Carving gouges

[billd]

Could someone please post a list of gouges that would make a good starter set that I don't have to sell my house to afford?  I can afford to spend $100 to $125 now. I'm assuming that 4 or 5 will do 95% of the work and if you buy a complete set you will save a little but get several that you will never use?

Please don't suggest Harbor Freight, been there, done that.

I don't need straight chisels, just gouges.

I really miss the archives!

Thank You,
Bill

[Dennis Glazener]

Bill,
The archives should be online before too long.

I really like the Flexcut palm tool sets. I have a set of the ones with the removable blade (one handle several blades).  Also have some of the fixed blade ones. I find both types well worth the price. You can find them at Woodcraft or most other stores that carry woodcarving tools.

I also have several of the Pfeil gouges/vee tools but use the Flexcut ones more than the Pfeil tools.

I also like the Henry Taylor tools, not real expensive but excellent steel, at least in the ones I own.

I find that I am better to buy single tools rather than a set that I might end up only using 2 or 3 out of the set.

Dennis

[billd]

Thanks Dennis,   
I guess what I'm looking for is someone to take me by the hand into a carving gouge store and say buy one of these and one of these, ect.....a #3 sweep, a #6 U and so on.  I have to start somewhere, I don't mind spending money, just don't like wasting it.

The bit about the archives was not meant at you or anyone else making this web site possible. It's just you don't appreciate what you have until it's gone and I used it constantly.

Bill

[Jim Kibler]

Everyone has their own preferences and techniques, but I prefer to use full length tools.   These can be driven with a mallet if necessary or pushed by hand.  In using them for carving I like to hold them sort of like a pencil with one hand and use the other hand to help further control them.  I think there are several quality brands available.  I mostly use the Swiss Made tools but also have a few Two Cherries tools as well.  In my opinion the Two Cherries seem to hold their edge a little better.  Lesser quality tools will work fine, but you might not be able to sharpen to quite as low of an angle and may have to sharpen a little more frequently.  The size and sweeps needed depend on what you intend to use them for.  Do you plan on using them for inletting parts, stabbing in carving or modeling of carving?  Oh, there is a company out of Canada that has Swiss Made tools much cheaper than available from Woodcraft here in the states.  I think the company is KMS tools if I remember correctly.

[billd]

Hi Jim,   To answer your question, modeling of carving.

Thanks,
Bill

[Dphariss]

Don't buy a set you will likely be disappointed.
I keep buying them 1 or 2 at a time but finding Pfeil on sale is tough since there is only one company in USA that can sell them Woodcraft. They put they H. Taylor on sale sometime back and I bought a few these are very good.  5-7-8 and 9 sweep between 2 and 5MM get a lot of use. 4 sweep is pretty slow but has its uses. 1-3 is pretty flat. The smaller ones are the #8 and 9. I also have some cheapos I have bough over the years that happen to have the right sweep for what I need now and then and use some of these a lot.
I have some palm types  I like but like the long ones best. The flats I use most are shop made. One about 1/8", one about 3/16 and one about 5/16". I have a 1" hardware store chisel that is very nice for some things, like cleaning up patchbox cavities and cutting other large areas.
I wish the NMLRA would reprint the Journal of Historical Arms Making title in which Gusler describes the tools used. Mine is up the street right now. Guess I need to borrow it back. Never paid the attention to this that I should have and need to look and see how the list agrees with what I have at the moment.

Dan

[Beaverman]

Check out woodcarvers supply, out of Florida, they carry lamp brand chisels, made in germany, mid ranged priced and hold an edge very well, thay have a site!

[David Rase]

Bill,  I agree with alot of Dan's post.  Avoid the sets and buy a couple good carving tools at a time.  I have a collection of about 30 chisels and gouges that I have acquired over the last 15 years.  I also prefer the full length tools.  Avoid the cheap stuff.  I had a friend who every month would show me the new chisels and gouges he had bought and rant and raved about the good deal he got.  After he found out they were junk and started buying quality, eg. Pfiel, his good deals were not really good deals.
DMR  

[J. Talbert]

I also like the full length tools, and I have bought almost all of mine 1 or 2 at a time.  Experience is the best judge of which ones you prefer.  I use the #3-3mm & 5mm, #5-3mm, 5mm, along with a 2mm & 5mm skew chisels quite a lot, but at the same time I'd be hard-pressed to pick any of my selection that I'd care to part with.
Jim's right about KMS tools out of Canada.  He first told me about them a couple of years ago.  At that time their prices were more attractive because of the weaker Canadian dollar,  but I think that they still beat Woodcraft the last time I checked.

[Dr. Tim-Boone]

Check out woodcarvers supply, out of Florida, they carry lamp brand chisels, made in germany, mid ranged priced and hold an edge very well, thay have a site!

I really like Pfeil gouges & chisels but for many things they are too big.  I bought a couple of sets from this group  of 4 sets at Woodcarvers Supply and they are really handy for doing the fine carving

ALL 4 MICRO DETAIL CARVING SETS 
MICRO DETAIL CARVING SETS Perfect for carving fine details & cleaning up otherwise impossible to reach areas. Precision made & razor sharpened from properly hardened Rc 58 steel for a lasting edge. 1.5mm, 2mm & 3mm sets have: square, double bevel & skew chisels, deep gouge & V-tool. Expansion set contains: 5mm deep gouge, 2 & 3mm dog-leg chisels, 2.5mm V-tool & 4mm deep gouge Length 5". U.S.A. Includes: 542000, 542005, 542010, 542015. Compare our prices! Save $$$ Best Deal All 4 Sets 542017 

http://www.woodcarverssupply.com/store/     

If you get a Lindsay palm control Air Graver you can use these carving tool points with it to power carve...Amazing! 

[P.W.Berkuta]

I agree with what the group have to say also. I use four large chisels for 70% of my stock shaping, a #1 X 1.5 long handle Henry Taylor, a #3 X 1.25" long handle Henry Taylor, a #5 X 1" long handle Henry Taylor and a #9 or is it a #7 X 3/4" long handle Henry Taylor. I got these four on sale from Woodcraft - Great chisels - Great sale price . The bulk of my chisels are Pfeil - different size sweeps, straights, double angles, fishtails all long handle then I have 6 Pfeil palm chisels of different styles . I also have a set of Gun Line chisels my dad bought me in the early 70's made by Stubia of Austria - good chisels but the Henry Taylor and Pfeil are better in my opinion. Some of the chisels are virigns and have not felt a block of wood, others are real $*@~*$ . When you find one that works for you - you just can't put her down.

[David Price]

Billd
If  you go to my website and click on to the carving tools tutorial,  you may find it helpful.   

[Brian Jordan]

This has been a very helpful thread. I have been wanting to ask this very question.

Thanks everyone

[TENdriver]

I've used the mid sized Pfeil for a few years and they are hard to beat.

Recetly bought a set of the Flexcuts from a dealer on e-Bay and I haven't decide for or against them yet.  I decided to buy the Flexcuts because I travel alot and the kit is pretty small.  So small that it's MIA and not with me on this trip.  Handles can be switched from palm style to a longer handle that works with a mallet.  I like that part because I tend to prefer using a mallet but I wanted to try smaller palm tools.  The shanks of the tools are flat steel and they bite into my hands during extended use.  I plan to wrap that portion on the tools I end up using the most.

I can't suggest which sizes to buy on the chisels but I can highly reccomend the "Wood is Good" mallets.  Nothing else like them for carving.

[flintriflesmith]

Here's the link to my web site where I posted the entire tool list for my relief NMLRA carving class -- everything from bench lamps to anti-fatugue mats.

I think you will find the section on carving chisels useful. I ranked them either 1, 2 or 3 in terms of how useful I have found them to be. Just one opinion but that's all any one has to offer.

Gary

http://www.flintriflesmith.com/Tools%20&%20Techniques/tools_for_carving_class.htm

[Brian Jordan]

Here's the link to my web site where I posted the entire tool list for my relief NMLRA carving class -- everything from bench lamps to anti-fatugue mats.

I think you will find the section on carving chisels useful. I ranked them either 1, 2 or 3 in terms of how useful I have found them to be. Just one opinion but that's all any one has to offer.

Gary

http://www.flintriflesmith.com/Tools%20&%20Techniques/tools_for_carving_class.htm

Thank you for the link to your site. I find it very very informative.