Full size or Intermediate size?

[chipper67]

Hello,

This question is for those of you who have both the full size and also the intermediate size mallet tools. If you were to start over in buying tools which do you feel you would rather have now that you have experience in using both sizes. Of course, I know this question is kind of vague for the fact it really all depends on what you are carving, but I thought I'd ask it anyway. I finally decided what brand and now I am debating between the full size versus the intermediate size. I normally do hand held carvings but I want to expand and do a but larger carvings and also some relief carving too.

Thanks,

Chipper67

[Kenny_S]

In my weird thinking that the full size can do the job of both full size and intermediate size also. Guess it depends on how big you are going in your carving. I would hate to buy a set of the intermediate size to find them not able to do the job and turn around and Buy the full size. But then, That is my thinking.

[mark yundt]

I have never carved with anything other than full size tools.In the beginning I had bought a couple of "palm" size sets. I couldn't stand them , never used them never will.Many beginning think you can do small carvings , have better control etc,etc,,,I've done a cross, with a 4 inch figure on it using nothing other than full size chisels,ribs. fingers face,,, it's all there.To me they have a better feel and balance, you can "choke up " on them for fine work or grab a handful and wack 'em with a mallet.I've even bought an odd intermediate set of 15 Swiss , not palm, not full...don't use them either.Maybe its' what you feel comfortable with, but the other professional carvers I know use only full size for all their work,not a palm set to be found.

[mwilleson]

I decided to go full for 3 reasons:
1) There wasn't that much size difference
2) There wasn't much price difference
3) There seemed to be more selection of full size tools

My .02....

Later John,
Mike

[mark yundt]

WISE CHOICE my friend!

[Ashbys]

I like the intermedate set. I do have many full sized tools now, but the Pfiels intermedate set I still use often. Not as much for in the round, but in the relief carvings where I recess deep into the piece the shorter distance of the handle does allow me to drop into sections that the larger full size will not go.
If I am working on a portrait in a deep relief and the section I am working on is pressed close to an outer wall, often the intermedate set will allow me to move into the recess to get the required cut.

The tools themselves are the same , but the shorter shank and the smaller handle will allow a bit more freedom in getting a sharper angle while using the undercuts.

Here is the basic difference
8 inch overall 10 inch overall
3.5 inch blade
4.5 inch blade
4.5 inch handle
5.5 inch handle
5/8 inch dia handle
1 inch dia handle

there is nothing that can be done with the larger set that can not be achieved with the smaller set

but there are things you can do with the smaller set that you can not do with the larger.

It is a matter of choice, but if your cutter is too large you can not make it smaller , but if it is small, you can always cut larger .

Each tool has it's place, it is simply a matter of choice.

Ash

[chipper67]

Thanks everyone for your comments.

Chipper67

[carverken]

It is truely a matter of preference. My hands are short and stubby. I like the intermediate. JMHO
Ken

[mark yundt]

It certainly is a matter of choice. Every artist has to use the tools they feel most comfortable with.If someone out there loves their palm chisels,use 'em. If you find yourself in a situation where using a tire iron will solve your problem,,,use it.I just haven't run into that situation yet,and I think I do a fair variety of carving,that I will use anything other than full size chisels. If someone finds themselves doing alot of deep reliefs then an addition of a few spoon type gouges or dog leg chisels are in order.(You really can't ask a striaght chisel to go around a corner).Here the advantage of full length is in the power and control they offer by pivoting the chisel ,like a fulcrum or lever against your thumb and index finger behind the "spoon " area. Over time I guess I just learned how to "cheat" by making a tool act like its thinner and smaller than its cutting edge really is,doing small delicate cuts with what appear to be rather large and ill suited tools for the job.We all have to learn how far and to what extent we can push our tools,,,I just haven't found the limits of my full size ones yet.

[Ashbys]

Mark ,
Your very right. Full size tools will give you a 97 percent of the time the needed line. Doglegs and other angle bent cutter also work well , where their design fits the project.

The places I needed the smaller tools were on the back side of a head, where a dogleg was just not controlled in making the cut , well at least not the dogleg tools I had.

the wall was only 1/2 inch away from the section to be cut, so I need to angle in and roll down to get the roundness of the cut. This is not a normal cut , but was needed. The full size tool length and handle held me up and away from the cutting point simply because of the angle produced. This is a rare instance , but those instances are what makes new tools. Had I not been able to use the smaller tool to make the cut, well then I would have made a new tool for the cut.

But that is part of the learning process, modifaction for results.

I would never tell someone to buy this or to buy that , if I was a power carver , I would have just used an extention bar and made the cut. Would have worked like a charm.

What ever tools you decide on, just get good tools. And I know what your looking at, I am sure they will be. And remember it is not the tool which makes the difference, it is the operator. Skill can offset poor performance of a tool. But the finest tools will not offset poor skills.

The more you use a tool the more it becomes a part of you, whatever your choice, the real change will be from you , not the tool.

Ash