Wood carving is one of the most creative skills we have had since the beginning of humanity. Carvings are used in a couple of ways in our day-to-day life. We have two types of carvings: functional and non-functional. Functional carvings include utensils such as spoons and furniture. On the other hand, non-functional carvings include objects like statues, portraits and other objects that are mainly focusing on aesthetic value.
There are some factors that will determine the success of these carving projects. First on the list is your skill of carving and natural creativity. However, without the best carving tools, achieving a quality project outcome will be far from possible.
So, to help you find the best pieces of wood carving tools, our team of professionals from various relevant fields has conducted a comprehensive review. Selecting, comparing, and testing the products personally, we rounded up the best wood carving tools available now in the market.
We have also sought not just the best ones that come with quality features, but so as the items that come at reasonable prices. So, remember to click on the links below the products for their exciting deals on Amazon.
Best Wood Carving Tools Comparison & Rating
Wood Carving Tools | Features |
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1. Yolanda 14-piece Wood Carving Tools
Blade Material | Sk2 Carbon Steel |
Weight | 8.8 ounces |
Dimensions | 6.06 x 5.87 x 0.51 inches |
Hand Material | Solid Wood |
This is one of the ideal carving tool kits for both experts and beginners. It comes with quality carving knives that are strong and sturdy enough to handle all types of woodwork. What I love most about this toolset is its versatility. You can use the tools for a variety of purposes besides wood carving. If you do a lot of carving on softer materials, this kit should be an ideal option. The tools work wonderfully and have a value that exceeds their cost. They are easy to use and make your carving job much more comfortable and enjoyable.
2. Jane Choi 7-in-1 Carving Kit
Blade Material | Chromium Vanadium Alloy Steel |
Weight | 8.8 ounces |
Dimensions | 9.96 x 3.89 x 2.7 inches |
Hand Material | Walnut Wood |
This set of carving tools has almost everything you need for your carving projects. You don't have to worry about the carving of utensils like wooden bowls and spoons. The set is equipped with a hook knife to make sure you can easily carve your wooden desired spoons and bowls of various sizes and designs. The whitening blade makes sure that your carvings are clean and professional. Most interestingly, the set comes with a strap that you roll the tools in for easy carrying and storage.
3. Augsun 20-piece Wood Carving Knife Set
Blade Material | Carbon Steel |
Weight | 10.5 ounces |
Dimensions | 6.89 x 4.65 x 1.65 inches |
Hand Material | Wood |
The quality of the tools in this carving tool kit is just incredible. Even though the price doesn't match the value of the tools. The sturdiness with the blades is entirely on another level. You don't have to worry about bending or breaking. The blades are super strong and will handle a variety of woodwork. The extra accessories like sharpening stone and wiping pieces of clothes make the carving job much more comfortable and enjoyable. The durability is unquestionable.
4. Elemental Wood Carving Tools Set
Blade Material | High-carbon 65 MN Steel |
Weight | 1.13 pounds |
Dimensions | 10.2 x 9.8 x 2.3 inches |
Hand Material | Wood |
Our wood carving kit here comes with everything you need to jump-start your carving project. Unlike many carving tools kits out there, this one comes with a pair of free protective gloves. This is so important because you are handling sharp objects throughout your carving exercise. So, it would be best if you had gloves to keep your hands safe from possible injuries. This is an ideal tool kit for both beginners and experts in carving. This is a quality kit, and the price is far much less than the value of the tools.
5. JJ Care Premium 8-piece Carving Tool Kit
Blade Material | Sk7 Carbon Steel |
Weight | 1.73 pounds |
Dimensions | 7.76 x 7.52 x 3.46 inches |
Hand Material | Wood |
If you are getting into wood carving, then this is the right tool kit for you. Everything you need to start your wood carving journey is here. The soft basswood blocks are enough for your whittling needs. These tools are correctly sharpened to make your wood carving exercise easier and enjoyable. With this kit, you can handle complex carving projects quickly and with less fatigue since the knife handles are well designed to fit into your palms perfectly. This kit will possibly make a good gift for a beginner.
Best Wood Carving Tools - Buyer's Guide
Most carving tools are made of steel. However, you need to look out for good steel material. A good steel material should be strong and sturdy enough to handle hardwood. High carbon steel should always do better as far as durability and sturdiness are concerned. It has high corrosion resistance.
There is nothing more boring and tiresome than carving with a tool that has a poorly designed handle. It doesn't only make your work harder but could also create blisters on your palms, a situation I am sure you don't want to get yourself into. Therefore, you need to settle for something with an ergonomic design to allow you to work comfortably and with extra ease. An ergonomically designed handle should perfectly fit into your palms and also should have an excellent grip to avoid slipping when carving.
Most of the carving tools with handles also come along with something we call a tang. The tang in carving tools refers to how the tool is connected to the handle. Usually, we have two types of tang. The partial and the full tang.
A full tang will involve the material going all the way up through the tool handle. This helps reduce the chances of the steel flipping out. On the other hand, a partial tang means that the steel has partially gone half-way into the handle or even less. For your safety, it's recommended that you go with the full-tang option.
Edge retention essentially refers to the sharpness of your carving tools. A carving tool with good retention should probably be sharp enough to handle your carving projects with much ease. So it’s good to keep your tools sharp. Carving with a dull knife is tiresome and more hazardous compared to working with a sharp one.
Best Wood Carving Tools - FAQs
Usually, wood carving tools will get dull after using them for a long time. Secondly, it depends on what kind of wood you are using. Carving from hardwood will make your tools dull quickly. Therefore, it is advised that you sharpen your tools after every carving exercise. This will help keep them sharp and ready for use all the time. If your carving tool kit doesn't come with a sharpening stone, you have to buy one.
Honing is a post-sharpening exercise that is usually done using an extra-fine sharpening stone. This is done to give your tool an advanced sharpening. It takes approximately 20 minutes to get the whole process done.
This is a critical aspect that you should always consider. The durability of your carving tools will partially depend on how you store them. You can’t be keeping your carving tools in a wet place and expect them to stay longer. Exposing them to moisture will do nothing less than facilitating rust development, hence making them wear out fast. To keep your carving tools free from rust, you should store them in a box or a bag. Secondly, you should keep your carving tools from the reach of children.
Well, they are yours and whatever you do with them is entirely your choice to make. However, it will depend on what you are doing with them. You can't be using wood carving tools to carve stones. That will damage them.
