What do I need for hair and beards etc.

[Veen]

I am attempting some facial carvings and caricatures. What tools work best for the hair, beards, eyebrows... I am considering the dockyards micro U gouges as I have read they are good for hair. I already own a pfiel 11/3 veiner and a 15/8 V gouge I am wondering if this will be a duplicate purchase because the dockyard set has 5mm 4mm 3mm 2mm 1.5mm or are they different from my 3mm veiner??? Or should I look at individal tools or a different set ???
Appreciate you help.
I Could also use some tutorials on doing hair.....

[Bill Anderson]

I use the dockyard set with some gouges and v tools I think its great for hair... Gene has some stuff on U tube whittler 0507 channel that has him doing hair and just about everything else...

[Veen]

Thanks for the reply
I am not sure If I need u gouges or v tools or both lol. I want to get something ordered that will be good for doing caricatures say 8 inches tall down to Christmas ortiments ??

[Coker]

Hey Veen, Don't know if this will help you or not, but one of the things I use for hair on people and animals is a die for cutting threads in metal. Just fasten it in a handle and scrape it across the wood. You can do course hair or fine hair. Good luck

Coker

[Claude]

Veen:
Not all Dockyard sets are the same...I have this one:
Buy Micro Sculpture Set of 5

and use all five pieces a lot. the three gouges are #9 1.5mm, 2mm, 3mm, there's a 1.5mm 90 deg. v tool, and a 1.5mm double-bevel chisel that is remarkably useful. I use the gouges primarily on eyes of my small carvings, and the v tool for fine details of hair. I also have a Flexcut #11 2mm gouge that I use for the finer hair detailing.

Claude

[wildflower]

Hi Claude: I've had great success creating hair with just a v-tool. For really fine detail you could also use the end of a dental tool and press into the wood with it ~ as you press in each strand of hair next to each other and over-lapping each other the raised wood in between creates lovely whisps is hair. The dental tool is also great for creating fine wrinkles in skin. Just ask your dentist the next time you're in for some disgarded tools. Hope this helps.

Leslie

[Veen]

Thanks for the replies you all have such great ideas!
Flexcut has some good sets but they all seem to be the type with detachable handles which I dont want.
Claude I have been heavily considering that set but thought the 1.5mm double-bevel chisel would be a completely useless tool. Funny you say you use it alot...Lol. I wish they sold the dockyards tools seperately.

[Mark N. Akers]

Veen:
I use about 3 different size # 11 gouges,I keep going over it dropping in size each time.

[James A]

Veen, try Mountain Woodcarvers. They sell individual dockyard tools for about thirteen dollars a piece.

[Veen]

Thanks for the replies and the good info everyone.
Has anyone every tried the Mountain Woodcarvers store brand Knives ???