If you have been wood carving for very long, you have probably collected several tools. Of those tools, you have your favored tools and should have a fairly good idea of what tools you use on a regular basis in your wood carving shop or designated area. So if you want to take the wood carving on the road, what tools are you going to take along without having to rent a moving van?
The answer to this question depends on what you are carving and how much room you have. I like to use a small plastic tool box that I bought at Wal-mart. Some of the essential tools that all wood carvers should consider including in their travel kit are:
Leather Strop
Ruler or tape measure
Pencil/Pen
Stropping Compound
Wood Carving Knife
Gouges and V-tools that are used with your selected carving format
Carving glove and thumb protector
All of these items are necessary to keep your carving tools sharp and to keep complete your wood carving projects while away from your shop. Also, don’t forget to include any wood that you need for your chosen projects.
Unless you are going to be gone for a long period of time or have a need to completely finish the carving while gone, you can leave the paint and finishing supplies at the shop. Sometimes, I will just plan to rough out a couple projects and leave the details until I return to my wood carving shop. It is entirely up to you how much you take with you, but remember; the more you take, the more you have to keep up with also.
