Eye gouge Punch

[STAR]

I did not kmow where to put this question so I will put it here. my interests are mainly caricature animals and people mainly cowboys.

How useful are the set of three eye gouge punch. Would I be b etter just learning to carve the eyes rather than try to take a short cut.

Pete

[kev.b]

Pete, i've never used them, or even heard of them, but i would have thought that the wood that is suppressed by the punch would eventually attempt to return to its original position?
but obviously i'd take the advice from someone who uses them. it's a very good question though and i'm glad you brought it up. I would like to know myself.
thanks
kev

[carvingbarn]

I have some but have not used them for a long time. I found I could do better eyes carving them. This is a real good tutorial on carving eye. http://www.3crosseswoodcarving.com/eye-carving-tutorial/

[breezly]

Have used them but they dont come out of my tool box much free hand carving eyes is the way to go just practice practice practice

[Lynn O. Doughty]

The problem with these is that when you press the gouge into the wood you crush the surrounding fibers. Better to just carve them.

[Mitchell]

If you press them into the wood firmly, they can damage the wood - however - Punches can be useful for inexperienced carvers or those that have problems getting the eye sizes to match. If you decide to try them, learn to 'add' to them....don't just punch the eye and feel that it's finished..... by adding triangle cuts in the corners and molding the eye a bit you can learn to carve them out without the punches.

[Eddy-Smiles]

Pete.... I have a set of eye punches that I bought when I first started carving and I have used them on occasion, however, I agree with Mitchell. They do serve a purpose but as you gain experience they become less valuable as you use them less. Depending on what exactly it is you carve I wouldn't recommend wasting your money. Taking a small chip out will serve the same purpose.

[STAR]

Thanks guys. That was my thoughts. It is like a lot of these crutches we use to overcome some problems. The learning curve to master them would be better spent doing it the traditional way.

My problem is, not having a carving background, no physical mentor and nowhere to actually look, feel and touch a caricature carving creates some problems.

I have to say that my original thoughts on carving has been turned upside down and I now take nothing for granted and like to challenge my beliefs. I think I will spend my money on something else in the carving area.

Pete

[Dull Knife]

Originally Posted by STAR

I did not kmow where to put this question so I will put it here. my interests are mainly caricature animals and people mainly cowboys.

How useful are the set of three eye gouge punch. Would I be b etter just learning to carve the eyes rather than try to take a short cut.

Pete

I have a set of them that I bought after reading the glorious review in a carving catalogue.

After I tried them out, I found that they weren't any thing to brag about and now they are in the bottom of the drawer in my work bench.

I taught my self how to make eyes with a carving knife.

[uvawyo]

They do help in making both eyes the same size.