Spoon Carving Tools
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- This topic has 7 replies, 7 voices, and was last updated 4 years, 6 months ago by Michael Alderman.
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12 December 2017 at 7:58 pm #400225
Hi,
I just (re)watched Paul’s video on Spoon Carving using a Gouge on YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=krAIHRCx9R0.
I have a Birthday and Christmas coming and adding to my tools will be beneficial.. I have a Pfeil 8/13 gouge which seems to be too small / too acute for make the spoon bowls.
I would like to know the size on the gouge Paul uses.. it looks like a 3/30 or 5/30
13 December 2017 at 1:40 am #400419Paul uses a 7 sweep – 35 mm gouge in that video, if memory serves right. The brand he displayed is Hirsch, I think, but he has used Other brands, including two cherrys and Swiss made-Pfeil, and an English brand I don’t recall. All will work.
He also uses the same or similar size in the video on making a Mancala board.
- This reply was modified 6 years, 4 months ago by Larry Geib.
- This reply was modified 6 years, 4 months ago by Larry Geib.
- This reply was modified 6 years, 4 months ago by Larry Geib.
- This reply was modified 6 years, 4 months ago by Larry Geib.
Highland Woodworking has a great gouge selection-they sell the Hirsch brand that Paul mentioned in one of the videos–they generally go for $30-40 apiece. I have 2 of them and have been pleased with them so far. I haven’t really seen many others out there. Woodcraft has a bunch of carving tools as well.
13 December 2017 at 2:25 pm #400920It’s a 7/35 gouge in that video.
Woodcraft sells Pfeil carving gouges. I have a few and like them, for what little carving I do. Not too expensive, either.
15 December 2017 at 12:56 pm #404723Hi,
Thanks for all the responses.
I have added a 7/35 and a 3/20 Pfeil gouge to my Santa list….
Let’s see if he is listening….
Enjoy the upcoming holidays all, and Xmas.
Resurrecting an old thread as this seems to be a good place to ask about the use of #7 gouge for spoon carving.
I was about to order a 35mm Hirsch #7 from highland woodworking but they pretty much caution not to use it as demonstrated by Paul (see below). With lack of experience using a gouge, and as a first real attempt at carving, am I choosing a wrong project/wrong tool, or just ignore that warning? Any comment would be much appreciated.
Under the “detailed description” at the product link https://www.highlandwoodworking.com/hirsch7straightgouge35mm.aspx they write:
Paul Sellers uses this gouge in his spoon making video on YouTube.
Please Note: In using this straight gouge, do not make beginning starter cuts for the bowl at a steep angle as shown in the Paul Sellers video and do not pry-pop out the chips at any time. Those techniques will heavily degrade the edge of this carving gouge, crumbling and damaging the cutting edge, especially when cutting with only its factory grind.
This straight gouge is designed to work with the outside bevel backed up by the wood as you direct the tool to cut in a paring fashion (as the back bevel glides along the wood surface). This gouge is not a true “spoon gouge” that would have a shape and edge geometry better suited for the scooping cuts performed in hollowing out a spoon’s bowl.
To hollow out the bowl section of a wooden spoon using this straight carving gouge (that Paul Sellers chose to use), we recommend you take only shallow, paring cuts, removing a modicum of wood on each cut and which will require far less force to move the gouge.
With a honed edge, cutting in the proper grain direction, a safe two-handed grip, and the gouge angled to cut with the back bevel always riding on the wood, you should be able to direct this straight chisel to make cuts without the use of a mallet. If the cutting edge dulls to where more force is required to cut, that’s an indication you need to sharpen the edge.
24 October 2019 at 6:43 pm #621144They have definitely changed their tune since I purchased that gouge from Highland. When I got mine, they had Paul’s video embedded on the product page for that gouge.
I have only limited experience with the gouge and spoon carving, but I’d say if you are gentle with it and keep a good edge, then you shouldn’t run into any problems.
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