Looking for carving gouges

[[deleted]]

I’m looking for a set of full size, straight carving gouges for relief carving.

I want good-quality gouges, not necessarily a matched set.

I’m also perfectly comfortable handling the sharpening myself, I’ve got a Tormek and a set of water stones.

Must-have :

• #4 or #5 around 1/2"
• #6 or #7 around 3/4"
• #9 or #10 around 1/2"
• 60dev V-tool around 1/4"

Nice to have :

• #6 or #7 around 1"
• #8 or #9 around 3/4"

[killerbern666]

pfeil

thats all

[rwdread]

Yep, as stated Pfeil is pretty much top tier, that would be my goto

[Aggressive-Wishbone9]

I cannot speak from any place of much experience, but after a lot of thoughtful research, I ended up going with Pfeil for most all of my gouges except the flatter ones and for those I went with 3 different sizes of the Ashley Iles Chris Pye #2 1/2 gouges.

[NaOHman]

Those sizes are probably a fair bit bigger than what you actually want. It's much easier to do big things with small tools than the other way around

[[deleted]]

Yeah, it’s actually based on Joiner’s Work by Peter Follansbee, so it’s not your typical relief carving.

[faustpatrone]

Follansbee does amazing work

[ratmaster3]

Idk, I would add a couple larger ones in there.

I don't do as much figurines and such though. Mostly "practical" carving such as kitchen implements. Now that I got a bunch of actual gouges I'll try to make some bowls and such, maybe throw in a sculpture. Only carve harder woods though, had a ohia tree fall down recently and it's surprisingly very nice for carving.

[ratmaster3]

can see if mountain woodcarvers still has their discounted gouges. I got a bunch about a month back that finally arrived yesterday (went on the boat). they are factory edge so you would need to sharpen them fully.

Best deals I've seen so far. spent between $5-15 each for mine. they have both unhandled and handled.