Here is a list of the things in our starter kit along with suggestions for your first purchases.
We do not recommend anything fancy, just good basic tools to begin. (as your enthusiasm and skills grow, you can get fancy/expensive)!
Note: links will open n a new tab!

Words of wisdon from Dave Stetson (CCA)

You don't have to be great to start, but you have to start to be great!

If it doesn't challenge you, it won't change you!

Learn Some Knife Basics

Van Kell, Knife types

dywoodcarving: Bader State Blades

Johnny Layton

The "grind" is how the sharp edge is created. We like a "flat grind" for most carving knives.

Blade grind types

Knife:

Flexcut make a very good knife, sharp out of the package, and affordable. There are many many woodcarving knife makers on the web. Start simple, learn, and build from there.

(Amazon or Flexcut.com)

**Flexcut KN-13 Detail Knife**

Flexcut KN-12 shorter, a stout blade, good for roughing out

Flexcut KN-27 much shorter, a detail knife

Flexcut Starter 3 Knife Set KN500 (has the detail, rough

Safety:

My wife is a quilter, and they will purchase an inexpensive pair of leather gloves and cut the fingertips off to use as thumbguards or other fingers! Genius! (Harbor Freight? Inexpensive!!)

Carving Is Fun (Gloves)

** Cut-resistant glove** Nothing less than an ANSI A5 rating

Amazon example 1

Amazon example 2

Thumb Guard Flexcut KN02 Knife sheath (optional, but very handy!)

Magazines

Woodcarving Illustrated https://woodcarvingillustrated.com

Carving Magazine http://www.carvingmagazine.com
(web resources only, they do not publish the printed magazine any longer)

Sharpening

Wood carving stropping compounds come in various colors, each with a different abrasive and intended use.
Common colors include black, white, green, and red, each corresponding to different abrasive materials like
emery, aluminum oxide, chromium oxide, and ferric oxide, respectively. These compounds are used to polish and
refine the edges of carving tools after sharpening.

Here's a bit more detailed look at the different types of compound:

Black: Typically contains emery, a coarser abrasive ideal for removing scratches and shaping the edge.

White: Often uses aluminum oxide, a good balance for cutting and polishing.

Green: Contains chromium oxide, a fine abrasive known for producing a sharp, polished edge (good starter)

Red: Usually made with ferric oxide, a finer abrasive primarily used for polishing.

Other Compounds:

Flexcut Gold: A popular choice for polishing, it's known for its fine abrasive quality.

Diamond compound: Available in various micron sizes, diamond compounds offer an
extremely fine abrasive for achieving the sharpest possible edge.

TIPS:

For a strop, an old leather belt can be use (and often is), it just
needs to be wide enough to strop your blade! The compound used as the
"rouge" comes in MANY different forms... Green is a good "all 'round'
(as you learn more, you can experiment)

Some folks use the 'self adhesive' (Vet Wrap) tape for their
thumbguard. Hard to use more than once, but handy to have in you bag
as a backup!