Flexcut VS BeaverCraft Knife Showdown - Which Set is Best for Beginner Whittling & Wood Carving?
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 12 มิ.ย. 2024
- Today, we'll be examining two very popular woodcarving/whittling knife sets for beginners:
- the BeaverCraft 3 knife set (which also includes a leather strop, honing compound, tool pouch, and bandages)
- the Flexcut 3 knife starter set (which also includes honing compound)
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Both sets are good, but there is a bit of a cost difference. Which one is best for the beginner, and which one gives you the best bang for your buck? Let's find out.
For my individual reviews of each knife set, be sure to check out these videos:
BeaverCraft review: • Beavercraft 3-Knife Ca...
Flexcut review: • Flexcut 3-Piece Knife ...
Buy your own:
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Flexcut knife set: amzn.to/34eLpbr
BeaverCraft knife set: amzn.to/34d0Dhb
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Chapters:
0:00 - Introduction
0:52 - The showdown
1:28 - Detail blade comparison
2:13 - Handle material comparison
3:20 - Roughing blade comparison
4:12 - Steel type comparison
5:17 - Rockwell hardness
5:58 - Cutting/chip blade comparison
7:55 - Summary
9:11 - Winner declared
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Note that the links above may be affiliate links, meaning that if you use the link to purchase, I may earn a commission. This helps support my channel and does not impact the amount you pay whatsoever. - แนวปฏิบัติและการใช้ชีวิต
Want to buy your own knife set and get started in the wonderful world of whittling? Here are some handy links!
Flexcut knife set: amzn.to/34eLpbr
BeaverCraft knife set: amzn.to/34d0Dhb
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Happy with all my beavercraft knives and gouges, they are less than half the price of flexcut so it was a no brainer for me, plus they have probably the best customer service of any company I've ever dealt with in my life
You are absolutely right! And yes, I've found their customer service to be phenomenal as well.
I feel like beavercraft is good but I never find myself using one. The mora knives seem better quality and way sharper out of the box. The price is comparable.
Fully support good customer service even in the midst of Ukraine war, Beavercraft still delivers. Truly commendable service.
Mine is from beavercraft as well. I love them.👍🙂
I have a few each of flexcut and beavercraft and they are comparable in quality. The only reason I would buy flexcut again would be if they had a knife or other product i need that beavercraft doesn't have.
I love my beavercraft.
65G is roughly equivalent to SAE 1066 steel. The Beaver has slightly less carbon in it. Higher carbon means you can get a harder steel and slightly more durable. Although heat treat will dictate final performance.
I haven't had any problems with my Beaver dulling but I hone them every time I use them, same with all my knives. The only complaint I have with the Beaver knives is, they are not polished enough. After you polish them they are fantastic knives. I prefer the Beaver for the longer blades and the FlexCut for short detail blades. Because of the thickness of each. Both are fantastic, but value for money the Beaver is really hard to beat. At half the price for most of the quality, I would recommend the Beaver to any one just starting out. It will be a long time before your skills out pace your tools.
I think you mean your tools will outpace your skills 😊
I'm a beginner but I bought a deluxe set of knives from beavercraft, the S18X i love those knives. Earlier I just had a regular whittling knife, moraknife. The set includes a range of different knives perfect for different types of woodwork, from a small wooden piece to larger one.
I don't have a problem with the handles, if there's a ridge u can just adjust that with sandpaper... The handle is made of wood so it's nothing to be annoyed at.😉
Very informative video. Thank you!
I appreciate it! Thanks for watching!
Thanks for this comparison video, I have a couple of flexcut knives and did wondered what else that was on the market was like to use.
I have both on my carving bench, I would have say I reach for the beaver craft more. Both good knives overall.
Thank you for the information
My Tork woodcarving chisels were very smooth and shiny when I got them. I sanded and oiled them and now they have a slightly better grip.
Agreed. The Flexcut come out of the package ready to carve! The BeaverCraft need some strop love before you can really use them. If you are experienced with sharpening, the BeaverCraft can save you a few bucks;
I used to have a set of flexcut and loved them but somewhere in life and moves it was lost. Just ordered the Beaver Craft since the price range fits our current budget. They come in today and can't wait to get back in to whittling which helps with my anxiety and stress during cases.
I gotta say, I'm pretty partial to flexcut. I work there. I polish and sharpen specifically those 3 blades. Every one is hand polished hand sharpened and tested.
I'm an intermediate carver looking for a thinner blade than my Mora 120, and I was just looking into this exact question. Flexcut and Beavercraft are the only real options in my country it seems. Thank you for being explicit with your conclusion, sometimes it might seem pointless when Flexcut already has a good reputation but details like blade thickness and steel type are otherwise scarcely mentioned and crucial for the prospective buyer.
I got started with Flexcut and have a few premium knives but I still use the flexcut a lot. Recently bought a flexcut 2 blade pocket knife to take along camping. It was perfect for that use.
I love mine as well. Is the pocket knife the Whittlin' Jack? Because that one is FANTASTIC
Whittling Jack yep that’s it
Excelente!!! 🙌
Thank you for the video. Wish I saw this before I ordered my knives. Maybe i will just exchange them. God Bless.
If you have the patience and the skills that Beavercraft can be modified into a great carving kniife. It took me about an hour and a half on wet stones to reshape the blade to a flat grind. Now it is much thinner, much sharper and cuts much better.
I'm new at carving and built myself 3 knives and built my handles from pictures and test fit my own grip.
I got the Beaver Craft as to have something to compare with mine knives.
These are from Sawzall blade and I have a 1095 that extra small about 2.25 inches and believe it is the better steel of what I have now..
That Beaver Craft is very good for its price and as you judging that handle to small and to short and mostly to thin for my hands but on that subject don't we have different grips
I saw 6 sided handles that longer than the 2 you compare and I think 7 sided grip handle that is flat one top to point directly from my hand and the bottom V shape seems like my next trail to test.
Thanks for the teaching Sir
Thank you for the review, Just getting into wood carving, I decided to purchase both Beavercraft with accessories and a flex craft - starter. I look forward to your wood crafter's corner videos sharpen.
I've been want to whittle for awhile now and have been looking for tools.
For my birthday the wife gave me 100 bucks. I've wanted to try whittling and carving for a long time so I hit Amazon. Also asked in carving and whittling groups. I bought the following:
flexcut kn13 with compound,
Beavercraft kit came in a box with detail knife, rough out knife, hook knife for spoons, spoon blank, compound, leather strop.
Flex cut stropping block
1.5 mm v groove tool
A pack of 8 basswood blocks, 2x2x12.
Cost 108.00 and free shipping. I'll be honest, so far I've just been hacking away at 2x4 and pine shelving. Following tutorials by Doug linker, sharonmyaet, Keven Coates and used your blank cutting video.
Thanks for the vids and tips
Man, that's awesome. That's a great way to get started!
@@casskidd1 use, ordered off amazon
I have both sets and flex cut seems to stay sharper for longer. Both were good for a beginner like me tho.
Thanks. I use both. I also use Moras. 🔪🎸
Jim
The roundness of the Flexcut knife is its roundness. If you set the knife down on your workbench while you are carving the knife can an will spin around and often stops with the blade pointing toward you. There is a cut waiting to happen. A flat handle is much safer.
Agreed It need one being cut to realise the danger of a round fat handle.
For me flexcut really dose flex and cut so its my favourite. 👍
Thank You much, I'm a greenhorn aat carving. Yup,! 😀
The handle of the beavercraft tools is fixable You can add wood to the sides and reshape it to your liking. Even high quality knife handles are often customized by the owner. even the hole in the end of the handle can be filled with epoxy . . You fix steel hardness by stropping more often ,
Bonjour et merci de cette vidéo constructive. Personnellement le Flexcut est très agréable à utiliser grâce à son épaisseur de lame plus fine, donc plus souple que Beavercraft. Le biseau de lame du Flexcut est moins prononcé et permet des coupes petites et fines. Par contre, le couteau détails de Beavercraft possède cet arrondi du dos de la lame qui permet de sculpter de longues en V sans être gêné par la pointe comme pour le Flexcut finitions. En résumė ces couteaux se valent pour le débutant, mais ma préférence opte pour le Flexcut. Bien à vous,
Michèle
Beavercraft customer service is hand's down best I've ever dealt with.
Okay just to give you a heads up I have purchased both and a few other sets and I found out if you get the deluxe set or the premium set of beavercraft they blow the flex cut out of the water and let's face it there's not a one of us let's go to say okay this is the profile we want with this blade we always go and resharp it and re-profile them anyway you're going to do the same thing with the flex cut all of them come extremely Sharp but you need to learn how to sharpen your knives anyway add maintain them they both have the same ergonomic design and the same steel the only difference is is fit and finish and as I said if you get the deluxe or the premium the fit and finish is there any my opinion looks better than the flex cut
Flexcut is a medium good carving knife ..Holds a edge well and if you like the handle ..not bad ..The Beaver Craft is a fairly decent knife ..But doesnt hold the edge very well ..Need to strop it more often when carving ..Both popular because Amazon carries a good supply of them ..But once you decide you want to learn to carve well ..Its best to move up to the more custom knives like Helvie ..OCCT ..Lyons .. And most name brand carving knives made by carvers themselves ..Much harder to obtain ..But superior in blade steel
Thanks for the review. I have a Beaver Craft and ....I regret buying it. I gets dull every few cuts even on soft wood. The blade's edge chips on BCraft. Honestly, whenever fell like reaching for BCraft I know it's gonna be time wasted on resharpening it. The BCraft gauges are a different story, though. They work well and stay sharp. Thanks
I'm glad I did my research and didn't impulse buy the first carving set I thought I wanted. Especially since I didn't do my research on the actual carving/whittling procedure and such. I began with and still exclusively carve kiln dried hardwood from furniture shops cutoffs. So I have beautifully figured wood, but it's all hard af!
I love the worst of them too
Oregon black walnut 😄
It's so beautiful but I have to hone constantly 😫
Max, go and check out Patrick Sullivan. He dowes several videos on making his own miniature gouges and chisels. _Then_ he made three videos on making your cutting tools out of Tungsten Carbide... _So_ interesting. He loves them because they rarely need sharpening.
Have you ver had a problem with the blade coming out of the handle? Are the blades held in the handle the same way? One nice thing about the flexcut is you can buy locally, as this is the brand Woodcraft and Rockler carries, in case you need one quickly. Good video. Thank you.
I recently started with a No. 7 Opinel because I wanted a whittler that was more flexible in general, but I'm fairly convinced that it's not ideal for a beginner who has enough to concern himself with without trying to manage that long blade. Just takes too much effort keeping a blade like that usable and sharp.
So yesterday I ordered the FlexCut carving knife as my basic cutter. I had actually thought that maybe I'd get FlexCut for my main blades and maybe Beavercraft for some of the supplementals to save some money, but if blade thickness is consistently an issue, I might just go with FlexCut pretty much across the board. I imagine thickness might matter more with some blades than others, though.
I love my opinels … I have a 6 and an 8 … they can get sooo sharp. I’m on the lookout for a detail knife .. do you know if opinel does detail knives ?
I’m assuming not as your going with flexicut 😂
@@JoeCarvesWood I've jumped around a bit on their website. They have smaller knives, but it doesn't appear as though any have the shape we're used to having in a detail knife blade.
Oh and by the way if you get the premium or Deluxe you actually will get a walnut or an oak handle even in the picture you can tell it's Walnut
Bro, can you do a video on how to sharpen carving knives?
Funny you should say that; I've got one coming on just that subject!
@@WoodcraftersCorner Awesome! 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻
Flexcut do a proper chip carving knife and also a mini chip carving knife the one you showed is a smaller rough out knife. 👍
I think he showed those particular knives because those were the 3 knives included in each starter set for those companies.
Both are excellent knives. I prefer the Flexcut but would probably just as happy with Bravercraft.
Wouldn't the thicker blade of Beavercraft knives be a better choice for Hard wood spoon carving applications then the Flexcut thin spring steel blade that bends?
When you buy the flexcuts separately, that "cutting" blade is called a chip blade. It must have just been some quirk in that 3-piece kit you got, where they call it Cutting. Maybe it's for the beginners to use as a cutting blade, vs the larger actual cutting blade. Weird for them to deceive a newbie though.
Bandages!?
NOT SURE UNDERSTAND THE DIFFERENCE OF ANY KNIFE (TYPE FOR TYPE) AS LONG AS THEY ARE KEPT SHARP .
👍👍👍
👍👍🤠🤠
Thank you for doing this comparison, I was looking at this because I’m just starting. UPDATE- I have bought the BC knives but they just didn’t do it for me. So I then went to the fC and found them better for me. The handle is better and I find that the blade is better quality. M
I just buy the flexcut knives then sand them to the shape of my hand. Trust me it feels the best
Flexcraf tools are the best
beavercraft sets wont put me into debt, and is great for what i need, flexcut is to pricey to use for me, im broke enough that if i used a flexcut id be sweating the whole time about chipping or breaking it
edit: beavercraft is my go to not just because of a tight budget, but because i prefer using a thicker blade
You know you can get a Rockwell hardness testing kit so it's really not hard to say
I absolutely do not agree with your opinion. I have several pieces of both brands and I will never give flexcut any more of my money. They are not just a bit more money than BeaverCraft, they are actually more than three times the price. Also, the flexcut knives are not laminate handles but coated with a varnish of some kind which will in fact cause blisters. None of my flexcut tools will hold an edge any longer than my BeaverCraft tools. And as carvers, we already expect to strop every 15 minutes or so with green wood and much more often with dried wood.
I will not assume that you are being compensated by flexcut but I most certainly expect that you are.
I sure hope people do their own research instead of taking your word for it.
God bless you
Roy
Auburn, WA
Right now, the regular price on Amazon for the FlexCut set is $57.50 and the BeaverCraft is $35 (granted, it comes with a couple of non-cutting items). For just the starter knife, the FlexCut cutting knife is $22.50 and the BC whittling knife is $14. So they're about 62% more expensive, rather than 3x as expensive.
I have found beaver craft blades to just be too thick
I prefer BeaverCraft, I use them as well as members of my family. They are the best knives for the money.
FlexCut are overrated and over priced.
BeaverCraft knives are a total copycat of flexcut knives. They do not hold an edge as long as flexcut does. And they take longer to get back scary sharp. Flexcut wins in al areas from BeaverCraft.
They are more expensive
@@teunlll not much more expensive, and 100 times better.
@@2371Anita they are more expensive. Personally I usually don't grap my beavercraft knives because they slice through the wood less smoothly. Mora work better for me, knowing it's in the same price range as a beavercraft or flexcut
@@teunlll they don't slice good because they are to thick.
@@2371Anita I noticed. Just bought me a flexcut and it indeed is a lot slimmer. It's a different knife then the mora but I feel like both are comparable knife qualities. Beavercraft works but nothing more.
Do not waste your money on either of these knives, you will regret it once you get a decent knife
which one should one buy then?
@@TheJZBaller Helvie or Drake every time
@@KE-cq5pn Good luck getting a hold of them anytime soon, though. Drake has a 4 week turnaround (not too bad, really) and Helvie's website says 250 days.
Problem is you can't find those knives anywhere. In the meantime, get some decent Flexcuts, practice your techniques & style & by the time those super cutters become available you'll be a freaking master. Lol