My tools

[mark yundt]

On a recent post I mentioned a couple of tools I was using,,but not the width. And when Chuck came to visit he photographed my tool cart. I've also mentioned that I generally use only about 20-25 tools to do 95 percent of my work. So...
This prompted someone to PM me and ask specifically just what tools I use and what is in the rack on the cart. So here they are.
Left to right in the rack is;
#1/8 1/5skew 2/5 2/8 2/10 3/5 3/8 5/8 5/12 7/4 7/6 7/10 8/4 8/7 8/10 9/10 11/3 11/5 11/7 12 15 ( 2 of them pictured)

The sequence is odd as there should probably be a small 9 in there as there is only one of them..But somehow I manage.
These are the tools as I say does the bulk of my work.
The rack itself I designed to be portable as I need to take them to sites with me or when I'm a guest "artist" somewhere. So in the bottom of the rack where butt of the tools are held there are through holes ,,as well as along the handle area near the butt. This allows chips to fall straight through without much fuss,,a little shake and they're gone. To hold them in place it's a dowel that bridges the handles and is held in place with a simple turn as the peg slides through the side of the rack. Simple and it works. And on the back is a cabinet handle for carrying as well as giving it a bit of a slant when I lay the rack down. Neat and simple.
In the posts I don't get too specific which tools do what as I'm working. Basically because One,,you may not be carving the same thing or the same size. And Two,,because one tool can do many things for me. That's how I get by with relatively few. Sure I own many more,,,and some really neat shapes..but I rarely bother to go look for something when the chisel I have in my hand,,or nearby,,will do the trick. In the following post I'll show you what I mean.
By the way,,I've had this very same set of chisels for approx. 18 yrs.now,,and they have done literally hundreds of carvings and repeated sharpenings during that time. As you can see,,some are getting shorter with age. I have back ups for those,,but really hate to put one out to pasture after such good service.

[mark yundt]

So,,,with this selection of tools,,,all full size mallet's ,,,what can be done. Well,,if you have been around here for any time you have seen some items I've carved,,as well as taking a look at my site.
Now generally the bigger pieces have more appeal. So they get more press coverage so to speak.
And since most tend to think they ,,,(mallet size chisels) are for big jobs I decided to show some other smaller things I can do with these,,as well as how I can make one tool act like another.
So..
In the first pic I'm showing the 8/10 and the 5/12. Half the groove was cut with the 8,,the other half with the 5. Looks pretty close to me.

In this pic,,,one V groove was cut with the #5,,,the other with the actual V tool.And the curved stop cuts,,one was with the 7/10 and the other with the 5/12. They look pretty close too.

Here this continuous line stop cut was done entirely with the 5 ( yeah,,it's my favorite tool) As you can see the radius constantly changes. And by the way,,I did it a while ago,,,but the letter was done with the same tool as well.

And this odd ball little face was done off the cuff,,I just started playing on a flat board to see what would come out of it. So I went for some semblance of a face. Hey,,it's only a start. I would have liked to grab another tool or two,,but what ,,in a smaller scale ,,can you do with a full size mallet tool?

[mark yundt]

And the last,,before you get bored to death,,
These fairly small relief carved Acanthus leaves,,again done with this same set of full size mallet tools. See,,,they AREN'T just for big jobs.

And you can see that you don't need much thickness to do a relief carving as well. This is well under 1/8 th inch. That's about as thin as I go to do a relief. Not much to play with there.

And last but not least. You guys with your posts,,getting my curiosity up! So I just had to go play with a golf ball too! It was my first try so don't laugh too hard.

So you can see I find these full size tools fairly adaptable to many circumstances. Also ,,with the smaller carvings,,,remember,,,I don't have anything smaller than a 5mm. Geez,,if I had the smaller ones,,I could really put some detail in several of these pieces.
And then to think I'll turn around and use these same tools to carve the life size crucifix of the Shroud,,,or the 10 ft high by 11 ft wide trees made out of Cherry .
Yup ,,I like my tools. They're good to me. I think I'll keep them around for another 18 yrs.

[susieq]

Mark,
it's amazing what you can do with your larger tools......

[chuckt]

Nice Mark. Thanks for taking the time to put this together. I was so busy absorbing while I was there that I forgot to really take many photos to document your tools and techniques. This was a nice reminder.

Now - if I run out and buy the Swiss Made "Mark Yundt Signiture Series" of gouges will I be able to carve like you tomorrow? ;-)

cheers mate!
ChuckT

[squbrigg]

Great series Mark. Simple but very effective demonstration of what those baby's will do , in the right hands. I like the tool caddy idea, something I've been struggling with lately. Too many tools laying around the bench while I'm working.

Thanks buddy. You always seem to come up with some gems in your threads.

Bob

[Just Carving]

Mark,

Great thread as usual! And the list of tools answers a lot of questions I've had in mind on "big" tools. And I love the rack--it's now on my list of things to do because after seeing this post, I've decided to start investing in the big tools.

Now you've talked about a lot of things, and after seeing you carve a golf ball--with the big tools--I have another question--or two.

I'm guessing you anchored the small acanthus leaf down with you double sided tape. How'd you do the golf ball?!?! I've done a couple of them myself in the hand with palm tools. I kind of doubt you can carve in the hand with the big tools.

Second question--do you "choke" up on the tools, i.e move your hand(s) closer to the working end of the tool when carving? I ask this because I find that the smaller tools give me better control in doing small detail than the mid-size tools that I have. That's one of the reasons I've stayed with palm toold for the most part. But I'm thinking of venturing out on my own and obviously, like you said, the "press" is where the big stuff lies. And well, I don't think palm tools will cut it. After seeing what you did here in this thread, there's no point in bothering too much with mid-size tools when the big tools will cover a lot of bases.

Thanks
Bob

[mark yundt]

You're welcome everyone. I hope it cleared up some questions.
Chuck,,I think you should stick with the "Chuck T signature series",,you can use mine if you like,,but I think yours are just as nice.
Bob,,the tool rack is only for holding them while they rest. I don't work with them in the rack at an time. For me that's too slow ,cumbersome and awkward for several reasons.It's faster and more efficient to have them spread out in front of me. Yes they do look neat all lined up in a row progressing in size,,and it SEEMS that using the rack should be no big deal,,but it is. I've tried several times and it simply doesn't work as well. Turns out most other carvers I know use the very same system,,organized chaos,,it's worked well for centuries.
And Bob #2 (just carvin) Well,,this could open another whole chapter.
Yup,,I love the double sided tape. The cloth type,,not the one that's thin as skin.You'd be surprised at how little you need to hold a carving securely. You might have read about me using it again on the "Turning leaf" thread. A few little dab's will do Ya'. Used to use dots of glue at one point,,damaged too many carvings when removing them from the base getting them to pop off. Worked really well up to that point.
You know me well enough that I always find a way to hold a carving. Needing my hands in good condition and not carving them accidentally while holding a carving isn't part of my plan. Another reason is I can't apply the power nor control that is really necessary to carve well ( I believe) To hold the golf ball I tried several things,,but found that if I just bored a hole..just slightly smaller than the ball itself,,,and cut a small relief slit from the edge of the board to the hole,,I could get a very snug fit,,rotate the ball to any position I chose,,jam it in ,carve,,,push up from the bottom to release,,simple and easy.
Doesn't take much in this case 'cause this stuff carves really easy,,I'm not using a mallet,,and such little cuts are made there isn't much force being applied. But I can and do use them one handed,,not a big deal.
But do I choke up on the tools? You bet.At times I choke 'em so much I'm surprised they are still alive. I hold them like a pencil. Ahh,,good analogy Mark. If you're drawing something small and detailed you tend to choke up on the pencil. If you had a stubby little pencil ( palm chisel) and had the eraser stuck in the palm of your hand,,could you draw as well and as accurately? Holding the chisel like a pencil..I'm right handed,,and having my left hand on the end of the chisel,,I now have infinite control,power and precision to make the most delicate cuts. And I can cut from ANY direction or position the piece calls for. Small cuts take an unusual amount of control. The chisel in my hand is almost strung between to springs pulling in opposite directions. There is incredible tension wanting to push the chisel,,at the same time there is an equal tension keeping it from overshooting the cut. If you just push a chisel with force,,who knows where it'll end up. I have a death grip on the chisel,,but it moves very little. That's the control necessary.I can and do use them one handed,,it's very easy to do with the shape of these,,but if you're not used to it,,or over several hours ,,it becomes tiring. It's hard to hold a smooth steel shaft and still apply the necessary power to carve,,hence,,the left hand. It provides the power,,and my right gives direction. Minute shifts in either gives me absolute control to make precise cuts,,very delicately ,,,as if I was removing a speck of dust from someones eye,,,using a chisel.

And mid sized tools,,to me it's just a question of what's the point. To me they have the wrong balance,,and I feel the size is what really limits them. What can they do that the full size won't? NOTHING AT ALL. So why pay almost the same money for less tool? They won't fit any better in a carving. Really,,how many people are doing such a carving where the length of a chisel keeps them from reaching a certain spot? You see what I carve,,from little things to massive statues and such. I've never run into a place where I needed a chisel that was just an inch or so shorter to get into a certain spot. A chisel with a curve or a spoon shape maybe,,and I'll use a full size one for that as well. Simply because if you're using a spoon,,the mere shape necessitates a fulcrum action,,I want something long to give the power that move has to have. Not a little piddly thing that I'm gonna poke and scrape around with. That leaves messy cuts. Clean cuts require power. Short,stubby,,one handed things ,,to me,,just don't cut it,,no pun intended.
Some will say " Oh,,you're trained (?) in the European tradition." Whatever that means. No,,I'm not a whittler is all that I can see. I'm a carver,,pure and simple.And I can carve with my tools anything someone can whittle,,but whittling is it's own thing,,and they can't whittle what I can carve. But my tools don't know what that means either. They are just as willing to carve a leaf ,,a statue,,a caricature,,in any style I choose,,in any size I choose,,in flat plane,,or an upcoming Moroccan style job.The European tradition has carved everything imaginable ,,big ,,small,,you name it,,so if that is the case,,it is probably a good thing.Works for me anyway in anything I decide to do.

[Claude]

Mark:
Thanks for showing us the tools you most commonly use, and for showing what can be done with them!

I also find interesting, if I correctly understand what you wrote, that you're right handed and guide the cutting edge with the right hand while applying the force to the handle with the left hand. Makes sense, as the right would have better fine-motor skills (it's the one you write with). I guess I'm wired wrong, though, as I'm right handed, write right handed, but use a bow or slingshot left handed, hold the gouge handle in my right hand and guide with the left. I just tried holding a gouge as you do, and it feels really weird. I'll have to give it a try on a carving for several minutes and see how I do... Heck, if it works better, I can change!

Claude

[mark yundt]

Yes Claude,,I've always wondered about that myself. I'm not ambidextrous. I too hold a bow as well as a sling shot with my left.I write with my right. But many times I find my left guiding the chisel...with the right pushing,why?
For some reason,,now that I think about it,,when I'm doing a big powerful slice,,,the left is guiding and the right is providing the driving force. But usually ,,and it depends on the location and type of cut,,the right will step in and do the smaller ones,,not always,,

Also,,I don't carve from one position. Meaning that with the carving in front of me I won't be pushing away from myself at all times. Some will do this if they are using a bench hook type of thing,,but I won't do that. I carve from all and any direction or angle. The ways I mount a carving allows me to do this allowing me greater range. Any other way is just too limiting and time consuming. Left ,,right,,straight away,,towards myself,,those are my directions. Maybe after all this time I've developed a certain amount of flexability in what hand is the director.
It's an odd thing that I've seen and wondered about as I watch myself carve.