newbie needs advice on new stubai gouge

[smuggles]

hi all ive recently taken up carving nd hav just purchased a new stubai no. 5 20mm gouge , i wanted to know if i need to sharpen it or just a strop,as they say they leave the shop already sharpend, all my other gouges i bought second hand from andrew stevens toolbazzar in scotland so they were all well worn in so was ok there i just have no experience with brand new ones , this is my first time on your site nd so far its really good , its great i have so much to learn looking forward to geting stuck in , any help would be great thanks

[mpounders]

If it cuts like you want it to, then just strop it to keep it that way! But even though the Pfeil gouges I buy come sharpened, I sometimes change the bevel or the profile of the edge to better fit the types of wood I carve. I like an edge more suited for basswood, something thinner that slices easy. You should be able to judge if it cuts as well as your older ones. The bigger size gouges like yours sometimes have a steeper bevel for mallet type work, which may be what you are looking for. Stubai is a good brand!

[smuggles]

thanks mpounders , i think ill just strop it and try it out its cuting ok now but not as i would like , i need to give them all a going over as im only starting out and not sure wots really sharp im sure i could get them all better, havnt decided wot sort of work i like doing yet im just jumping in head first and want to try all styles , ive done some chainsaw carving and im a carpenter by trade but this is the first time ive had or used gouges i need all the help i can get but the sharpening part is holding me back a bit , i like to use the mallet nd by hand so maybe a bevel in between would work good for me??

[Robson Valley]

Stubai come at 20 degrees like Pfeil. Best way to discover if it needs anything more than stropping is to try it out! 5/20 is a nice size & shape.