Woodcarving Kit

How to choose and use wood carving tools?

There are so many woodcarving tools on the market that beginners are often bewildered when it comes to buying gouges and chisels.For example,I have just looked through a handful of current catalogs and I see hundreds of slightly different tools to choose from.Maybe you aren’t going to need more than a handful of tools,but the big problem is which ones to buy.

The first question you have to ask yourself is what do you have in mind to carve? Are you excited about the notion of carving huge sculptural pieces?Or do you fancy caning intricate little birds?Or do you just want to try your hand at traditional flatwork like chip or relief carv-ing,the sort of carving that you see on furniture?

When you decide on your area of woodcarving—sculptural,relief designs,miniatures or whatever—it’s best to buy a modest starter kit of,say,four tools.For example,you might get a couple of straight gouges,a V-tool and a bent gouge.Of course,once you actually start carving,the whole problem sorts itself out.You will soon discover that certain tricky details simply cannot be worked,or that you can’t carve an undercut or some other detail with any one of your four tools.Then you haveenough knowledge to buy a tool of a shape and size to suit.When I first started carving,my favorite tool was amedium-size,shallow-curve straight gouge—it still getsused more than any other tool.So you might start out with the four tools,and everything will be fine and dandy,until the time comes when you need to use a fishtail or a smaller spoon gouge,or yet another size straight gouge…and so the fun begins.

All that said,the single thing that bothers most beginners is that they are confused when it comes to the names and the numbers of woodcarving tools.If you don’t know what I mean,look at various woodcarving tool catalogs.

From one manufacturer to another,there are all manner of descriptions that relate to the same tool types.Some manufacturers use letters and numbers,some use their own prefix codes,and so forth.

If you are a beginner and still undecided as to the correct gouges for your starter kit,then try the following method—it may help.Start by determining the width ofblade you need.Let’s say that you have chosen a V2″ width.Next,consider the hollow or sweep of the blade.Ask yourself,do you want a shallow sweep or do you want a deep U-section sweep for bowls and such?Finally,decideon the profile or shape of the blade along its length.For example,do you want a  straight blade or a curved or spoon bent?Once you have sorted out the blade width,the shape of the sweep and the profile of the blade,then all you do is walk into the store and point a finger.

About the Author

This author writes about Auxiliary Saw Table Plans and Homemade Wood Bench Dogs. Visit the Wood Rollerstand Plans website for unique roller stand design ideas.

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