[Merle Rice]

Hey Guys and Girles; Is their a secret to using a Gouge inverted. I have read articles where they turn the Gouge over to round over a branch or other part. When I try it the Gouge digs in, no matter which way the grain is running. Must you break the edge or sharpen it in a special way. If you do that does that make that gouge special for that operation only?
Merle

[Paul_Guraedy]

Merle, I suspect that you are using too large or too small of a gouge. Also, it is easier for me, if the gouge is one where the corners have been rounded off, but this is not necessary. Just make sure the gouge is as large as you can get on the piece you are rounding over without the corners reaching the surrounding wood. Make several shallow runs instead of trying to do too much rounding in a single push. Like most woodcarving, some practice, and it will come easy.

[BobD]

Chris Pye also suggests adding a micro bevel to the inside of the gouge...the entire inner bevel should be around 1/3 of the length of the outside bevel. That way you have a "shoulder" that you can pivot on and prevent the gouge from digging in as much.

I'd also suggest a gouge with a shallow sweep (#3 or #5); For me they have just enought curve to round things without digging in too much. A fishtail-type gouge is also useful.

Bob

[Lynn O. Doughty]

The reason it's biting into the wood is that you're carving into the grain. Just carve in the opposite direction and you'll see what I'm talking about. Grain direction is the biggest nemesis of woodcarving. However, if you learn it's secrets it's a woodcarvers best friend.

[mdallensr]

Merle, it works best with straight gouges. Bent or long-bent gouges won't lay flat enough to work well. Chris Pye is a big advocate of this technique, and he recommends putting a micro-bevel on the inside of the gouge, to allow more room to work and avoid digging-in. http://www.chrispye-woodcarving.com/
http://www.chrispye-woodcarving.com/...s/slicing.html

[mark yundt]

You can try all the above mentioned tips and they might help you.I have just carved a cluster of grapes in the WIP section where the entire cluster was carved with the gouge inverted.This was in hard maple but I used the same bevel I use for basswood or anything else I carve.I would never round off the corners of my chisels to do this ,,or any other work,,,square corners on a chisel are too important to grind off,,,no reason for it really,unless you're using the wrong chisel.And on this piece,,due to it's configuration,,I was carving with,,,across,,and against the grain constantly and it doesn't really matter to me which way the grain is running,,and being in maple,,it could make the situation worse but it didn't.The only thing that matters to me is to use a gouge with a larger radius than the piece you are trying to carve.This is the only way to keep the chisel from digging in,this is the "trick",,nothing else in my book.On my first post I stated the grapes,,,for example,,were done with a #7 and a #5. The seven blocked in the basic shape and radius of the grape.All the final shaping was done with the five,,it's a flatter radius than the seven.If you are trying to carve a longer ,rounded piece,,like a dowel as an example rather than a ball shape,,digging in might be an issue.Here the digging in might be one of two things,,one,,here grain could be an issue,,but most woodcarvers are aware of this situation,, or the chisel itself is digging in not allowing long smooth cuts,,here is where you might think it's the corners of the chisel,,it's not,,,the radius of the chisel is too closely matched to the radius of the shape you are trying to carve,,just use a slightly flatter chisel and the problem dissappears.I have,, and you can use a chisel designed to do this work,,it's greatest benefit is that usually the handle is at a different angle than most allowing you to get a better angle of attack to the piece.But with a little care a standard chisel can be pressed into service and works just fine.Sorry if I got a little long winded,,but it's a great question,,and a useful technique that needed a longer answer.

[Merle Rice]

Thanks guys ; You answered my question quite well. I was using the same radius gouge that I wanted on my piece. Larger gouge, watch the grain,and practice.
Thanks again
Merle