What is everyone's opinion on the eye punches?
I have seen both the round eye punch and the oval eye punch
and was curious as to the other carver's thoughts on them?
Are there any carvers on this forum using them. If so are you using the round or the oval?
I am thinking about purchasing a set of the oval? Just curious, are they really that helpful. I can do eyes but have a hard time.
I do not guess i am too bad considering i have 0 talent when it comes to drawing.

Wayne,

I have three versions of punches - round, oval, and 'half round'. The half round are what I use most - IF I use a punch. They are not really 1/2 but are the rounds with about a quarter ground off. I use them mostly because them make an eye that looks good on the santas that give the eye a smiling type squint - for lack of a better description. I like to add details around the punched area - a v cut over and under with a small triangle to accent the 'bag' at the outer bottom eye lid. Of course I make triangle cuts on both 'corners' to give the eye some depth also.

I like the oval as much as the round - really no preference.

The my best looking eyes are not done with a punch - just free hand. However, the punch is good to help place the eyes and make them the same size. I do like to carve some eyes free hand and then use a round to make an iris.

That didn't really answer your question, but hopefully gave enough info to get the discussion going.

I would not recommend the oval punches.
A punch needs to be rotated during use, that is difficult to do with an oval punch.

A good eye punch works much like a saw; it uses a combination of compression and fiber cutting to create an eye.

It requires some dexterity to make two eyes look good.
The eye punch controls diameter and depth (to some degree).

When you first purchase a set of eye punches, you need to use them several times on basswood end-grain to clean them.

My (personal) eye punches I have improved by adding very fine serrations.

I use them on small ornaments, animals, and also for making some buttons.

I don't use them very often, but they can be helpful at times.

[Nancy_G]

I use my eye punches on Jerry --- unless he needs a good left hook to the stomach.

I have been looking around and seen several types available
Round
Oval
Character eye.......... only saw these on 1 site

I can do eyes but they are difficult for me
I always seem to get 1 eye different from the other

[Kenny_S]

Ah Nancy, Ya must be related to me little bride, for sure.

[Kenny_S]

Rick, my little bride has no prolem in making my eyes the same!

[jamesfa]

hi Wayne
i started out just painting the eyes on,and then i made myself a set of round eye punches,to help in placement of the eyes like you i had a problem getting the two eyes even.a trick that someone told me to help is if your right handed draw the left eye first or visa-versa if your lefthanded.
now i am trying to do them freehand in order to get a more natural looking eye(trying to improve)
i still use the punches now and then but mostly for a small black eye -i fill the hollow with soft lead from a pencil place it over the eye and spin it around until the lead is polished
Frank

[Hi_Ho_Sliver]

If they earned it! They oughta get it!! :

[Ric]

I have all the different sets of eye punches and think I waisted my money on them. On several occastions the eye chips out when you try to clean them up. I guess this is because you have fragmented the wood grain around the eye cut. I use them now for buttons and background design on relief carvings. JMHO.
Ric