There are many specialized whittling tools available on the market. They work better than your average pocket knife and deliver a more comfortable and professional whittling. To help you find a good tool for the money, we made a selection of some of the best whittling knives. They are great value for money and should not cost you too much.
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Morakniv Wood Carving 120 Knife with Laminated Steel Blade
The Morakniv 120 wood carving knife is one of the best whittling knife on the market. It is small, measuring only 9” in length with a blade thickness of 2.7 mm. Since the blade is so thin, it can easily shave away thin layers of wood providing you with more control over your whittling work. Additionally, the blade is made from laminated steel which is very durable and long-lasting. Best, this blade material can also be used with any sharpening stone for whittling.
The handle is very comfortable and made from oiled birch wood. It is a very solid and durable wood, that still remains quite comfortable to the hand.
Lastly, we like this model because it is almost price the same as a regular pocket knife but it delivers much superior handling and performance when whittling. You can definitely feel the difference when comparing this knife with a regular pocket-knife.
Beginner Palm and Knife Set
This Flexcut “set” packs a serious punch. This is an all-purpose kit that will allow you to perform chip carving as well as whittling. This 4 knives set includes a whittling knife, detail knife, a sweep gouge and a V-tool. The sweep gouge and V-tool knife allow you to dig deep into the wood and remove big chunks of material. They are also pointy-tipped so you can easily work in tight spots. The handles in all the knives are ergonomic and will limit hand fatigue when used for an extended period of time.
Flexcut is known for its high-quality accessories and you will not be disappointed with this kit. Best, they are made in the USA. It is a fairly affordable whittling/chip carving kit that should last you a long time, even if used every day.
Morakniv Wood Carving 164 Hook Knife with Carbon Steel Blade
Our last recommendation is another Morakniv knife. However, this is a hook knife that is ideally suited for detail and spooning work – but will work great when whittling. The hook shape and pointy tip will help you draw a layout in your material so that you can easily “chip” away the layers with a whittling knife later on. The handle is made from oiled birch and it feels great and very comfortable in the hand.
This knife is one of the best whittling knife money can buy. It is made in Sweden and it should technically last you a lifetime. It is also fairly affordable for its quality. If you do not own a hook knife for whittling already, we highly recommend you get this model. It makes whittling much easier and fun at the same time.
Sharpening Knife
When whittling, it is very important to use a whittling knife with a sharp blade. A dull blade is difficult to work with and will not provide the precision necessary to whittle. The best way to keep your knife sharp is by using a sharpening stone for whittling. Those sharpening tools are specially made to help keep the tough steel blade sharp and as thin as possible. Additionally, some models even have a coarser side to smoothen edges directly on the wood. Very practical.
One sharpening stone for whittling that we recommend is Old Timer SSOTCP. This sharpening stone is double sided with a fine 350 grit side and a coarser 180 grit backside. The fine side is used for honing and the coarser edge for smoothing out edges. It is very versatile and will come is handy more often than not.it is also quite affordable regardless of how low your budget is.
Protective Gear for Safe Whittling
Whittling is not without its dangers. Remember, you are using a sharp knife to whittle and without protective gear, an accident is begging to happen. It is very important to always wear your protective gear while whittling, especially if you are an absolute beginner still learning this hobby. To help you whittle in a safer way, here are some protective gear that we recommend.
Large Thumb Guard
This protection gear is by far the best on the market. It slides over your thumb and does not prevent you from maneuvering your whittling knife. It is made from split leather with an elastic cloth backing. This means that it fits tight to your thumb while providing you with the protection that you need. What we like about this model is that it is delivered as a pair, so whether you are right-handed or left-handed, you can still use this protection guard.
Cut Resistant Work Gloves
This glove is made from DuPont Kevlar which means that it is very cut resistant. While it is not technically a whittling protection gear, it will come in very handy since it is lightweight and allows you to maneuver your whittling knife with great ease. You can also use this protective gear for other purposes that require cutting and it will work just fine. It is very high-quality and should last you quite a while.
Conclusion
If you are looking for a hobby and still undecided, whittling is a very fun pastime. It does not cost much, and as long as you have a knife and a piece of wood, you can get started. The sky is the limit with whittling and only limited by your imagination. You can check out our guide on how to get started with this brilliant hobby right HERE
