Choosing a Whittling Knife

Hello there, fellows! I’d like to welcome you today with this short article (just a share of thoughts, really) on choosing a whittling knife. All of us have our own approach and the priorities when choosing, of course – somebody prefers a longer handle and somebody prefers a shorter one, some of us tend to buy stainless steel knives (even after all this time when being proven that it’s not the best option) when the others look for high-carbon steel ones. Sizes, shapes, purpose – everything matters when you choose, so do it wisely and you won’t be let down by the instruments you found.

Choosing a whittling knife is best when you know what to look for, of course. So make sure you do your research before diving into the mystical yet scary world of marketplaces and instruments on them. I’ll do my best to cover this topic for you, but I doubt I’ll tell you a lot of new things which you haven’t read in my previous articles before.

Choosing a Whittling Knife

With such a diversity on the market you can get easily confused and don’t get what you want in the very end. However, not all offered knives are appropriate for wood carving chisels. This hobby has its specifics, of course, and those are requiring a tougher blade, first and foremost, because cutting wood isn’t anywhere close to kitchen appliances. The wood carving knives should also have a more comfortable handle, not a plastic one that we often see with kitchen knives – carving requires a longer time of work than the kitchen, so you’ll need the handle to be the most comfortable, non-slippery and just right for your hand or you’ll get tired quickly.

So if you are thinking about getting a pocket or a kitchen knife to try out carving – I wouldn’t recommend it. Personally for me, kitchen knives are a no-go for everything carving. And the pocket knives can be used if you are on the road somewhere and don’t expect the carving you’re working on to be good, really. It’s a nice thing to have if you carve only once in a while just to stick that blade into the wood, but if you intend on learning carving as a permanent hobby – better grab a specialized knife for wood, you won’t be sorry afterwards.

It’s a great thing to learn something new, and with whittling hobby you may learn a lot. The knife should have a tough razor, usually the high-carbon steel ones are the ones preferred for wood carving – if you care about your tools properly, they won’t get rusty so no need for that stainless steel. And high-carbon is much tougher and sharper, moreover, it has a tendency to keep that sharpness longer. 

Choosing a whittling knife set would be a great solution for you if you want to buy a bunch of different knives and experiment with them all or simply don’t know for sure which one you’d require. There are a lot of things out there so don’t blame yourself for wanting to try them all. Just be considerate about that and choose the best from the best, then trying everything won’t be a bad idea at all. Let’s find the best tools for everyone and have a competition or a fun time carving altogether!