In our class “ Bowl Carving & Spoon Carving with Mike Cundall“), Mike recommends that his students purchase a #7 sweep long bent gouge, between 25mm and 35mm…like this one, this one, or this one.
PFEIL “Swiss Made” #8 Sweep, 13 mm Wood Carving Gouge.
PFEIL “Swiss Made” #5 Sweep, 25 mm Wood Carving Gouge.
For example, here are the different carving gouges students will be purchasing for the 18th century carving class (where they’ll learn to carve a ball and claw foot): If you’re taking a live introductory wood carving class ( like our 18th century carving class, with Kaare Loftheim) or an online wood carving lesson ( like these excellent classes filmed by Mary May), the instructor will tell you which wood carving chisels you will need for each particular project. It may be best to buy one or two carving gouges at a time, based off of what you plan to carve. It may seem like you’re getting a better value if you buy a whole set (which you are, if the sizes are exactly what you want), but you may not find all the sizes useful for what you plan to carve. Some people opt to buy a whole set of wood carving tools, including a whole set of wood carving gouges / wood carving chisels, but others recommend that you don’t go out and buy a whole set of carving chisels. Which Wood Carving Gouges Should You Buy First? So again, all the sizes in this chart have the same sweep (or curvature) of 8. The number 13 would be the width (in millimeters). The number 8 would be the sweep, or curvature. Below is one more example, to provide a point of reference: So all the sizes on the above chart have a #5 sweep. The number 5 refers to the curvature, and the number 12 refers to the width (in millimeters). In the first photo you’ll see a Pfeil Swiss made carving gouge, with the marking “5/12”: Below are a couple examples of caving gouge sizes. In the case of Pheil wood carving gouges, the first number printed on the handle is the sweep, or curvature, and the second number is the width of the blade in millimeters. V-gouges are used to outline the elements of a carving, preparatory to giving the carving depth with the less-curved gouges. And the largest sweeps are #12 through #16, but they aren’t curved, but v-shaped (e.g. The carving gouge sweep sizes lie on a spectrum from #1 (a flat carving chisel, with no curve), up to a U-shaped #11 sweep (the largest curve). But fortunately, the most popular modern manufacturer, Pfeil (A Swiss company, pronounced “File”), has become the standard for carving gouges, due to their quality and affordability, so their sizing system is most commonly used. The British included a skewed size in the lower sizes, and the Europeans didn’t, so that can make it difficult to compare apples to apples. Wood carving tools sizing classifications differ depending on if the manufacture is (or was) in Europe or in Britain. And In-canel gouges are more used for specialty tasks, such as window sash work. Bent gouges are specialty tools that allow you to approach the work at a steeper angle, as with bowl carving and other projects that involve carving out a cavity.
#PFEIL SWISS MADE 3 SWEEP HOW TO#
Step 10: Learn How to Finish Woodworking ProjectsĪnd for wood carving purposes, we’ll just be looking at straight, out-canel gouges, where the sharpened bevel is on the bottom of the blade.
Step 9: Learn How to Assemble, Fasten & Glue-up Woodworking Projects.
Step 8: JOINERY: LEARN HOW TO LAYOUT & CUT JOINTS.
Step 7: How to Make Wood Square, Flat, Straight & Smooth.
Step 6: Learn How to Choose Stable, Strong & Beautiful Wood.
Steps 6-10 | Beginner’s Guide to Hand Tool Woodworking.
Step 5: Learn How to Design Furniture for Woodworking Projects.
Step 4: Learn How to Use Woodworking Hand Tools.
Step 3: Learn how to Refurbish, Tune & Sharpen Hand Tools.
Step 2: Setup your Woodworking Workshop & Tool Storage.
Step 1: Understand & Buy the Right Woodworking Hand Tools.
Steps 1-5 | Beginner’s Guide to Hand Tool Woodworking.