"Kate" wrote

Carving tools aren't THAT expensive and if I do the research I'll bet I
can
give a list to Santa and he might be generous.


You better hurry on that research. Santa requires a little notice and his
time is near.


Thing is, I need to take the time to find just want I want and learn about
the quality THEN I'm going to have to do some serious studying on
sharpening
them.


Any craftsman who uses edged tools figures out a way to keep them sharp.
Back in the day, they did not have all the motorized sharpening goodies we
have now. But they kept their tools sharp and did good work.

It is kind of a zen thing. The tool needs to be sharp to its job. You need a
sharp tools to do what you want. You move into a symbiotic relationship with
your edged tools.

When the tool dulls a little, stop, touch it up and go right back to work.
If you keep the tools sharp and not allow them to become really dull or
damaged, it will be a lot easier.

Yes, technique is involved, but I knew a lot of people who just decided to
take care of their tools. They had no formal training, didn't read any
books, they just did it. It is a part of the craftperson mentality. You
take care of your tools.

It isn't that hard. Once you get comfortable with it, you will wonder why
you thought it was so difficult. It is just part of the carving process.
And as an artist, you should be able to zen out on the sharpening process
just as well as the carving process.