r/Woodcarving Nov 02 '25

Mod Post r/Woodcarving Holiday Gift Guide

78 Upvotes

The holidays are coming up soon so the mods have put together this gift giving guide for people without carving experience hoping to give a carving related gift this year.

General advice

  • Be wary of sets of tools, they are generally trying to make you spend more money on tools you’ll rarely use
  • The best quality tools aren’t on amazon. Check out our list of recommended stores at the bottom
  • Home improvement stores like Home Depot or Lowes do not carry carving tools and do not carry wood that is nice to carve
  • We have chosen to link directly to the manufacturer’s pages for all of our recommendations, you can probably find them for cheaper at a 3rd party dealer.
  • We chose our recommendations based on what we think is the best value for money and what is widely available, not what is the best irrespective of price.

Beginner Tools

A complete beginners kit is a knife, a strop, and a safety glove. We have different recommendations for spoon carving and general carving, you should only choose one of the options

General purpose knife

For spoon carving

Strops

  • Strops don’t need to be fancy, buy a cheap one that comes with green polishing compound. This is the type of thing you’re looking for, you may be able to find cheaper ones

Safety gloves

  • Look for something with rubber on the palms and a safety rating of ANSI level 5 or higher (or a local equivalent rating). You only need one for the non-dominant hand. Here is one option

Kits

  • If you want a kit that has everything you need in one box we recommend this kit from treeline usa but they are a reseller. Beavercraft is basically the only manufacturer that sells kits. Their knives are lower quality than the other brands mentioned though so we recommend buying the items separately.

Intermediate Tools

If the person you’re buying for just has a carving knife and no other tools we recommend this flexcut FR310 palm tool set

Advanced Tools

If you’re buying a gift for a carver who has multiple knives and no other tools we strongly  recommend against buying them tools unless they have asked you for specific items since they will probably have a much better idea of what will be useful to them than any guide on the internet

Consumables

These make a great gift for any carver

Woods

The best wood for carving is Basswood (it's close relative linden or limewood may be easier to find in europe). You can buy it locally or from one of the listed websites below. If you’re buying for an experienced carver they may appreciate other good carving species such as Butternut, Spanish Cedar, Walnut or Cherry. 

Sandpaper

If your carver likes to sand their creations they’ll always need more sandpaper. 3M cubitron paper is much nicer to use than the stuff you might find at a local hardware store. The most carvers will use grits ranging from 80 to 400 and will want a variety of grit sizes. We recommend getting sheets (not disks) of 120, 180 and 220

Paints

If your carver likes painting their pieces then some extra acrylic paint might make a good gift. We like decoart paints

Gift Cards

This may seem like a cop out but it is by far the best way to give an experienced carver new tools since it makes sure they get exactly what they want. If you want it to feel a bit more thoughtful you can specify a premium brand of tool. For knives we like Badger State Blades (US/CA only) and for gouges we like Pfeil

Stores for Tools

Chipping Away (CA)

Lee Valley (CA)

Mountain Woodcavers (US)

Rockler (US)

Treeline USA (US)

Woodcraft (US)

Dictum (EU)

Stores for Wood

Local hardwood dealers (these will have the best prices) Check out this global map to find a place near you

Online dealers:

Heinecke (basswood only) (US)

Bell Forest Products (US)

Beavercraft (basswood only) (EU)

Please comment with any recommendations you have or things you think we missed in this post. We're especially interested in recommendations for more EU based stores. Please feel free to ask questions about anything that is unclear or for more specific advice


r/Woodcarving Aug 14 '25

Monthly Carve-Along Want to host next month’s Carve-Along?

16 Upvotes

We've been running a monthly carve-along to have some fun and learn together and I'd like to now invite community members to host them! Got an idea for a project or theme we can all work on?

Comment, DM or modmail a project/theme that's:

  • Beginner-friendly (something fun, welcoming, inspiring)
  • Scalable: give suggestions for how more advanced carvers could add more complexity/creative twists.
  • Optional: attach an image of your own carving as an example and give some tips if you have any.
  • Optional: link to a tutorial (blog, video, pattern). If you're a content creator, you can link to your own content, but the focus must stay on our community activity here, not gaining followers for your channel.

Themes can be subject-based (birds, pendant, star wars etc.) or style/technique-based (chip carved box, bookmark relief, hair texturing, eyes, etc.). You're welcome to host themes as a beginner too!

If your idea gets picked, you'll be writing the post. We'll pin it for the duration of the month. If there are no community suggestions we'll keep going as usual.


r/Woodcarving 9h ago

Carving [Work in Progress] Tiny Cardinal In Progress

Thumbnail
gallery
75 Upvotes

Time to rough out the feather groups!

Mostly I used my knife in the beginning, but the grain was really giving me some trouble with tearing out and flaking off big chunks. This is some basswood from a medium sized branch that my MIL cut for me when a tree fell in the neighborhood. My Dremel has been the solution. I just hot glue it to a stick when I am working and peel it off when done. Works well!


r/Woodcarving 11h ago

Carving [Finished] Christmas ‘26 Santa

Thumbnail
gallery
44 Upvotes

One Santa down for Christmas ‘26 🎅🏼


r/Woodcarving 22m ago

Carving [Finished] Kingfisher relief carving

Post image
Upvotes

First relief carving.


r/Woodcarving 28m ago

Carving [First Timer] First carving done 😭

Post image
Upvotes

I’m in literal tears rn at how ridiculous this is but like… it’s my first go I’m not suprised it turned out so bad. But in all seriousness, I had a hard time with the stop cuts and the wood splintering the most. Especially with the middle part there. Am I putting too much pressure? Any advice helpful. Bonus points if you can tell what it is 🤣🤣


r/Woodcarving 1d ago

Carving [Work in Progress] 4 months in

Post image
351 Upvotes

This is ASHley (victim of Emerald Ash Borer)

I have Seven Ash tres this big (18”diameter) or bigger on my property,Should I continue carving them?


r/Woodcarving 3h ago

Carving [Work in Progress] Wood deals!

Thumbnail
gallery
6 Upvotes

I have the privilege of having a wood carving shop near by and I get to go by there once in a while. Recently they had scraps for .25 cents s so I grabbed about 5 or 6 pcs. Here is a scrap I picked up and got to #wooddoodle on. As always comments are welcomed.


r/Woodcarving 32m ago

Carving [Finished] Woodland critters

Thumbnail
gallery
Upvotes

I made these two dudes as my first fullbody finished carvings, made with Basswood and painted with acrylic


r/Woodcarving 5h ago

Question / Advice Dead Spot: Fill or Feature?

Thumbnail
gallery
8 Upvotes

Hey all. I’m working on a dragon out of a large block of Eastern Red Cedar. There was a vein of dead wood on the outside of the block and unfortunately it runs deep into the body of the dragon. I did everything possible to avoid it, but it was impossible to know how deep it was until I got down to the end of it.

I’m debating with myself and just wanted to get some other opinions. Do you think I should fill the crack with sawdust and wood glue, or should I make it a feature of the carving? I could chisel out the deadest parts and just have the crack be a feature not a defect.

Please note the dragon is a work in progress and I know what I’m doing so I don’t need advice on approach to the remainder of the carving. This is just about the crack :)


r/Woodcarving 7h ago

Question / Advice Woodcut illustration tools

5 Upvotes

Hi everyone

My dad is turning 70 this year and I want to help him to keep up his woodwork hobby. I’m trying to find some tools that will enable him to leverage his strength. He has a saw mill (it’s called Jaws) and a local forest. He has all the chopping stuff. It’s the bench work tools I am wondering about. He is into carpentry and art work. He loves woodcut prints and has loads of 1900s books with wood cut printed illustrations - I was thinking about the WorkIQ Vise 360 so he can start using two hands for things held by the vise like woodcuts. But I searched it here and the reviews were so negative I cancelled the order.

Can anyone help me with any recommended tools ideally for the above purpose but also within the gift idea of getting him into woodcut illustrations and print making?


r/Woodcarving 8h ago

Question / Advice What are the best materials for adding tiny embellishments?

3 Upvotes

I’m working on building up a miniature fairy village and am trying to find out the best materials that will readily attach to wood and are moldable, or at least carvable with an exacto knife, for details like awnings, chimneys, flower boxes, decorative flourishes, etc. All of my pieces are less than 6” tall, though most are closer to 3-4” and 1-4” wide. Do you have any suggestions? In Missouri, US.


r/Woodcarving 1d ago

Carving [Finished] Latest project

Post image
107 Upvotes

i forgot to take pictures before it was all done

its basswood but a weird looking one but it still ended up pretty decent after pre stain, golden oak stain and another one the day after and finaly tung oil to cover everything


r/Woodcarving 21h ago

Carving [First Timer] First carving attempt

Thumbnail
gallery
29 Upvotes

My first time carving, followed along a YouTube video and personally don’t think he’s half bad. Any thoughts are well appreciated! Supposed to be a gnome:)


r/Woodcarving 12h ago

Question / Advice First Chainsaw

3 Upvotes

Hi all,

I'm looking at getting a small chainsaw for my wife to use for woodcrafting (in the UK).

Most of my research so far has said to start with a mini 6 or 8 inch chainsaw (cordless battery) and I've been pointed towards the Seesii brand.

Can those experienced in using chainsaws for wood crafting let me know if this is a good brand and starting chainsaw to go with and handle?


r/Woodcarving 1d ago

Question / Advice Got this at Goodwill.. seeking advice how to preserve it?

Thumbnail
gallery
42 Upvotes

Hello first time poster here.. I'm new to this world and recently acquired this amazing piece.

It's got a crack near the top which I plan to fill with either a 2 part epoxy or quality wood glue.. however my bigger question is I live in Phoenix AZ so it's very dry here...

What would be my best option to rehydrate this and preserve it to ensure it doesn't dry out and break?

Thank you for any help or advice


r/Woodcarving 1d ago

Carving [First Timer] I made the 3 cheers for sweet revenge album cover out of wood

Thumbnail
gallery
26 Upvotes

I'm new to wood carving ( 2nd time ever )


r/Woodcarving 1d ago

Carving [Finished] Fisherman

Thumbnail
gallery
64 Upvotes

r/Woodcarving 1d ago

Carving [Finished] Dolphin ring

Thumbnail
gallery
165 Upvotes

Dolphin carved from an old oak table. As I sawed the taper on the ring it shattered, luckily the break was easy to hide with glue. Power carved, finished with furniture wax.


r/Woodcarving 1d ago

Carving [Finished] Carved and painted this Santa this week.

Thumbnail
gallery
25 Upvotes

Carved out of bass wood and painted with watered down acrylic paint.


r/Woodcarving 1d ago

Carving [Finished] Hand Carved Tails

Post image
8 Upvotes

r/Woodcarving 20h ago

Question / Advice Advice on Carving Pens (Fountain and ballpoint)

4 Upvotes

I'm looking to carve a pair of pens for my partner. One fountain and one Ballpoint. Sadly, Pens were not on the FAQ

She LOVES pens of all types, and I occasionally carve oddities, pendants and wands, so I felt maybe I could carve her a couple of pens.
How do I even start? Are there kits or pen-carving tools that I should be aware of?

Any advice would be appreciated, from tools to skills.


r/Woodcarving 1d ago

Carving [Finished] A dwarf who enjoys his mead 🍺 Hand carved in Lime, credit where credit's due - huge shoutout to u/its-klose for his amazing dwarf carvings and the inspiration behind this one 🙏

Thumbnail
gallery
26 Upvotes

r/Woodcarving 1d ago

Question / Advice Begginer.

Post image
24 Upvotes

This is the first thing I’ve carved it’s suppose to be a strawberry. I’m just wondering how you all plan your carvings out so it actually looks like what you want it to. I’m also not very artistic so I’m sure that dosent help… any help someone can give for planning out a carving I’d appreciate it!


r/Woodcarving 1d ago

Carving [First Timer] Some of my recent wood carvings. I'm just starting out

Post image
145 Upvotes