woodcarving tools

[nadcarves]

Sculpture House tools have varied in hardness.I had some that sharpened and went dull looking at the wood,others very hard and brittle.. They do not come ready for use,ie, honing.There is no such thing as a 'mallet tool'..All large chisels can be either used by hand or with a mallet..Haven't bothered to check out' mallet tools', can they be used for hand carving,comfortable to use by hand???? The leather on a tool is a gimmick.In some cases, the dealer buys seconds and fits handles to them...When you carve with full size tools,most of the work will be done by hand once you get past the roughing.....even in hard woods..So, other than me when fooling around, who roughs any more? I sell a vortex cutter, and use that to waste wood ...If yas buys 'mallet tools', does yas need another set to carve by hand??? .. The size and shapes will depend on what you are going to carve and the type of wood. Don't get very large gouges ,I know they look good, especially the 10's,11's.. If you are going to get a one inch tool, a number 3 or 4 to start.Get the hold down first, and use it.NEVER, use a large tool like you would a palm tool,one handed is shear stupidity.Actually,palm tools shouldn't have handles, safer that way!! cordially,,,nad

[Hi_Ho_Sliver]

what I mean by mallet tools...is tools that will accept being hit with a mallet....I know some of the cheap stuff would fall apart in no time...nothing stops one from using them without a mallet, just by hand. 8)

Opinions are like dull tools; everybody has one.

There is no reason why you could not use a 'full-size' tool with one hand. As long as the tool is held properly, it is as safe as any other tool.

There is a book 'carving comical bears'; the carving and instruction is done with 'full-size' tools (held with one hand) and the resulting carving seemed to benefit from that approach.

The proper grip on the tool is the defining safety factor; not the tool length. Myself, I prefer palm tools for hand-held carvings, but I have used 'full-size' tools at times.

Anyone heard of Dave Sobol? He uses a full size chisel, holds it by the metal ( not the handle) and pulls it towards him and he only uses wet sugar pine! Go figure. Big Al