comes with a nice wooden storage rack designed to be hung near the bench or placed flat in a drawer. This keeps the chisels organized and the cutting edge protected from damage while also allowing the carver to choose the correct tool for the next cut. A good piece of security that also happens to look quite nice.
If your carving desires fall in larger work, like architectural carving, ball and claw table legs, or just about any other discipline, the Narex 8-Pc Professional Carving Chisel Set is the perfect choice. This set is also from the Profi Line and features the same great Cr-V steel we have come to know and love, and are heat treated to an HRc of 61 making for a tool that is easy to sharpen and holds an edge beautifully.
This set includes three Straight Gouges, three Spoon Gouges, a Bent Gouge, and a 60° V-Gouge, all stored in a nice wooden box to keep the tools organized, clean, and protected from damage. All the tools feature a comfortable, beechwood handle which is perfect for either a two handed grip or for being driven with light mallet blows.
Speaking of Mallets, Narex has a great selection of both carving and bench mallets available, all of which fit in very nicely to the various needs of a modern or traditional wood shop.
If you already have some carving tools and are simply looking to round out your set, we have many of the most popular carving tool profiles and sizes available, both individually or as small sets. Whether you are just starting out or you need that last tool to complete your collection, we've got you covered with high quality carving tools at an unbeatable price. And don't forget to check out our selection of carving books. They can be the perfect way to get started in this time-honored craft.