Carving tools

[Flintnsteel]

Hello,
I'm  new here, but not new to BP shooting, and have a question as relating to carving  a Pennsylvania long rifle stock.  I purchased a kit several years back from Track of the Wolf and am finally getting  the courage to start assembly. I have assembled  BP rifles that were in kit form before, but never one I wanted to carve the stock on. Are there any suggestions as to a basic set of carving tools to accomplish my task? I don't  want to spend a fortune, but realize a decent set of chisels etc will cost a bit. Any brands that I might look at that have an acceptable  balance of quality and price? Also, any books or dvd references that are helpful. I have Jack Brooks beginner dvd, but  could use some design ideas to look at. Thanks.

[smylee grouch]

Welcome to the site. If you plan on a Lancaster style rifle the book of Lancaster carving as sole by Muzzleloader Builders Supply is a good choice for carving designs would be a good choice.

[ScottH]

have you looked at this?

[ScottH]

have you looked at this,
Forgot the link

https://kiblerslongrifles.com/products/carving-kit

[Eric Smith]

http://americanlongrifles.org/forum/index.php?board=330.0

Here's a link to some great carving pics right here on ALR.

[dogcatcher]

Here are just 2 of the tutorials on the forum. 
http://americanlongrifles.org/forum/index.php?topic=12.0

http://americanlongrifles.org/forum/index.php?topic=1959.msg19871#msg19871

On the tools, buy the best you can, or buy the best bang for the buck.  I started and have had good luck with the Flexcut brand of palm chisels.  Not the best, but good enough to get me started.  At the most reasonable price, but not a set pf Pfeil chisels.  The Pfeil chisels came later in life but I also still use the Flexcut chisels. 

added on edit
http://americanlongrifles.org/forum/index.php?topic=22146.0

http://americanlongrifles.org/forum/index.php?topic=43680.0

[Bill Raby]

   Go with the Pfeil chisels and gouges and don't look at the price. Just buy a couple every payday and eventually you will have a good set put together. You can sometimes get away with going cheap on power tools since the motor does all the work. But not so with hand tools. Hand tools must be high quality or they are just useless. But most importantly, the whole point of building guns in the first place is to do something that you enjoy doing. Good tools are a pleasure to work with. Cheap tools just make everything harder. Don't skimp on the sharpening. Go with the diamond sharpening stones and use diamond powder on the strops. You can get good chisels sharp enough to shave the hair off your arm. You can get the Pfeil chisels sharp enough that you won't want to try that anymore!

https://www.woodcraft.com/categories/carving-tools?brand%5B%5D=pfeil+Swiss+made

   Design ideas

http://www.historicalarmsmaker.com/#!/Book-of-Lancaster-Carving-Patterns/p/61511589/category=17849198

[Flintnsteel]

Many thanks to all of you for your help. As a new member here, I already sense that I am going to enjoy being a member here. Thanks again.

[Ky-Flinter]

Hi Flintnsteel,

Welcome to ALR.  I would love to have a full set of Pfiel's or Two Cherry's, but dang, sometimes a fellow just doesn't have that much cash to spare.  Besides, I wanted to see if I could carve before I invested that much in tooling.  I started out with a set of Power Grip Carving Tools by Mikisyo.  You can get a 7pc set for about $40.  They are sharp right out of the box.

-Ron

[deepcreekdale]

Welcome to the site, you are going to love it. I have been building rifles for over 35 years when I found this site last year and I learn something new and useful every time I log on it seems. Go along with Bills advice on this. Pfeil chisels and gouges are about the best and are a joy to use. Like he said, getting one or two every payday will get you a set of best quality tools fairly quickly that you will proud of for life. You might also try some of the instructional videos by builders such as Jack Brooks and others sold by American Pioneer Videos. It is helpful for people starting out to watch someone doing it slowly and step by step and explaining  what and why they are doing. Jack also has recommendations for which gouges are most useful to start with also which you might find useful, it is not that many. I have purchased sets in the past and don't recommend them, Invariably you get one of two useful ones and several that have no use. It would have been cheaper to have purchased the one or two of best quality rather than the set of lesser quality in which you don't use several. Another options is to prowl flea markets. Sometimes you get lucky and find some treasure. There really isn't that much of a mass market any more for high quality hand tools so sometimes they can be found at bargain prices.

[leoparddog]

   Go with the Pfeil chisels and gouges and don't look at the price. Just buy a couple every payday and eventually you will have a good set put together. You can sometimes get away with going cheap on power tools since the motor does all the work. But not so with hand tools. Hand tools must be high quality or they are just useless. But most importantly, the whole point of building guns in the first place is to do something that you enjoy doing. Good tools are a pleasure to work with. Cheap tools just make everything harder. Don't skimp on the sharpening. Go with the diamond sharpening stones and use diamond powder on the strops. You can get good chisels sharp enough to shave the hair off your arm. You can get the Pfeil chisels sharp enough that you won't want to try that anymore!

https://www.woodcraft.com/categories/carving-tools?brand%5B%5D=pfeil+Swiss+made

If you are shopping for Chisels (Pfeils) I've found these folks in Canada are usually a few dollars cheaper.  http://woodworkerspecialties.biz/  No Sales Tax and very reasonable shipping costs as well.  I might be only saving 3-5 dollars per chisel but hey, it adds up

[dogcatcher]

Hi Flintnsteel,

Welcome to ALR.  I would love to have a full set of Pfiel's or Two Cherry's, but dang, sometimes a fellow just doesn't have that much cash to spare.  Besides, I wanted to see if I could carve before I invested that much in tooling.  I started out with a set of Power Grip Carving Tools by Mikisyo.  You can get a 7pc set for about $40.  They are sharp right out of the box.

-Ron

 
The Mikisyo are pretty decent tools.  I started with a Chinese set, the 10 chisels for about $5, now they are $12.  They wouldn't hold an edge very long, but I received a great deal of sharpening experience from them.  I still use them today.  Every so often I need a "special" shape, so I grab one of then and make my "special" shaped chisel.  Over the last 30 years the steel has improved a little.   It is amazing what one can do when he has to use the substandard tools, because it is all he has. 

[SingleMalt]

Save a search on eBay. You can get some deals there.