Gouge, sweep, etc and General Carving Tool Confusion

[makmlost]

I am so confused about all the different terminology when it comes to carving tools. Many times I will read, use a #6 9mm gouge, a #10 4mm or #12 9/16" gouge, a 60 degree 2mm micro v-tool, etc. I go look at carving web sites for tools and see all kinds of #6 and #10 things, no 9mm anything, all sorts of other numbers and sizes and terms; sweeps, gouges, spoons, vtools and all sorts of combinations of metric and decimal fractional terms, for the tools, etc. I am so confused!! Is there somewhere that I can read that has the decoder ring for trying interpret all the totally confusing terms and tools? I just want to buy a few recommended tools but can't find the stuff because it does not match with anything in the catalogs.

[arfer1943]

It IS confusing.

English tools are numbered slightly differently to European tools for curvature, seen end on. No 1 is flat, 2 to 9 are (strictly) angular segments of a circle, the lower the number, the smaller the segment. See chart.

Sculpture Tools from Henry Taylor Tools Ltd.

Think of a slice of pie. A thin slice has a small curvature on the outside (no2), a half pie a very large one (No9). Then the diameter of the pie will give a wider tool but the same curvature.

Above no 9, you have "Veiners" which are curved at the bottom with flat walls (very useful). You then have "V" tools numbered higher.

You will have gouges with parallel sides and "fishtail sides". You have curved and back bent. They are all variations of the basic ones.

A pro carver may have 500 or more, using about a dozen for most work, but use others WHEN REQUIRED.

Look on the web for makers sets of about a dozen gouges and try to buy those patterns for your use. In due course you may want more, but by then you will know what you want.....

Good luck!

[Mitchell]

Here's an old explaination: Have a dumb question - tool sweeps

A link to Pfiel chart of gouge profiles: http://www.woodcarvingbiz.com/Gouges.htm

Even more in-depth: Confusion About Tool Sweeps?

[A_Swope]

You can charts by searching on google. thats what I did

[TreeWizard]

The only way those suggestions about the tools to use are any good is if the piece you are carving is the same size as that used by the instructor.

After a period of time you'll learn that you don't need all the gouges recommended, you'll be doing a lot of carving with only a part of the blade and you can make the same cuts with a #4 or a #6 by using only a part of the edge.

More importantly don't get hung up on the details, just enjoy the experience. You don't want your carving to look just like everyone's anyway. Put your own individuality into it.

[LMiller]

I bought the starter set from Flexcut and then added two because of an instructor's use of that same 'size.'

I never use more than 4 on any one carving -- and most often it's only 2. I use two or three knives -- based on how long the blade is and how much finesse I need to carve smaller details.

The Flexcut starter kit got me off to a great start -- that means I didn't get too much tool envy when carving at the club with other carvers nearby.

Don't discount starting small. It is still a viable approach.

LMiller