Beginners to carving have to choose from a wide range of tools, while not even knowing what they might want to carve - or even if they'll like it!
There is no such thing as a 'complete' set of carving tools, each carver builds up their kit according to their needs and the work they are doing.

The sets I have selected here derive from my many years of experience - recommending carving tools to students! They represent a range of useful widths and depths (Sweeps) as well as the indespensible V tool and skew chisel. These tools have proved to be among the most commonly used of carving tools - some selection of these is always to be found on my bench. No matter what you go on to, you won't regret having these tools. I recommend you get all 11 in the basic set.

As you progress into different areas and find these tools inadequate, work out what you need by referring to them: narrower, deeper, bent etc and check out the profiles and details in suppliers catalogues. I have found that it is very common for students to buy, as their next tools, larger and smaller straight versions of the ones in the basic set. I have listed these here too.
Buy the best you can, from the well-established, specialist firms: the price will be forgotten but the quality will last...

Because I have found these a reliable starting set, I used them in my book Relief Carving in Wood - and if you are in doubt as to what you can do with them, look in the Gallery at the back of this book..
If you have similar (approximate) tools then try these first: tools can be handled in various ways to give a variety of cuts, so one tool can do the job of several others. The tool firms that I recommend here are reliable and produce excellent tools - however read this note on the Pfeil V tool in my downloadable ebook on Selecting and Sharpening V Tools

I base my book: Lettercarving in Wood on another set of carving tools which contain more straight chisels and some fishtail tools for serifs. These I also list here in kit form

This is the Basic Tool Set for beginners and following the practical exercises in my Relief Carving Book. Some firms use a different nomenclature, but:

This is the SHEFFIELD LIST (HENRY TAYLOR, ASHLEY ILES for example) BASIC TOOL SET:

1. Sweep no. 3 x 1/4 " (5mm) - flat gouges
2. Sweep no. 3 x 1/2 " (12mm)
3. Sweep no. 3 x 3/4 " (18mm)
4. Sweep no. 6 x 1/4 " (5mm) - medium gouges
5. Sweep no. 6 x 1/2 " (12mm)
6. Sweep no. 6 x 3/4 " (18mm)
7. Sweep no. 9 x 1/4 " (5mm) - deep gouges
8. Sweep no. 9 x 1/2 " (12mm)
9. Sweep no. 9 x 3/4 " (18mm)
10. Sweep no. 2 x 3/8 " (10mm) - skew chisel
11. Sweep no. 39 x 3/8 "(10mm) - 60° Vtool

You can buy (internationally) these smaller and large tools made by Auriou from Classic Hand Tools

Smaller Sheffield list gouges:

1. Sweep no. 3 x 1/8 "
2. Sweep no. 6 x 1/8 "
3. Sweep no. 9 x 1/8 "

The allongee tools are ideal for this sort of work, but straight-sided chisels will certainly do. Not all makers include these tools in their catalogues because they are so specialised, but do try phoning them and asking.

SHEFFIELD LIST (HENRY TAYLOR, ASHLEY ILES for example) LETTERCARVING SET:

1. Allongee chisel x 1 3/4"
2. Allongee chisel x 1 5/8"
3. Allongee chisel x 1 3/8"
4. Allongee chisel x 1 1/4"
5. Allongee chisel x 1"
6. Allongee chisel x 3/4"
7. Allongee chisel x 5/8"
8. Gouge: Sweep 5 x 5/8"
9. Gouge: Sweep 6 x 3/8"
10. Gouge: Sweep 6 x 1/2"
11. Gouge: Sweep 6 x 3/4"
12. Fishtail chisel x 1/2"
13. Fishtail gouge: Sweep 4 x 3/8"