I'm doing a cheap method.As a wood worker I've found how expensive great tools are and junk tools often discourage the craft. I got into Blacksmith hobbyist and after 4 years of a great craft now I'm getting set up to build my own carving tools and believe I'll be comparing my cravings tools to tools that more often selling for 5X the cost so if I spend $100.00 for my own tools they are replacing $500.00 for tools if I go buy them and tools can be even more expensive. I'm certain my own tools will fit my medium/large hands. If you buy 20 tools you'll probably find several that don't feel great in your hands. If I build 20 tools and my own handles I can change or remount new handles if I decide. You are making good sense and thanks Johnny
I agree completely. I joined the Arizona Blacksmithing association about two years ago and the knowledge i gained about steel and carving tools is incredible.Clearly the mysteries about tool steel and sharpening are understood much better than after I started attending the once a month classes conducted for free by the association.
@@buckbeans1 A very experienced Blacksmith ( almost 60 years experience advice is don't waste your time with "unknown steel" that's when you are learning to work with steel as different steel is different and you're starting to really lean about heat treatment and wth every type you're going to learn reliable methods.For most carving knives and chisel tools 01 is the most popular and can be done without the high tech and expensive shop equipment ( unless you're ready to invest for better results) .1095 is also small shop friendly. There's great help on many websites and TH-cam they often don't teach but building with unknown steel that's guess work and expect junk results with junk teaching.
Thanks! I have been looking at these for a while. I found the practice stick exercise in Jack Price's book very helpful. I like being able to reference it, like you mentioned your buddy doing in your other comment here.
Are there any benefits to making your own study sticks from book tutorials or video`s? Or is it the fact that once you have enough skill to make the study stick, you no longer need it? I can see it being good practice and a quick reminder for how to go about process, kind of like carving notes in a visual form.
@mark.a.cornish making a study stick yourself can be great as a reference, especially if you don't do a particular thing very often. I saw one carver at a Seminar who had made his own study sticks for hair braids as he didn't do them often, but had done them so well he wanted to easily remember his process. He used those go great effect.
Excellent ordered what I could from Harold but not any oh his sticks could be delivered to Ireland. Picked up a few workbooks though, thanks for the suggestion
I learned how to carve woodspirits from that study stick and book. A fantastic resource!
Right?! Love your stuff brother. You're one or the folks who have inspired me to carve! 😀😀
@@JohnnyTheLayton Thanks Johnny, keep up the good work!
Will do brother, thank you! 😀
I'm doing a cheap method.As a wood worker I've found how expensive great tools are and junk tools often discourage the craft.
I got into Blacksmith hobbyist and after 4 years of a great craft now I'm getting set up to build my own carving tools and believe I'll be comparing my cravings tools to tools that more often selling for 5X the cost so if I spend $100.00 for my own tools they are replacing $500.00 for tools if I go buy them and tools can be even more expensive. I'm certain my own tools will fit my medium/large hands.
If you buy 20 tools you'll probably find several that don't feel great in your hands. If I build 20 tools and my own handles I can change or remount new handles if I decide.
You are making good sense and thanks Johnny
Glad to do it. Thanks for the feedback! =)
I agree completely. I joined the Arizona Blacksmithing association about two years ago and the knowledge i gained about steel and carving tools is incredible.Clearly the mysteries about tool steel and sharpening are understood much better than after I started attending the once a month classes conducted for free by the association.
@@buckbeans1 A very experienced Blacksmith ( almost 60 years experience advice is don't waste your time with "unknown steel" that's when you are learning to work with steel as different steel is different and you're starting to really lean about heat treatment and wth every type you're going to learn reliable methods.For most carving knives and chisel tools 01 is the most popular and can be done without the high tech and expensive shop equipment ( unless you're ready to invest for better results) .1095 is also small shop friendly. There's great help on many websites and TH-cam they often don't teach but building with unknown steel that's guess work and expect junk results with junk teaching.
Great tips, thanks for the info. Definitely something Im going to look into.
Glad to help brother! =)
Thanks! I have been looking at these for a while. I found the practice stick exercise in Jack Price's book very helpful. I like being able to reference it, like you mentioned your buddy doing in your other comment here.
@mikereed4876 Its definitely an option when you're at the point where you can.
Great information. Thanks for sharing!😊
I also will just pick up figurines or toys and use them as a 3D model for what I want to try to carve.
@@kjirstenboucher9682 That's a great idea too. I've done that a time or two as well.
Are there any benefits to making your own study sticks from book tutorials or video`s? Or is it the fact that once you have enough skill to make the study stick, you no longer need it? I can see it being good practice and a quick reminder for how to go about process, kind of like carving notes in a visual form.
@mark.a.cornish making a study stick yourself can be great as a reference, especially if you don't do a particular thing very often. I saw one carver at a Seminar who had made his own study sticks for hair braids as he didn't do them often, but had done them so well he wanted to easily remember his process. He used those go great effect.
Excellent ordered what I could from Harold but not any oh his sticks could be delivered to Ireland. Picked up a few workbooks though, thanks for the suggestion
International shipping is always terrible. Wish it wasn't so problematic.