Fundamentals of Woodcarving

• Carving glove
• Thumb protector
• Carving knife
• Strop

These items may be obtained locally or on the Internet thru the links provided below. It is best not to buy cheap tools from eBay or hobby stores as they will not hold a good edge.

Woodcraft is located at 2077 Congressional Drive in St. Louis. See the website. 
Rocklers is located at 11977 Saint Charles Rock Road - Ste 113 in Bridgeton. See the website. 
Woodcraft Shop is located in Bettendorf, IA. See the website. 

Carving Glove
A cut resistant carving glove is required to help prevent accidental cuts.  The glove should have Kevlar and/or steel knitted into it.  The glove should fit snug so that you can grip your carving.  Knifehandler makes a good glove.  Woodcraft has these gloves in stock so that you can check the fit and pick your size.  Woodcraft Shop is located in Iowa and will ship items.  Bass Pro and Wal-Mart have a fillet glove with steel knitted into it that is also good; however, the choice of sizes is limited and the fit may not be snug.  The glove is worn on the hand opposite the knife.  Most are made to fit either hand.   

Woodcraft:  http://www.woodcraft.com/Search/Search.aspx?query=carving%20glove

Woodcraft Shop: http://www.thewoodcraftshop.com/store/Search.aspx?searchTerms=gloves&submit=true

Wal-Mart:  http://www.walmart.com/search/search-ng.do?search_constraint=0&ic=48_0&search_query=fillet+glove&Find.x=0&Find.y=0&Find=Find

Bass Pro:  http://www.basspro.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Navigation?hvarSearchString=fillet+glove&x=0&y=0&storeId=10151&catalogId=10001&langId=-1&CMID=TOP_SEARCH_GO

Carving Knife
A carving knife is required.  Do not buy a cheap knife from hobby shops as they will not hold an edge. The Murphy bench knife at Woodcraft is a good introductory knife.  If you get this knife, purchase it “sharpened” unless you plan to sharpen it prior to the class.  The Shipley knife has good steel, a thinner blade and comes sharpened.  Flexcraft also makes a good knife that comes sharpened.  If you already have a carving knife and want to use it, that is fine also.

Woodcraft Shop:  http://www.thewoodcraftshop.com/store/p/807-MIKE-SHIPLEY-CARVING-KNIFE-1-3-4-BLADE.html

Woodcraft Shop: http://www.thewoodcraftshop.com/store/p/3160-1-7-8-MURPHY-BENCH-KNIFE-SHARP.html

Rocklers:  http://www.rockler.com/product.cfm?page=21581&filter=knife

Woodcraft:  http://www.woodcraft.com/Search/search.aspx?Action=3&Page=1&SH=QT1rbmlmZX5CPWtuaWZlfkQ9MjR_ST1QcmljZX5LPTR_TD0xfk09N34&SI=78813bfa-5736-4b5e-9ffd-11ee9626a788

Thumb Protector
A leather thumb protector is required.  It is worn on the hand used with the knife.

Woodcraft Shop: http://www.thewoodcraftshop.com/store/Search.aspx?searchTerms=thumb&submit=true

Woodcraft:  http://www.woodcraft.com/Search/Search.aspx?query=thumb%20guard

Strop
A strop is needed to maintain the edge on your sharpened knife.  The instructor will provide honing compound to load the leather strop.  However, you may also purchase your own compound if you desire. Instructor will have 2” x 8” strops available for $9.00.

Woodcraft Shop:  http://www.thewoodcraftshop.com/store/p/1760-DUNKLE-STROP-AND-YELLOWSTONE-COMPOUND.html

Woodcraft Shop:  http://www.thewoodcraftshop.com/store/p/1828-2-SIDED-LEATHER-FACED-STROP-WITH-HANDLE.html

Woodcraft Shop:  http://www.thewoodcraftshop.com/store/p/288-SMALL-WOOD-IS-GOOD-HONE-STROP.html

Woodcraft Shop:  http://www.thewoodcraftshop.com/store/p/1759-DUNKLE-STROP.html

Woodcraft:  http://www.woodcraft.com/Product/2000241/10513/Strop-Woodcraft-Bench.aspx