V Tool Advice (Newbe)

[John Ponder]

I need some advice on V tools. I am carving mostly small 4-6 inch caricatures and animals and only have an 1/8 v tool . Is it necessary to have ¼ , 5/16 and 3/8 or can I skip some sizes?
Thanks,
John

[Tom Ellis]

Hi John, For the size you are talking about, you could probably use an additional 1/4 inch. You have to be careful that the top of the wing of the v tool doesn't dig into the wood and start tearing it. Then you have to decide what degree of cut your want. 60 degree is probably the most common, but a 30 will let you get some deep narrow cuts for the hair work.

Good luck, and carve safe. TOM

[BillinO]

John you will most likely get as many answers as people on the board. You need to know what degree of V you want 35, 70, or 90. For me if I had limited funds I would go with the 70 degree 5/16. Also I am a tool junkie and have all 1/8 thru 5/8 sizes. Hope this don't confuse you more.

Bill in Omaha

[Eddy-Smiles]

John...

Like Bill said....You'll get as many opinions as there are members on the forum. Why don't you try skipping a size of the same degree tool that you have and then buying the next size up. See how that fits. Then the next purchase try a different degree tool. If you stay in the game long enough you'll end up having one of each like the rest of us anyway!

[Donna_T]

John, I use my 1/4" and 1/2" v-tools the most, although I have smaller and larger ones. I, for one, don't think you need every size since there's so little difference between a 1/4 and 3/8, for instance. In all, I probably have 8-10 v-tools, but they are in three different degrees--meaning the angle of the "V." If you have unlimited funds and storage space, get them all!

Donna T

[John Ponder]

Thanks for the suggestions on the v tools. I had not considered the various v angles either. I will follow your advice and skip some sizes then next time fill the blanks with different angles. Being a tool junkie too, I would like to have them all, but time should take care of that.


John