Some specific tool advice welcome

[Claude]

I don't own either, but Mark Yundt prefers the full-sized ones - he makes his living carving, and says he can do anything with the full-sized that others might use the smaller ones for...I have no reason to doubt him. If I eventually decide to start carving larger pieces, I'll go ahead and buy the full-sized Pfeil (Swiss-made) gouges. As for now, I carve small and my knives and Flexcut gouges are all I need.

Claude

[mpounders]

I enjoy carving spoons now with a hook knife from Pinewood Forge Catalog

. I used gouges, and scorps, and different power carving bits before and really hated to hollow out the bowls... this knife makes quick work of it and let's me really get it down pretty thin.

[Michael Keller]

Hi Bob:

I'll bet that there are as many opinions about tools as there are folks with them. This subject is like politics if you ever want to get a rise out of folks. But, here goes... What I use on a daily basis is a selection of gouges made by Savage Forge and also a selection of both palm sized gouges full sized fishtail gouges by Pfeil. I say fishtail because they are so versatile with their abilities. With respect to knives, I use Northbay and Savage Forge knives and a selection of homemade stuff. I have several articles on my blog site (White Eagle Studios) about tools that you might enjoy reading.

Oh, and I heartily underscore the recommendations for Heinicke Wood... nice folks and top quality bass wood.

Welcome and good luck!

[Bob L]

Thanks all for the advice. It will help me in my purchases!!
Bob

[Reg]

Bob, A very famous German master carver once told me to buy the full size pro tools. He said, "You would look pretty silly golfing with short clubs". If you really get in to woodcarving you don't want to replace small tools for larger once. You can do anything with the larger tools that you can with the shorter ones. By the time I had this discussion with the 'Ole German" I had some six shorter tools and refused to stop using them (let them go to waste). But during the 30+ yrs. of carving I have replaced them all with the larger ones.

I also love the Fishtail gouges. My favorite are the German Dastra brand, what a shape! You can call them at 1-800-360-3843. I think you'll be impressed by the people there.

[susieq]

Hi Bob,
Welcome to the forum. You are going through what nearly everyone who has ever carved with gouges, has gone through.... tool type is a personal preference. I do agree that buying the mid to larger tools is probably better than buying small tools to start. I have seen master carvers carve very fine detail with large gouges....but the other way around doesn't work so good.

I never cared for palm gouges either. Some love them but I like a long handled gouge. When you clamp your work down and use both hands on your gouge, that longer handle is nice to have.

I recommend that you start slow. Buy a tool here, a tool there. Get the feel for what you are doing and give yourself time to develop a preference. Talk to Rick and little shavers when they reopen and ask him what he thinks. He sells both new and good used tools and he will treat you right. If you buy good used tools until you figure out what you want, you won't have a fortune tied up in tools you really don't care for....

I started out with a very basic set of German tools that I bought at a tools show. But I always kept an eye out for good used tools and they're out there. Good luck to you. Be sure and post pics of your work on here for us to see.

[Reg]

Bob,

I once asked a very famous German master carver whether I should buy the shorter tools or the full size pro tools. He said, "You would look pretty silly golfing with short clubs". I don't golf. He explained that you can do anything with the full size tools that you can with the smaller tools. He said to start with the straight tools. They are the main tools of a woodcarver. If later you find a need for a spoon or long bend then buy it. But he doubted I would ever need either. His name is Georg Keilhofer. Sadly he passed on. He published two books before he died. In the first one, "Basic Relief Carving" (Schiffer Book for Woodcarvers, ISBN# 0-88740-785-4), he states his tool philosophy on pg. 9. and uses his 17 pc. set on through his first and second book, "Scenic Relief Carving", (also a Schiffer book), naming the tools as he uses them. If you want the names of the tools in his 17 pc. set read his books or just ask me.

I love the Gonzalez skews. I also get a lot of use out of Fishtail gouges. My favorite are the German DASTRA WOODSCREW brand. What a perfect shape. Give them a call and I think you'll find them very helpful. (1-800-360-3843). I'll even bet they know Georg's set of tools.

Before I met such a personable carver as the master, Georg Keilhofer, I had bought one 8 inch tool a month (my budget some 30+ yrs. ago), until I had a set of six tools. I learned to sharpen them with a stone and began to learn to carve. After meeting Georg I started buying the larger pro tools. But I was not going to let my first six tools go to waste. I used those. But just as Georg predicted I have replace all six with pro size tools over the years. Buy the best tool you can and you will never be disappointed. Quality tools, (I perfer German tools), never let me down and I sharpen less and carve more.

[Bill V]

Welcome to the forum Bob.

Bill