Chisels and Gouges

[DaveMZ]

I have seen many suggestions that Pfeil carving tools are the best but does
anyone have any suggestions for currently available quality carving tools that
are fractional instead of metric?

Thanks

[Lone Wolf]

Several years ago when I built my first gun, I bought a small set of chisels & gouges made by Flexcut from Woodcraft.  They are made in USA and in English sizes.  It has served me very well and I still use it to this day.  The gouges in the set are enough for barrel channels although I'd prefer a few more sizes for stabbing in relief carving.  For most of my inletting though, I use the simple chisels that Track of the Wolf and MBS sell.

https://www.woodcraft.com/products/flexcut-starter-carving-set-with-free-relief-carving-dvd

The little stropping block that comes with the set is fantastic by the way.  Unless I drop a tool on the concrete floor of my shop, the stropping block is all I need to keep my tools razor sharp.

[heinz]

Dave, my experience is you will never pay any attention to the fractional or metric size.  You will reach for a tool with the right sweep or shape and a close width and go.  Except for mortising chisels.

[alacran]

Heinz is right on. I use a set of Japanese chisels I bought back in '84, for when a chisel is required. I also use Flexcut gouges I acquired in the mid '90s.
Got them from Rockler. Generally, I don't stab anything. Looking at inventories of gunsmiths of the 18th century, very few gouges are mentioned.
I don't believe that stabbing wood was common practice. If someone can document to the contrary, I would like to stand corrected.

[Medic980]

Heinz is right on. I use a set of Japanese chisels I bought back in '84, for when a chisel is required. I also use Flexcut gouges I acquired in the mid '90s.
Got them from Rockler. Generally, I don't stab anything. Looking at inventories of gunsmiths of the 18th century, very few gouges are mentioned.
I don't believe that stabbing wood was common practice. If someone can document to the contrary, I would like to stand corrected.

Just out of curiosity Alacran, how do you go about cutting in furniture, barrel channel, ram rod groove, etc if you aren't using gouges? I'm always interested in learning new techniques.
Thanks,
Trevor

[alacran]

I didn't say I don't use gouges. I said I do not stab the wood with them. Mostly I use parting tools to do my inletting. I use a router with patterning bits to do my barrel channels, straight or swamped.
[]

[Ron Scott]

If your pocket book is deep, try Ashely Isles gouges. Tools for Working Wood seems to be the US distributer of the English brand.

[DaveMZ]

Gentlemen thank all of you for your advice. Probably correct that I’d never pick one by its numerical size anyway.

Alacran that is beautiful !

[dogcatcher]

Reasonably priced with decent quality, Ramelson Tools.  https://www.ramelson.com/products/

[Jim Kibler]

Narex tools are pretty darn good for the money, but the selection of sizes is pretty limited, I believe.

Jim

[DavidC]

Jim is, naturally, right on!

Paul Sellers, professional cabinet maker and presenter, recommends Aldi's workzone or workforce ( I forget the brand) chisels for the severe budget. I picked up two sets of those Aldi chisels to use like blanks to reshape to my sizes for small dovetails and mortises, and now also inletting. You can't beat 4 assorted standard chisels in chromium vanadium steel for around 9$!

I like flexcut, I'm too lazy to change the handles much...

[Medic980]

I didn't say I don't use gouges. I said I do not stab the wood with them. Mostly I use parting tools to do my inletting. I use a router with patterning bits to do my barrel channels, straight or swamped.

Ahhh, sorry my mistake. That is a beautiful rifle you have there. I personally am a huge fan of iron mounted rifles.