[C. McCoy]

I'm new here and I am returning to carving after being away for many years.

I am purchasing 2 knives from LittleShavers: 1 with a blade long enough for all purpose carving and 1 detail knife.

Now my question. What would you suggest as far as sizes for "v" and gouge tools? Just the basic that I will need to start with.

I'm not worried about price. I would like to have quality mostly.

I plan on doing caricatures, santas, etc. in basswood.

Thanks for the help and advice.

[lorax]

If I were in your shoes, and know what I know now, I would get good knives (stubai, two cherries, ect) that have a nice thin blade. and I would go with Denny gouses and Vtools, because of their compact size and the thinner handle is more versitile than the bigger palm gouge handles. If you like the bigger handles, I am really enjoying the Stubai palm tools as well. they are a really nice qaulity.

[Ashbys]

I will suggest a couple of things, First decide if you want palm tools or full size chisels. While plam tools will work so will full chisels. But if you can get to a woodcraft store, I strongly suggest you go there , and spend a couple of hours.

In palm tools or full size , I suggest a .05 mm number 11 U gouge. For running a hair line it will put a V tool to shame . This is smallest Swiss made U gouge. Where a V tool will not curl this gouge will curl , twist and roll to give the hairline life. It is a tool I reach for over the V gouge and can be used as one if needed.

Ash

[markken5889]

get yourself a set of small microchisels from Dockyard. They have a set that includes 2 U gouges, 2 flat doglegs and a v-tool. I know MDI Woodcarvers has 'em. Flexcut also has some nice small v-tools - both are perfect for caricatures, and other small carvings, as well as detailing larger ones.

Good luck!

-Mark

[AlArchie]

Ash, I got a question...is that really a five hudredths of mm gouge???. (.05 mm)

Al

[Claude]

I think he means 5mm - a 0.05mm is not much bigger than the period at the end of this sentence. A 5mm is just between 3/16 and 1/4 inch. I have one of those, but find I reach for my 2mm #11 much more often for hair, beards, etc. A lot of this, obviously depends on what sizes of carvings one makes. I do a lot of little stuff - usually 5 inches tall or smaller, often in the 2 to 3 inch range. For the small stuff, I think the 2mm is better (for me...). If one is carving logs, a 12mm #11 might be best (for me, again)... So the definitive answer is "it depends..." Ash's suggestion is what I'd use for carvings between 8 and 15 inches tall. On the other hand, he's quite comfortable with it, I'm sure, for a much broader ranges of carving sizes than I am.

I totally agree with his other suggestion about trying to get to a Woodcraft store and try out several different gouges and see what you like/dislike. If you have a carving club in your area, go to one of the meetings and ask questions. If you're obviously careful, and always ask before you touch a tool, many of the carvers there will likely let you try one or more of their gouges.

Claude

[Ashbys]

Here's a link

It is a .5mm if you have not tried one, it is an amazing tool, for fine detail.
PFEIL "Swiss Made" #11 Sweep Veiners - Woodcraft.com

Top of the page.
I first got one in the gouge set, it is 1/2 of a 1mm in size, it will cut a hair lengthwise. I now have full size and palm I use them a lot, great outliner tool and no pulls or drags like a V tool.

I Put the 0 on the wrong side of the dec. Sorry ment 0.5 mm

Ash