Parting tool for incise carving ??

[Tim Hamblen]

Hey folks, I am in the process of building the grandson a new rifle and want to do some incise work. I have done it in the past with Xacto knives and a palm veiner. It was OK but I feel more comfortable chasing a chisel rather than pushing one. I know others have good luck with the push method but for me I feel better with chasing. I did see a clip of Homer Dangler using a parting tool to do some incise and relief work and that looks comfortable to me. My question is, what size parting tool ?  and I assume a 60 degree ? I am not adverse to buying good tools so if you can recommend a place to buy that would be great too.Any direction is appreciated.

[Acer Saccharum]

I recently bought a Pfiel 16/1 Vee tool, and is my all time favorite for fine line work.

Most of this design was cut with this tool.


I tried stabbing some of the circles with gouges of the right curvature, but I didn't have a lot of confidence in that method( I will work on this technique more)

So I cut most of the line work with the 16/1. I also use a 3mm wide parting tool for outlining relief carved areas, then a 3 or 5 sweep 6mm wide fishtail gouge for backgrounding the relief work.

a brief tutorial on relief carving, showing different tools in use: http://americanlongrifles.org/forum/index.php?topic=23123.0

[Acer Saccharum]

The 16/1 is such a acute vee, that a little variation in dept of cut does not appreciably widen the line.

On the other hand, with a 90 deg vee, the slightest depth variation causes considerable change in line width.

[tuffy]

This is the tool Acer is talking about. Hope this helps.

http://www.woodcraft.com/product/2001326/18679/pfeil-swiss-made-16-sweep-vparting-tool-1-mm-full-size.aspx

     CW

[Tim Hamblen]

Thanks guys.If I am ordering anyway, would you recommend another or compliment v tool ?

[tuffy]

I suppose there are others out there, but quality pays for itself.

   CW

[Acer Saccharum]

Other tools? Yeah, I have about fifty that I thought I really, really needed to have. I use about ten on a regular basis. Most useful to me are illustrated here: http://americanlongrifles.org/forum/index.php?topic=12.0

A selection of straight flat chisels is really nice to have for inletting. from 1/32 wide, 1/16, 1/8, 3/16, 1/4, 3/8". Of course, just starting out, you can make do without a lot of those. 1/8, 1/4, 3/8 would be a good starter set.

And some tools I make myself. Scrapers and mini-rasps(for the anal crowd).

[Tim Hamblen]

I was thinking of both the 3mm and 1 mm v tool

[Acer Saccharum]

Some folks like the 'Flexcut' brand tools.

I use a mallet to tap the v-tool along. I believe Taylor may push the tool along by hand, using his other thumb as a fulcrum and speed control. Yes, he's got opposable thumbs.

Bill Shipman says he uses a knife to carve with.

I find I need to continually to expand my exposure to different carving methods, and in my searches, I find methods that work best for me. It's not something anyone can decide by reading, it's a hands-on process.

[mjm46@bellsouth.net]

Here is a link that someone submitted before that will save a lot of money on phiel chisels.
http://www.woodcarvingbiz.com/V_Parting.htm

[Acer Saccharum]

I've used Woodcarving Biz with great results. They didn't have all the tools I needed, tho, so I went with Woodcraft for those.

[Long Ears]

Tim, my experience is the same as most above. I'm not as fortunate as some because I have a fully stocked Woodcraft store within 2 miles of where I work.  This really sucks up the tool fund quick! Like Acer said I have several high dollar Pfeil carving chisels I don't ever use now. I do agree with a really good set of straight chisels starting with 1/16" or slightly smaller for underlugs and trigger slots and the V's. I also use a 3mm skew chisel a bunch. Good luck and happy shopping. Bob

[Acer Saccharum]

I've had pretty good luck making my own straights by regrinding existing tools. Find 'em cheap sometimes. Then all the handles are different, so it's easy to tell which one you're grabbing for. When you have only Pfiels in your set, you can't tell what tool you've got until you pick it up and look at athe edge. Waste a lot of time. Unless I were better organized, and had a rack with all the slots labeled...hmmmm. Maybe that's what I want for Christmas.

[Chris Treichel]

Woodcraft also sells UJ Ramelson made tools under their label... How are they?  UJR also sells "gunsmith" sets of chisels.  Anyone have experience with these?

[Acer Saccharum]

a while ago, Jim Kibler posted a link to carving tool sets on EBAY. Chinese made, high carbon steel. I have a few Chinoise carving tools, and like the steel, and the thinness of the blades, even tho' they are pretty crude. Sheet steel High Carb blade welded to a sheet steel socket, wooden handle. They take an edge, and hold it quite well.

[Chris Treichel]

I think UJ Ramelson is an American Company.