[chuckt]

Ok - looking for some input and feedback on my tool selection list below. I am looing to make a purchase from Woodcraft on Pfeil Swiss Made gouges before the end of month to take advantage of their 25% "discount" ($25 gift card for each $100 spent on Pfeil gouges and chisels).

A little backgound. I have been carving on and off for about 2 years - mostly hiking sticks, bark woodspirits and a gnome home. I am looking to delve into relief carving as is my wife (who is a much more talented artist at drawing than I). We picked up Chris Pye's books (Equipment 1 & 2, and Relief Carving) for Christmas.

I have just gone through a layoff but have landed a new position so I can use the severance to clear away some debt and have some left to . . . buy some tools!!


So, my list is a combination of Chris Pye's beginner's basic list, and some other suggestions from the book he did with Shawn Cipa and Lora Irish on Greenmen and Woodspirits, as well as Shawn's Mythical Creatures book.

I am looking to do these types of projects in basswood but also in maple & various hardwood saplings for hiking sticks. I also want to do more bark carvings (spirits, mountain men a la Mark Gargac, and gnome homes, etc.).

So - I am wondering what people think of this list to purchase. Too much? Things missing?
Chris Pye focuses on 5-6mm, 10-12mm, & 20mm #2 #7, #9 (Swiss numbering) for his starter set. It seems that Mark and others recommend and assortment of 3, 5, 7, 9, 11. I have tried to cover the bases without too much overlap.

#1 skew (8mm) 23.99

#2 (5mm) 22.99
#2 (12mm) 23.5
#2 (20mm) 27.99

#3 Fishtail (12mm) 26.99
#3 Fishtail (20mm) 32.99

#5 (3mm) 21.99
#5 (5mm) 21.99
#5 (12mm) 23.5
#5 (25mm) 29.99

#7 (6mm) 21.99
#7 (14mm) 23.5
#7 (20mm) 32.99

#9 (3mm) 21.99
#9 (5mm) 21.99
#9 (13mm) 23.5
#9 (20mm) 27.99

#9 Short Bent (3mm) 21.99
#9 Short Bent (5mm) 21.99

#11 (3mm) 24.5
#11 (5mm) 24.5
#11 (10mm) 27.99

#12 V 60 deg (4mm) 25.5
#12 V 60 deg (10mm) 29.5

This is about $600 so I will get $150 in gift cards to put towards purchase of some Ceramic or Diamond sharpening stones.

Thoughts on these?
I was thinking these:
Shapton Pro Ceramic Stone 1000 52.99
Shapton Pro Ceramic Stone 5000 81.99
Shapton Pro Ceramic Stone 8000 101.99

Or would I be better off putting the money towards the Jet knockoff of the Tormek? It has gotten good reviews?

But Pye seems to feel it important to learn to sharpen by hand on stones. Thoughts?

Of course, he also feels it best to not buy a whole slew of tools from one maker early on. The way I see it, I know these tools will cover a huge range of carvings, I know Swiss Made are good quality, I know this is a pretty good deal from Woodcraft, and I know I have the $ now but quite likely won't at a later date. With 4 kids and one in college the dineros disappear FAST!

Any input would be appreciated.
Regards!
ChuckT

[squbrigg]

Well, Santa seems to be coming early, or late, depending on your point of view!

That is a pretty good slection of tools, and should serve for quite a variety of situations. You are somewhat heavy on a couple of gouge number/sizes, and perhaps you could consider a couple of knives as alternatives. I would strongly recommend a good strop and compound, it will see the most use of all the listed tools combined.

I'd recommend one of your #5's be a long bend, it will help in relief carving (if and when you try that).

The Swiss made tools are a good safe investment, keen right from the box. You'll never regret them.

Good selection, and an excellent use of your severance. Look at it as an investment in preparing for your retirement. Carve enough and well enough, those tools will make you some money in due time.

Bob

[chuckt]

Thanks for the input Bob. Yeah - my vision is to take the next 15 years getting to be a good enough carver to "get rich quick" in the high profit world of woodcarving during my retirement!! ;-)

Heh heh . . . seriously, I really do hope to get good enough to sell my work one day and at the very least support my hobby.

Anyway - yeah there are quite a few #9s especially because I added the 2 short bent spoon gouges. Pye indicated in the Greenman book that you would want to "small deep spoons" in addition to the basic set.

He only includes #s 2, 7, 9 gouges with 1 V and 1 Skew in his basic set. The #3's and 5's that I added were specific to some of the Shawn Cipa projects that I want to do. Should I assume that the 2 short bent #9s can replace the same widths in the regular straight style? If so, I could kill those two and add a couple elsewhere?

Which width of the #5s would you make long bent?

I already intend to pick up some strop material and either the stones or now thinking the "scary sharp" method to cut costs. Thoughts?

Any additional thoughts greatly welcome.

Thanks much!
ChuckT

[Plain_Ol_Ed]

Don't do it! Just carve and buy what becomes necessary. Don't ask me why I think that way.

[Ron Davidson]

Woodcraft also has allot of Henry Taylor chisels and gouges on sale for 10.00 each.

[slivers&dust]

I took advantage of the same deal with Woodcraft on the Pfeil tools but they will not give you the $25.00 per $100, I checked, If you order all those tools at once you only get one $25.00 gift cetificate.

You can try ordering a few tools Monday, a few more on Tuesday, etc. maybe even have your wife order one day too and they might give you more then one certificate if they don't realize they are going to the same address.

Good luck, you will love the tools

[chuckt]

Actually - I called today and they verified that they WOULD apply the deal to every $100 worth of tools that I ordered. Otherwise I had already figured out how to split the order into several orders within a few dollars of $100 ea. The problem there is that the shipping charges would eat into the value of the gift cards.

As for the Henry Taylors - I don't know. I've heard mostly VERY good recommendations for the Pfeils - and very mixed on the Taylors. Plus I like the feel of the Pfeils I've used.

Plain Ol Ed - I hear your advice, and it is frankly pretty common advice in the carving community, and I have avoided making any bulk purchases to date. I do have about 12 old antique gouges in a pretty limited range of sizes (clustered around 7 or 8mm) that my parents bought me for my birthday but having no knowledge of what to get when they bought them. The fact is that I now have the means to pick up a nice selection - I can get the discount (well the gift cards) deal, and I really feel that I ought to jump on that opportunity while I can. Like I said with a family these opportunities evaporate really quickly. So I am going for it!!! :-)

Thanks for the added advice. Keep it coming. Looking for lots of input here - especially as regards to the selection. Anything I ought to change in anyone's opinion?

all!
ChuckT

[slivers&dust]

hmm...guess it depends who you talk to then because they wouldn't let me do that. You've got a point about the shipping.

[squbrigg]

Hi ChuckT

I wouldn't assume that the short bent #9's would do the same job as a straight #9, different stroke altogether. As for a long bent #5 , perhaps the 5mm would serve.

A lot of these sizes will depend on what you'll be carving, I've used mostly smaller width tools, (1/2" and under) and have been only lately been enjoying the smooth sensation od the larger gouges cutting wood. You need a mix and if you can swing it, the better the mix the happier you'll be.

As for Henry Taylors vrs Pfeil, I prefer the Pfeil hands down, and I have quite a few HT's. HT's just aren't up to it, unless they have been reworked, change bevel and sharpened. Pfeil's are good to carve right out of the box and a breeze to keep sharp.

As for sharpening, I prefer water stones, but some have great luck/skill with scary sharp.

Good luck with your outfit.

Bob

[chuckt]

Great! Thanks for the input Bob. Appreciate it.

ChuckT