Thread: Which chisels ?.

Hi
First thing to do is to look at the Ashley Isles website.
There, you will find the old London Pattern Book of gouge shapes and sizes.
For example, a 5/25 is a gouge of medium sweep (medium curvature) and
an inch wide.
Second, ask yourself just how large the relief carvings will be and how deep will the relief be.
To some extent, that determines some of the tool sizes.
So, I can make no recommendations yet.
Third, get the gear and be prepared to keep your gouges "carving sharp."
That means some tuning up about once an hour or more often.
Otherwise, your carving dreams will end about 60 minutes from the start.
Fourth, what sorts of woods do you like and what can you afford.?
Fifth, find a club. Find a group of carvers. Visit. You need to see what happens
if you have not done so already.
Sixth, promise yourself that you will never buy a kit of gouges. That's recommended by somebody who has
no idea what you want to do. Top quality gouges are always open-stock = you buy what you need as you need them.

Oh. BTW, welcome to the best wood site on the net.

G'day Durham
Bribie Island woodcrafters club has a wednesday morning chisel carving group which can offer lots of advice.
Would be great to see you there.
Regards
Terry

Regarding Palm or regular size carving tools, I mostly use palm tools because I am mostly doing miniature carving and holding the work in my other hand protected with a kevlar glove. I think that for most relief carving you would be better off with the regular size tools bought as single items as you know you will need them.

Thank,s for your comments guys much appreciated. Will bear in mind Bribie Island Schaf but I am going to check out the Expo at Redcliffe later this month and may join that club, much nearer home. Thganks again. Brian.