The 5 Best Wood Carving Tools

Wood carving allows you to turn wood into beautiful pieces of art. It is a form of woodworking that has been practiced around the globe for centuries. To get started in wood carving, you will need a basic set of wood carving tools. Typically a beginner's set will include a carving knife, a gouge, a coping saw, and a chisel. Each of these are used for different steps in the wood carving process. If you're ready to try your hand at wood carving, or continue to build your skills in this historic craft, here are five of the best wood carving tools you can purchase.

Gimars Upgrade 12 Set SK5 Carbon Steel Wood Carving Tools Knife Kit – Kids & Beginners with Reusable Pouch

A Basic Set for Beginners

When you're just learning to carve wood, you need a reliable set of tools like these.

Best Overall

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If you or your child want to give wood carving a try, this simple set is perfect for beginners. There are 12 different wood carving tools, plus a handy pouch to store them in. You’ll find all the tools you need to get started, including gouges, chisels, knives, and a parting tool. To help ensure safety, each tool has a cover for the sharp end. This will help prevent accidental cuts. The tips are made from high quality SK5 carbon steel, so they will hold up well to use. The wood handles are comfortable to hold, even when you’re working for long periods of time. To help keep the blades sharp, make sure you clean the tools after every use. You can use a little oil to help maintain the blades.

Pros

Great beginner’s set
Many sizes and shapes
Carrying bag for all the tools

Cons

The caps are small and fall off easily

Xacto X5175 Deluxe Woodcarving Set

A Full Set of Woodcarvnig Tools

Keep your wood carving tools in this beautiful wooden chest.

Best Case

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Keep your wood carving tools neatly organized with this wooden chest. There are slots so you can always put everything where it belongs. The kit includes several essential tools. You’ll receive a no. 5 knife handle, and a variety of blades, gouges, and routers to attach to the handle. It comes with a deburring blade, heavy chiseling blade, angled chiseling blade, whittling blade, curved carving blade, and more. These are all the tools you need to either learn how to carve wood, or continue practicing your skills. These tools are universal, so they work for either right or left handed carvers.

Pros

Great case
Nice variety of tools
Sharp knives

Cons

The case is designed to hold the knife with a specific tip on it. If you switch that out, it won’t fit properly.

Old Timer 24OT Splinter Carvin’ 6in Traditional Folding Whittling Kinfe with 1.5 in Detail Blade and Sawcut Handle for Outdoor, Hunting, Camping, and EDC

An All-in-One Tool

If you don't want to pack around a lot of tools, this all-in-one is a great option.

Best All in One

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If you don’t have a lot of room to pack around tools, or don’t want your kids to get into sharp things, check this tool out. It’s an all-in-one pocketknife style. From the handle, you can pop out a straight gouge, a hook blade, a v-scorp, a gouge scorp, and a chisel. Those are all the tools you need to get started as woodcarver or whittler. The blade is made from strong 65Mn High Carbon Steel, so they shouldn’t break. Altogether, this compact knife is only 6-inches long, and weighs only 3.9 ounces. This is a very portable option that’s ready to use right away.

Pros

Small size
Durable carbon stool
Comfortable grip

Cons

The locking mechanism isn’t really strong

WEN 23190 1.3-Amp Variable Speed Steady-Grip Rotary Tool with 190-Piece Accessory Kit, Flex Shaft, and Carrying Case

Powerful Wood Carving Tools

If you want to bring a little power into your woodcarving time, you need this set.

Most Powerful

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You won’t have to carve by hand with this powerful set. It features a variable speed 1.3A motor that goes from 8,000 to 35,000 RPM. There’s a flex shaft to provide control when tackling intricate jobs. The handles are easy to grip, and comfortable to hang onto. There are loads of ends you can attach. These allow you to carve, cut, grind, deburr, engrave, and more. The bits range from 1/32 of an inch to 1/8 of an inch, so you’ll always find the one you need. The carrying case has 190 different slots, so you can slide in each pieces and all the accessories and keep your wood working tools organized.

Pros

Powerful
A lot of bits
Variable speeds

Cons

You wont use all of the tips for woodcarving

Fancii Precision Craft Knife Set 16 Pieces – Professional Razor Sharp Knives for Art, Hobby, Scrapbooking and Sculpture – Includes Stencil, Fine Point, Scoring, Chiseling Blades

Quick Blade Change

These wood carving tools feature quick release so changing bits is simple.

Best on a Budget

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Great wood carving tools don’t need to cost an arm and a leg. That’s what makes this budget friendly option so practical. Inside a small carrying case, you’ll find sixteen pieces, including three aluminum knife handles. There are 13 premium blades, which you can switch quickly thanks to the easy-swap handle design. The blades are all made from carbon steel, and are very sharp. Your kit includes chiseling blades, a carving blade, and a general purpose blade. You can use these tools on all sorts of material, not just wood. They’re a great addition to your crafting tools.

Pros

Budget friendly
Easy swap design
Multi-purpose

Cons

The case isn’t great

Frequently Asked Questions

What type of wood do I need for carving?

As a beginner, you want to select a piece of wood that is lightweight and easy to carve. Basswood is highly recommended, and is often the type of wood people first carve. This type of wood is also forgiving. It’s easy on your tools. Other choice woods include the oak, black walnut, balsa, and white pine. When selecting wood, take time to think about your final product first. Then you can pick a piece of wood that is large enough but not too big.

What is a gouge?

Most wood carving tool sets come with at least one gouge. This is a chisel with a concave blade, which means it curves in or has a hollow mddld. You use it to make a groove when you’re carving. Gouges come in different shapes. Some are large, and others are small. Always match up the size of the tool with the size of the wood. That way you can use the tools safely and reduce your chances of getting hurt.

Is wood carving safe?

Whenever you work with sharp tools, you have a chance of getting stabbed. Thus, there is some danger associated with wood carving. However, most people can learn to handle the tools safely. You should wear safety goggles when you carve. That way bits of flying sawdust don’t fly up into your eye and cause problems. Always cut away from your body, not towards it. That way if you slip, you do not do not get cut. Use common sense when carving with tools. If you are purchasing for your child, don’t let them use them without supervision. The tools are sharp.