Top 8 Best Whittling Kit For Beginners: Reviews and Buyer Guide

Looking for whittle information about which whittling kit to get? So was I, which is why I went through a few dozen of the most popular packages to find out the details that matter most. Why do I do it? For the love of tools! Plus, it’s my job.

These reviews will give you a good idea of which one is best for you. The last sections have some useful tips on tools, brands, and how to get started. These are the top 8 best whittling kit for beginners money can buy.

Our Top Picks

Best Whittling Kit For Beginners

1. Flexcut Beginner Palm & Knife Set – Best Whittling Knife Kit
2. BeaverCraft Deluxe Wood Carving Kit S18X – Most Stylish Whittling Wood Kit
3. BeaverCraft S15 Whittling Wood Carving Kit – Best 3 Piece BeaverCraft
4. Wood Whittling Kit with Basswood Wood Blocks Gifts – Best Budget-Friendly Kit
5. Olerqzer Wood Carving Tools for Beginners – Best Value
6. WAYCOM 12pcs Wood Carving Tools Set – Best Whittling Set for Beginners
7. BeaverCraft, Whittling Kit for Adults and Teens – Best Whittling Kits for Adults
8. Whittling Knife Wood Carving Tools Kit for Beginners, Kids, Spoon – Best Multipurpose

Beginners Whittling Kit Reviews

To come up with the best beginner whittling kit, we considered brand reputation, price-to-quality ratio, edge retention and skill level.

We also researched real customer reviews to make sure the kits we recommend are well-loved.

1. Best Whittling Knife Kit – Flexcut Beginner Palm & Knife Set

This set is my #1 choice. Flexcut makes the best tools at this price point. Out of all the brands on this list, Flexcut’s blades stay sharp longer, last longer, and cut better.

The next level of quality is going to cost at least twice as much. The blades are hard enough to keep an edge yet flexible enough to make whittling safe and easy. 

Follow the link and you’ll see a few different kits. My review is on the palm & knife set but all the seats are good for beginners and pros. This set comes with a Sloyd knife, a detail knife, and two gouges. 

The flex steel has enough flexibility so the knife doesn’t go flying through the wood. This prevents the wood from splitting and cutting. BeaverCraft makes great wood carving tools but Flexcut handles are more comfortable.

They also have better edge retention. The handles don’t have a super smooth finish but it doesn’t matter too much with safety gloves. I recommend this set if you don’t mind spending a little extra.

What We Liked Most

Comfortable ergonomic handles
Last a long time if taken care of
High carbon steel blade with good edge retention
Cuts through wood like butter
Best carving knives for this price range
Flexible blade good for beginners

What Could Be Improved

Relatively expensive compared to others on the list
Handles could have a smoother finish

---

2. Most Stylish Whittling Wood Kit – BeaverCraft Deluxe Wood Carving Kit S18X

I went back and forth trying to decide whether I liked this BeaverCraft set more than Flexcut. For one the vintage look is breathtaking. The leather roll-up storage wrap has a vintage feel.

The “chocolate walnut” finish on the handles is beautiful. The leather is nicer than I thought it would be; it will definitely age well.

This kit is a great gift because it’s stylish and practical. It comes with all 8 of Beaver’s carving knives as well as a stropping kit.

The handle feels good in my bare hands and the blades easily cut through softwood. Beaver knows their market well. This kit is safe for beginners, good for advanced carvers, and affordable.

What We Liked Most

All 8 BeaverCraft wood carving tools
Stylish leather case and dark finished walnut
High-carbon steel blades
Comfortable ergonomic handles
Comes with strop and polishing compound
Good value

What Could Be Improved

Relatively expensive compared to smaller kits
8 carving knives may be overwhelming for beginners

---

3. Best 3 Piece BeaverCraft Whittling Kit – BeaverCraft S15 Whittling Wood Carving Kit

If the Deluxe BeaverCraft set is too much, the S15 might be more your speed. I can’t say enough about how cool these knives are for beginners. You don’t need any more than one knife to start but 3 seems to be the magic number.

This kit comes with a 1 ¼ inch cutting knife, a 1 ½ inch detail knife, and a roughing knife. You also get a canvas storage bag and a stropping kit.

When you buy it you’ll gain access to free whittling ebooks with instructions on how to take care of your knives. The blades will slice right through Basswood and softer pine with ease.

I recommend sharpening your knives before you use them. However, mine were razor sharp and ready to go right out of the box.

This kit is full of all the essential wood carving tools to get on the horse. Grab some wood, a pair of gloves, and whittle away!

What We Liked Most

3 essential whittling knives
Includes polishing compound and leather strop
High-quality blades
Comfortable ergonomic handles
Includes canvas carrying case
Handles fit well in small or large hands

What Could Be Improved

The handle could have a smoother finish
Need to sharpen often

---

4. Best Budget-Friendly Kit for Adults – Wood Whittling Kit with Basswood Wood Blocks Gifts

Here’s a handy dandy budget-friendly kit. What I like about this kit is that it comes with wood and gloves. It also includes a carrying case and a strop plus the polishing compound.

You can buy these things separately but you’ll save money with a package deal. The blades are not going to stay sharp as long as BeaverCraft’s but keep in mind these knives are half the price.

The handles are pretty big and they work well for left or right-handed whittlers. My hands are large so I didn’t have any issues but people with smaller hands might find them uncomfortable.

Another issue is that the blades lose their edge quickly. However, they work great as long as you keep the blades sharp. This is true for any mid-ranged blade you’ll come across.

All in all, this kit is a great value. I recommend this for any beginner on a budget or as a gift.

What We Liked Most

Knife tail prevents the blade from flying off
Great value
High-quality steel
Comfortable ergonomic handles
3 essential whittling knives
Comes with wood block and safety glove

What Could Be Improved

Need to sharpen often
Handles are large

---

5. Best Value – Olerqzer Wood Carving Tools for Beginners

The Olerqzer carving tools are the best value on this list. For under $30 you get everything you need: a Sloyd knife, hook knife, mini detail knife, wood carving safety gloves, stropping kit, a storage bag, sharpening stone, blade protectors, and one blank.

This kit is very similar to the previous one, except I like the handles better . I’m guessing it was made in China but I couldn’t find any information on where the knives were made.

Having said that, I’m impressed with the quality of the steel. They handle a lot like a BeaverCraft. The blades on the knives are fairly long compared to most beginner kits, which usually range from 1 ⅛ inch to 2 inches.

Longer blades are useful if you are carving larger pieces of wood and the Olerqzer Sloyd knife is 3 inches long.

What We Liked Most

Hard blades are good with pinewood
Includes bag, sharpening stone, and safety gloves
Great value
Durable hard flex-blade
Long blade is good for roughing
Smooth finish on handles

What Could Be Improved

Hook knife is awkward to use
Need to sharpen often

---

6. Best Whittling Sets for Beginners – WAYCOM 12pcs Wood Carving Tools Set

The Wacom 12-piece kit is another all-in-one starters kit with everything you need to get going. This set comes in a gift box with a bow on top which makes a pretty presentation for a gift.

Although I’m not thrilled with the bamboo box it comes in but it’s what’s inside that counts. The knives have long blades and are almost identical except for the handle on the hook knife.

One thing I want to mention is the spoon blank it comes with is hard to deal with. It’s the wrong wood for these knives (too hard) and it could be frustrating. You might not want to bother with the blank.

Now let’s get into the good stuff. The blades cut well when you sharpen them and I love these knives for short sessions. The handles are nice for adults and older teens. Overall, this starter kit is a worthy introduction to the art of whittling.

What We Liked Most

Great value
Comes with everything you need to get started
Beautiful walnut finish on handles
Comfortable handles
Come in a bamboo gift box

What Could Be Improved

Need to sharpen often
Included wood is too hard

---

7. Best Whittling Kits for Adults or Children – BeaverCraft, Whittling Kit for Adults and Teens

There aren’t many negative reviews on any of the whittling kits on this list but there is one common theme among 3 and 4-star ratings.

A good portion of reviewers complained that the kits weren’t good for beginners because there were no detailed instructions and no starter projects.

The BeaverCraft carving kit for teens and adults feeds that need. The kit is complete with the essentials and a step-by-step walkthrough on how to make a Dala Horse.

This makes an excellent gift for kids or anyone who wants to learn the ropes without having to Google it. BeaverCraft’s whittling Kit for Adults and Teens has everything you need to finish your first project.

It comes with a sharp knife, a horse blank (about 5 inches tall, 5 inches long), sandpaper, safety tape, pencil, paint, paintbrush, and a stropping kit.

The tutorials come as private messages on Amazon, it comes with a book, and there are lots of video tutorials you can watch. It’s also a fantastic addition to woodworking kits for kids.

What We Liked Most

Step-by-step starter project
Kit includes all the whittling essentials
High-quality knife
Comes with quality Basswood
Finishing supplies (paint, sandpaper)
Great gift for young adults and adults

What Could Be Improved

Paint isn’t the best quality
Safety gloves are sold separately

---

8. Best Multipurpose – Whittling Knife Wood Carving Tools Kit for Beginners, Kids, Spoon

I took these babies camping and we all had a good time. Just don’t whittle by the fire at night do it during daylight. I learned this the hard way. Needless to say, the blades are razor sharp.

This set is similar to the 3-piece version of the Flexcut kit at half the price. It’s a great option if you want something that feels similar with a longer blade at half the price.

This set has 3 knives. I like the 1 ¼ inch detail knife mos, the 2 ½ inch Sloyd knife is good for roughing too. The shape of the hardwood oak handles reminds me of Flexcut knives.

Since the finish is slightly rough I gave them a quick sanding so they didn’t stick in my safety gloves. Sticking isn’t unusual for fabric safety gloves but I prefer a very high grit finish.

One thing the Gaxcoo carving kit has that none of the others do is a sharpening stone rather than a leather strop. You should really have both but we’ll get into that later.

What We Liked Most

60 day money-back guarantee
Durable blades
Comfortable ergonomic oakwood handle
Sharpening stone included
Detail knife works great
Good value

What Could Be Improved

Slightly rough handle finish
Hook knife is awkward to use

---

Best Whittling Kits for Beginners Comparison Table

How to Choose the Best Whittling Kit for Beginners

There’s no magic knife to make you the best whittler, but knives work hard. Most of us start carving with a pocket knife. I started with a three-bladed jackknife and eventually got my own whittler.

When you shop for a knife, make sure it’s comfortable in your hand. When cutting, the blade should slide effortlessly through the wood, leaving a smooth surface. When I shop for a whittling knife I look for 5 main things:

1. How it feels in my hand
2. How effortlessly it cuts
3. How smooth the cuts are
4. Brand reputation
5. Edge retention

How To Take Care Of Whittling Tools for Beginners

Razor Sharp cutting edges are fragile and need to be maintained. I’ve met so many people that blame the manufacturer or tool when it won’t cut right.

How Should I Resharpening Wood Carving Knives?

You can get away with just a strop before you start carving but you should use both a sharpening stone and a strop. It’s easy to confuse the two but basically, the stone sharpens while the strop keeps edges clean to prevent chipping.

Both will make cutting easier. Here are some tips on when to resharpen your blades and how to store your wood carving tools.

• How often? Whenever they need it. It depends on what you are doing. It could be every 10 minutes. It could be every other day.
• If you see a rougher surface, resharpen the edge.
• If the wood starts to fight you a little, resharpen the edge.
• If you wait too long, you will ruin the edge.

How Should I Store Wood Carving Tools?

Mainly you want to avoid rust and having them jostle around.

• Don’t store knives in a damp environment. They will rust.
• Don’t leave them loose in a bag.
• Don’t pad the blades with cork. This also rusts them.
• Keep knives in a leather or canvas bag.
• Keep knives in a wooden box.
• Keep sharpening stones and strops in a bag or box.

Whittling Starter Kit: Brands and Where to Buy

You can find whittling supplies at hardware stores, woodworking magazines, or specialty stores like Rockler and local wood shops. Eventually, you might want to go high-end and buy supplies from a company like Deepwoodventures.

My two favorite brands for beginners are BeaverCraft and Flexcut. I lean toward BeaverCraft for most beginners because they have a range of high-quality yet affordable products.

Flexcut is the next step up from BeaverCraft in knife quality but either one is a good starting point. BeaverCraft has been around since 2014 and all its knives are made from 1095 carbon steel.

All BeaverCrafts’ wood carving tools are manufactured in Ukraine. Flexcut has been in business since 1986 and all its tools are assembled in the USA.

Flexcut also uses 1095 carbon steel but a slightly different blend. In fact, all the whittling knives we mentioned are made from 1095 steel and fall between 57-63 HRC (Hardness Rockwell C).

We featured some off-brands here as well that make great wood carving tools. The main difference is that products from brands like Olerqzer or Wacom are less durable

FAQs

What should I whittle with for beginners?

There are so many fun wood whittling projects for beginners. I recommend starting with your favorite animal. The main thing is to do something you are interested in. Here are some interesting ideas.

• Spoon or bowl
• Bird (carve a turkey)
• Pig
• Ball
• Chain
• Horse
• Bear
• Cow
• Dovetail joint
• Cage and ball

What is the easiest wood to whittle?

The softest woods to whittle are Basswood, Bolsa, White Pine, Tupelo, Cherry, and Black Walnut. If you want some good wood for cheap, go with BeaverCraft wood. Although every batch of wood is different, you can almost always count on BeaverCraft to deliver good Basswood.

What age should you start whittling?

Safety first! As long as you are responsible for sharp objects, you can whittle. I say if you can use a nail and hammer, you can whittle. Other than that, any age is a good age to start! Start with simple projects such as stick whittling.

What kind of knife is best for whittling?

The best whittling knife for beginners is a Flexcut whittling knife. I think Flexcut makes the best mass-produced mid-ranged knives; their knives are comfortable to use, durable, and razor-sharp. The best knife for general whittling is a Sloyd knife. It can also be called a whittling knife, a roughing knife, or a cutting knife. Different knives are used for different purposes. Chip carvers are for carving, gauges and v-tools are used for chiseling, and detail knives are used for tiny areas. You can use any good knife really.

So, What is the Best Whittling Kit for Beginners?

I am a big fan of the Flexcut knife set. BeaverCraft wood carving tools are hard to beat though. If you are looking for a bargain, I say try some of the other brands.

The most important thing is to get inspired and stay safe. No matter what you can’t go wrong with any of these kits.

If you are shopping for someone else, there’s no better gift for a crafty person than a good set of tools. If you have any questions or comments, let us know in the section below. Good luck!