Deepwoods Venture hand forges the best carving knifes I have used.

The best and most affordable carving tool is one that will be around for years to come. That is what you get when you order a carving knife from Deepwoods Ventures. These hand forged tools and unique maple burl handles are build to last a lifetime and then possibly the lifetime of your grandchildren as well.
The Deepwoods carving tools are individually forged from 1095 high carbon steel round stock, the benefit of this kind of steel is that it produces a nice hardness that can be easily sharpened and stay sharp for a long time. The steel is first pounded flat with a hammer and anvil. Next the blades go to the grinder/sander, where they are smoothed down and given their rough shape. Then they are quenched and triple tempered. Finally, the knife will go through a series of finish grinds, to give it the exact shape. Then onto buffing, to make it shiny, and last it is sharpened and tested before going to the customer.
Visit their wesbsite at www.deepwoodsventures.com

So what brand of carving knife or knives do you use? Use the simple comment section below to let us know.

Happy Carving,
Jerry

When woodcarving keeping your tools sharp will produce clean cuts and makes the carving experience more enjoyable. The key in keeping your tools polished and razor sharp is the strop. A “Strop” is a piece of leather that is glued to a flat board. Polishing compound is often applied to the leather, this action is referred as “Loading” the strop.
Since my early days of carving I have always been told to never get oil on your strop as it will remove the needed abrasiveness from your strop. Well I recently ran across the idea of mixing mineral or baby oil with your polishing compound to make a paste that has a consistency of peanut butter. You guessed it I have to give it a try, and I highly recommend that you do not, unless you want to spend an hour making the paste and then another hour cleaning the mess off your strop.
I have to admit the baby oil did smell good, and the paste made loading my strip easy. But as far as performance in sharpening my tools, it stunk! The other issue is that the paste was messy and ended up everywhere the strop was laid.
So take if from me, just load your strop with dry compound and spend your time carving instead of messing around mixing baby oil and polishing compound.

Need a strop, don’t buy one make one! Here is a little video on just how to do it.

Jerry's Carving Vise

This wood carving vise was inspired by an article in Wood Carving Illustrated Issue #5, titled “Build the 1797 carvers vice” and was the winner of the 1998 Poor Man’s Contest.

I use this vise for all my “in the round” carvings, because it is inexpensive, ease of use and is portable.

Oh, and did you catch it is cheap and easy to make!

Details and Features

If you look at the plans for the 1797 carvers vise you will see that my vise is almost the same, but there are some subtle differences.

• The Handle is spring loaded and can be re-positioned at will while maintaining a secure hold on your project.
• Positioning notches have been cut into the pivot side of the TEE thus insuring your project will not move, even while doing light mallet work.
• It is painted a lovely Hunter’s Green, to match the decor of our dinning room.

How to use

Carving Vise - FLexable

The use of the vise is pretty self explanatory, the eyebolt is tightened by the spring loaded handle that puts pressure on the swing arm, keeping it secured in one of the positioning notches. To move your carving project forward or backward, simply loosen the handle and rotate the arm to the desired notch. Also as you move the arm you can rotate the pivot arm giving you 360 degree access to your project.

Carving Vise - FLexable

By mounting Jerry’s Carving Vise on a portable workbench like shown in these pictures, you can take your favorite hobby anywhere you can carry your caving tools. When visiting friends at their lake cottage I just take my vise and C-clamps to use with their picnic table or deck railing. This vise also works well if you like camping, or visiting your favorite park, but watch out for children picking up your sharp carving tools.

How to build Jerry’s Carving Vise

My version of the “Poor Mans Carving Vise” comes with a larger price tag than $17.97, at $31.76. But I find it meets my needs and is far less then those manufactured models that sell between $75.00 and $200.00!
(I have included links at the bottom)

All materials can be purchased from your local hardware store and the handle is ordered online from Carr Lane Mfg. and you can click here for the adjustable handle information. Make sure you order the correct size of handle as they have a few options. I used “Size-3″ 5/16-18 M10 model, but you will want the size that fits your eyebolt.

A list of the parts can be found with the plans for the 1797 carvers vise and below is what I used.

Note: One word of advise is to weld the eyebolt closed as it can spread apart.

• 1″ Black Iron TEE
• 1″ x 6″ Black Iron nipple
• 1″ pipe flange (galvanized or black Iron)
• 5/16″ eye bolt
• 6″ x 3/8″ Black Iron nipple (Swing arm)
• 3/8″ Pipe cap
• 1″ x 3/8″ black Iron bushing
• 5/16″ Carr Lane Spring loaded handle (part# CL-5-AH-3)
• Mounting board of your choice (I used a scrap 2×6)
• Miscellaneous screws

Links to for purchase carving vises

• Soff Jaws (Needs a bench vise)
• Jerry-Rig
• Vicetight

Happy Carving
Jerry