Wood carving knife - Make or Buy?

Patrice Lemée

Patrice Lemée

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Aug 13, 2002
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I would like to bring one to camp with me for our vacation and I was wondering if I should just buy one or make one. I've seen a few models online but I have no idea where to start. I would like to do simple chip carving I think they call it.

Any input would be greatly appreciated.

Patrice
 
If you had some experience with carving you would better be able to make a knife to your own likes, handle and blade shape.As for steels I'd pick A-2 or CPM154.
 
Come on your a knife maker:p i say you should make your own my friend :thumbup:if you need some A2 i have some 1/8" i would be glad to send you some small pieces to make chip carving blades. I have seen your work and i know you can do it.:D

Bob
 
Patrice,
You certainly can make one or two carving blades yourself. Besides being the simplest of shapes ( Wharncliff), they are usually just an ugly old bench knife, so no fancy work is required. The main thing is that they need to be thin and tapered, with a straight edge. About 1.5-2mm (.060-.080") tapering to .1-1.5mm (020-.030") is the right thickness for a carver. A 25-35mm (1" to 1.5") long blade is usual - my most used carver is 25mm. The tang should be 2-3mm (.080-.100") thick, for strength, and carry this thickness into the ricasso. It needs to be tough,so make sure you pick the steel well. mete's A-2 offer is one good choice, and 1095 is superb. HT is everything in a carving blade.

If you just want to do the handle work, Jantz ( and others) sells the standard four blade set for $20, which has chip carving blades in it as well as standard blades.
http://jantzsupply.com/cartease/item-detail.cfm?ID=SS263

I used to test some products for Woodcarvers Supply. They sell top quality carving supplies and knives.
http://www.woodcarverssupply.com/store/
430000 is a standard carver shape, and 577016 is a nice handmade carver they carry.

If all this is more than you want to go through ,just to whittle on a stick at camp, I have many spare carvers sitting on the woodcarving bench.When I used to teach the scouts to carve ,I had them in several handle and blade sized. I use my favorite one 99% of the time, and the rest sit in a tray. I would be glad to send you one. It will be like the 430000 one I mentioned from Woodcarvers Supply.

Stacy
 
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This picture has the business end of my favorite carving knife in it. It has a handle from a commercial knife that I reshaped. I changed the blade out with one of mine because the blade was too long and thin. It is made from a scrap of 1/16" CPM S30V. While the edge is very thin, the back of the blade is fairly thick so the blade is stiff. This one is a little shorter, about 5/8", than you would want to use if you were carving something soft like wood. I use it to carve stag and the short blade lets me apply a lot of pressure and still retain control in tight places.

358166787.jpg


Many of the commercial carving knives have handles that are a little small to me. By making one for your self, you can make it the way that suits you and what you carve the best. Don't worry about looks, go for comfort and control.
 
Thanks guys for all the tips and generous offers.

Bob: That's the reason I felt bad about buying one. If I fancy myself a knifemaker that would be like cheating. Thanks for the A2 offer but I have some 1095 pieces here that should do the trick.

Stacy: Very detailed instructions, thanks. I was considering your offer since I am pretty sure that I wont have time to make one before I leave. We are moving my Dad (he has Alzheimer) to a new residence and this will surely be more complicated than planned. I know of a store about an hours drive from here that sells some woodworking tools. I'll go take a look there time permitting and if I don't find anything I'll take you up on that generous offer. Thanks again.

Harry: that is some very nice carving, thanks for the picture.

So I think that I would be better leaving the knife building for when I come back so that I actually tried it a little with a commercial knife and know what I want to change about it if anything.

Thanks again for all the help, I'll let you know what I find.

Patrice
 
Nice to hear from you Pat did you get that HF band saw working?
I would make one of my own just to learn something. Have a nice day Pat.
 
jrhart50 said:
Did you get that HF band saw working?
Click to expand...

Well Hi there *wave*
Nah!, I tried but this was taking too much of my free time, time I don't have enough of. I have a Dewalt Portable Bandsaw being delivered as we speak to a friend in Mass so I can pick it up in July at camp.

For the carving I wanted to try it a little to better know what I need to build.
So I bought a Flexcut chip knife at the store.
Now we only need the fishing to be lousy so I get time to carve. ;)

Pat
 
Hi Patrice
not much to add but by goodness sake ...bring a fine sharpening stone and a strop... there is nothing worst that a dull carving knife... a truly sharp blade works so well...with little effort.. .. ( specially with black walnut.. :thumbup::thumbup: )

also a skew knife/ stop cut knife makes it really easy to cut the outline of the chips..

oh oh.. and download some patterns off the net ... to practice...

take care and have a great time, and catch plenty of fish :thumbup:
Greg
 
Patrice Lemée;7090968 said:
Thanks Greg, will do.
A few more weeks and I am going after the stripped bass down in Maine. :D

Patrice
Click to expand...

Well heres hoping that the weather will be good to save on bandaids.:D
And we will need pictures of the fish!

Bob
 
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