v-gouge vs. parting tool

[Black Jaque Janaviac]

I was parusing some of the tutorials and recall reading that someone draws a distinction between a v-gouge and a parting tool.  But they did not elaborate and none of my searches came up with any helpful info.

So is there a difference between a parting tool and a v-gouge?  How do you tell?  How much trouble will I create for myself if I begin carving with a v-gouge instead of a parting tool?

[Jerry V Lape]

Confused me too.  I thought parting tool was a lathe tool?

[SingleMalt]

Size, maybe?

[Ky-Flinter]

2 different names for the same thing.  V-tools are sometimes referred to as “Parting Tools”.

-Ron

[P.W.Berkuta]

I was parusing some of the tutorials and recall reading that someone draws a distinction between a v-gouge and a parting tool.  But they did not elaborate and none of my searches came up with any helpful info.

So is there a difference between a parting tool and a v-gouge?  How do you tell?  How much trouble will I create for myself if I begin carving with a v-gouge instead of a parting tool?

I think you mean “Veiner” chisel instead of “parting tool”. The veiner is a “U” shaped chisel where-as a “Vee” chisel is V-shape.

[T*O*F]

The veiner is a “U” shaped chisel where-as a “Vee” chisel is V-shape.

Except a Dembart veiner is V-shaped.

[P.W.Berkuta]

The veiner is a “U” shaped chisel where-as a “Vee” chisel is V-shape.

Except a Dembart veiner is V-shaped.

The KEY work here is CHISEL. The OP was asking about the difference between the V- gouge and a parting tool. The Dembart tool is neither it is a checkering tool - big difference but thanks for your input anyway.

[T*O*F]

The KEY work here is CHISEL.

Sorry, that doesn't hold water.  It's just semantics.  All of the items pictured are CHISELS.  The 3 on the left are ground identically as V chisels and the one on the right is U shaped.  The fact that the Dembart tool was made by a company who produced checkering supplies does not make it solely a checkering tool any more than the other two are checkering tools.

It doesn't matter what you call them.  They all can be used to accomplish the intended task.  Technically, a parting tool is used on a wood or metal lathe to separate stock, not as a woodcarving chisel.

To answer the original question, forget about what it's called.  Use the tool you have that will accomplish the job you are doing and don't worry about the nitpicky discussions we have about them.

[Mark Elliott]

My Dembart checkering tool is a small rasp, not a chisel.   It would seem that Dembart made different kinds of checkering tools.   

[Acer Saccharum]

The only trouble you're going to get into is by calling the tool by the wrong name.  

For clarity, let's call it a V chisel. I've heard it called parting tool as well. Woodcraft calls them v-parting tools.

You will be able to produce beautiful work with Vee tools that are 90 vee or 60 degree vee.

I've used them with various success/failure depending mostly on my sharpening. One of the most critical things in sharpening is to be able to hone the INSIDE of the Vee.

If you are buying a new/used tool, look at the radius at the bottom of the vee. This is where the two flat sides meet. If there is a generous radius, you will not be able to sharpen this to cut a fine line. It's best to go through the tools in person to pick one out with the smallest radius. If you order a tool on line, you got what you got, and you may have to make up a brass lap to hone the radius down to a vee bottom. Generally, the smaller the tool, the smaller the radius. If you're going to do fine line work, get the smallest tool that will do the job. I bought a Pfiel 1mm 16 sweep v-parting tool, and it cuts gorgeous fine lines.

I am partial to the full length tools, so I can tap them along with a very light mallet. Some carvers push by hand, but I lack the control for smooth curves when pushing by hand. To make a smooth curve, make a million or so light taps to move the tool along. The curve comes out smooth as silk.

[Mark Elliott]

I had to regrind my "V" chisels to reduce that radius of which Tom speaks.    I came across a on-line document here that goes into extreme detail about how to tune up these chisels.   If I knew the link, I would post it.

[Curtis]

I had to regrind my "V" chisels to reduce that radius of which Tom speaks.    I came across a on-line document here that goes into extreme detail about how to tune up these chisels.   If I knew the link, I would post it.

I think this is the link Mark is talking about:

http://www.bob-easton.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/SelectingAndSharpeningYourVtool.pdf

Also a good video on the subject by Mary May:

Curtis