Carving Gouges

[bigearns]

I'm looking to find a good quality set of carving gouges; the highest end brands like Pfeil are really expensive. Can you recommend any intermediate-priced brands that still have quality steel that hold the edge? Are the cheap ones not worth the trouble with poorer quality steel, or do they do all right?

 

[Capt. Jas.]

I would buy from a wood carving website or store. There was a certain Chinese seller on ebay a few years ago that sold a set un-handled. Pretty good steel but forming and sharpening were needed. You get what you pay for. If you are serious to learn don't skimp onbtools.Don't buy sets. Buy as you need a certain size or shape.

 

[Rifleman1776]

I would buy from a wood carving website or store. There was a certain Chinese seller on ebay a few years ago that sold a set un-handled. Pretty good steel but forming and sharpening were needed. You get what you pay for. If you are serious to learn don't skimp onbtools.Don't buy sets. Buy as you need a certain size or shape.

Good advice. Be aware, the Chinese, and other Pacific rim carving tools often had very short tangs. The force applied to carving tools often caused these to break through at the handle. Very dangerous. As suggested, check out the woodcarving web sites. There are several high quality brands of carving tools out there.

 

[Coot]

Cheap tools are well, cheap tools. IF they will take an edge, they are unlikely to hold one. Buying a set will likely mean paying for some that you will never use or need. There are doubtless carving clubs in your area that can give advice re brands & shapes. Occasionally you can find good used chisels on eBay - but stick with known quality names & be prepared to possibly re-temper. Buy quality as you have a need & you won't regret it.

 

[Larry Akers]

I'm looking to find a good quality set of carving gouges; the highest end brands like Pfeil are really expensive.

And worth every penny!! Buy top end tools as you need them and you will never be sorry. I have learned this the hard way.

 

[44-henry]

Though probably largely luck, years ago I purchased a set of cheap carving tools at a cummins truck sale, total crap when I got them but after re-hardening and tempering (plus some reshaping) they were good tools and I still use several of them.

 

[Dane]

Absolutely buy the best you can afford. NEVER buy a set. Out of six, you'll use one or two. Big waste of money.

 

[44-henry]

Check out ebay and flea markets. I have bought a lot of older, high quality tools this way for less than the cost of new made, lesser quality tools. If you want to have some fun buy some W1 drill rod and make your own custom chisels and gouges. It really isn't too difficult and is very economical.

 

[kansas_volunteer]

Pfeil tools, as you know, are really high quality. However that doesn't mean the are without fault. I was hand pushing a 20mm #7 spoon gouge through a pear wood bowl and the edge snapped off like glass. I really don't think I had overdone it. My other Pfeils have held up, whether pushed by hand or by mallet.

The carving tools sold by TOTW are good, and not as expensive as other makes, but the selection is limited. I have a few of them. I also like palm chisels. They are very good for taking smaller cuts. I got mine from Woodcraft, the same place I get my Pfeils. I find I can work big with small tools, but can't work small with bigger tools

I have a set of three Indonesian hand forged traditional carving tools that are rewarding to use. They're about as simple as it gets. They could easily be made in the home shop. Or, you could buy them here.
http://www.finecarving.com/carving_tools.htm

Google Indonesian or Balinese wood carving. Those folks do phenomenal work with just the very basic tools. I don't know why a gunmaker couldn't also do good work with them. It's just that most of us are more used to western style tools.

I bought a nice set of Marples wood carving chisels in an oak box for a very reasonable price on eBay. Also found Sorbey and Taylor tools at a good price. There are many options to be found there. Keep your eyes open for reasonable prices. Some chisel sellers there like to gouge you.

 

[MSW]

I'm looking to find a good quality set of carving gouges; the highest end brands like Pfeil are really expensive. Can you recommend any intermediate-priced brands that still have quality steel that hold the edge? Are the cheap ones not worth the trouble with poorer quality steel, or do they do all right?

emphasis added

purchasing a "set" is an expensive mistake - do this instead ...

* buy the very best chisels that you can, but only as the need arises.
* do not buy a chisel until and unless you need it.
* you will buy them only one at a time.
* attempt, but do not restrict yourself to, one or two brands of chisels.

* (not a purchase, exactly, but of critical importance) -- learn to get your edges neurosurgery sharp. anything less is simply not acceptable. 'shave ready' is the bare minimum acceptable standard.

at the end of this process, you will have spent some time waiting for the tools to arrive (unless you're near a good retail outfit - i have to get my stuff by mail, since i'm in the hinterland) ... the wait will be worth it. additionally, you will have not spent a bunch of money on a 'set' only to have only two or maybe three chisels which you actually use.

some good sources are Track of the Wolf https://www.trackofthewolf.com/Index.aspx, Highland Woodworking (out of Atlanta) http://www.highlandwoodworking.com/, and Japan Woodworker https://www.japanwoodworker.com/categories/hand-tools

if you feel that there is some extra moral value to having a 'set,' when you've finished your second build, take all your chisels and line them up in a neat row on top of hardboard photomount. add your whetstones, if you're so inclined. sketch the outline, and cut the shaped out from the photomount. then use this template to make yourself a nice case, and viola - not only a 'set' but a cased set and, better yet, a cased set of tools which you actually use.

(by the way, i work in a paper mill where we make this photo mount stuff - send me a PM if you want some scrap: it will be off color, or scuffed, but will be more that adequate for this purpose).

good luck with your project, and welcome to the addiction!
:grin:

 

[kansas_volunteer]

I mentioned eBay tools. The carving tools I've bought have been used. I believe things like old wooden handled Marples are probably of better quality than the blue handled ones. Likewise other makes. Don't be afraid to go for the old.

 

[bigearns]

Can you explain the hardboard photomount material you are talking about? Is this the high-density foam that is sometimes on the back of signage/graphics, etc you might see in an office?

 

[Billnpatti]

I'm looking to find a good quality set of carving gouges; the highest end brands like Pfeil are really expensive.

And worth every penny!! Buy top end tools as you need them and you will never be sorry. I have learned this the hard way.

:metoo: Always buy quality tools. Cheap crap is just that....cheap crap. Norm Abrams always said "Shop for the most expensive tool that you can possibly afford and then buy the next better quality one." You will always be sorry for buying cheap tools but never for buying quality ones. I, too, learned this the hard way. I have thrown away a few poor quality tools in my day. I remember well the pair of pliers that I got for free from Harbor Freight. As I was asking them to do a man's worth of work, they broke in the joint and I injured my hand.:cursing: Yep, they were made in China. I suppose China and India have possibly made a quality tool (I seriously doubt it:shake: ) but finding one will be like looking for the proverbial needle in a haystack. Check with Sears, they have pretty good quality tools at a reasonable price.