[ElWoodTroll]

I noticed while honing a flex cut #3 x 1" mallet gouge that the edge had rolled in the center. I pulled it across a slip a few times after strouping failed to correct it. That seemed to get rid of the problem. Is that a normal occurance or am I carving on wood that's just to hard

[Just Carving]

It could be that you're changing the angle of the tool as you reach the end of the strop stroke--thereby changing the angle of the tool against the strop. If you do that enough, the tool edge could get rounded off. I've done that on occasion while stropping as I was in a rush to get back to work, or I was thinking about something else while stropping, i.e. not paying attention to stropping.

[ElWoodTroll]

Thank you Bob
Let me clarify a little. This has occurred during use (carving lodgepole) and the edge has rolled to the point I could practically hang a clothes hanger on it. It straightened out nicely and is in good shape again but I don't want to ruin my newly acquired tools before I've even got going good( if that be the case)

[Just Carving]

Okay, I misunderstood. I can't say for sure since I don't have experience with Flexcut tools. Someone else may be able to help you with this problem.

[Kenny_S]

El, I have found that most Flexcut gouges are not meant for harder woods. The edge bevel is not as wide and tends to roll back the metal. More experienced carvers could say for sure. I have several different brand names gouges and use Flexcut mainly for basswood while using the Buck Bros for harder wood like walnut. There is a difference in the bevels on both sets of gouges.
I take it the lodgepole is pine? which the Flexcut should handle unless you are horsing more wood than you you should. Just a guess.

[Hi_Ho_Sliver]

I had a problem with one of my flexcut gouges for my reciprocal carver and I contacted them and they replaced it....did the same thing, curled when I hit a small knot in basswood and couldn't get it right after that? Not sure if it was the tempering or what?

[ElWoodTroll]

Thats what I figured. Heck you would think for the money they would stand up to a little harder wood. LP Pine isn't all that tough but I did run into some small knots

[rick-in-seattle]

If you check the thickness of the material along the cutting edge, you will probably find that it is thinner in the center.

That situation causes the thin area to have less support than the remainder of the edge. which results in a weak area that will have a tendency to roll.

Or another possibility is the shape of your cutting edge has the center leading the cut.
This situation results in excessive stress on the center of the tool since it is being used as a pry bar.

[ElWoodTroll]

Thanks for the feed back Rick. After seeing some of the wood that I bang around on would anybody be able suggest a similar tool that would be up to the task

[rick-in-seattle]

Sure, try an alongee gouge.

They are made by more than one manufacturer; Henry Taylor comes to mind.
http://www.henrytaylortools.co.uk/sculptur.html