Carving tool roll

[SquirrelsTools]

Hey folks, couldn't find a thread for it, so here goes.

I spend a lot of time doing passable abstract wood carving. In my journeys through estate auctions, garage sales, etc I've pieced together a roll of carving tools that are high quality, and comfortable to use with the odd type of carving I do.

Some of them are Ward, D.R. Barton, and Buck Brothers well before the deers head logo (Hand stamped, very old) I'm just going to snap a picture of the roll for now, but I'll be coming back through to do individual photos as I use them, perhaps with whatever history I know. I figured maybe someone else would be interested, or have things to share!

Thanks for reading.

 

[SquirrelsTools]

Maker: W. Butcher
Approximate Date: 1830's
Size: 6.5 inch OAL. 1/4 Inch across blade.

This is one of my smallest cast steel gouges. Its angle of approach is almost °90. I use it for chip carving on the sides of depressions. Cast steel gouges this small from the time period are pretty scarce, as they tend to rot away. This one was in rough enough shape that it took several rounds to remove the scaling. Takes a razor edge.

 

[SquirrelsTools]

Maker: Stanley (Assumed) and Millers falls
Approximate date: Unsure.
Size: 4 and 5 inch OAL. 1/8 Across both blades.

I know that these little guys started out as screwdrivers, but someone long before me sharpened them into diminutive chisels. They work well, and hold an edge better than a modern purpose made 1/8 tool. They're also short enough to be great in a small inside corner.

 

[RonnieC]

Cool! I’m heading to the Campbell Folk School in NC next week for a class in carving a Bellamy eagle. Always wanted to do one!

 

[SquirrelsTools]

Cool! I’m heading to the Campbell Folk School in NC next week for a class in carving a Bellamy eagle. Always wanted to do one!

Nice! I love hearing about people getting into it. Just remember, the availability of "good" carving tools has shrunk significantly. If you can afford cast steel vintage/antique gouges or chip carving tools, get em. Even the old Japanese made (for US market, not to be confused with actual Japanese carving tools that are a beautiful, wonderful style of tool) are better and at times more affordable than modern analogs.

Also, probably 60% of carving is learning how to sharpen gouges and chisels. If you don't start there, you'll learn to hate the hobby quickly. Always remember too, that there's definitely more than one way to make art. A million gate kept classes and videos (not to assume this will be one) will try to intimidate folks with their "Mastery".

Sure, there's folks with inherent talent, and some better than others. But the point of a hobby is to have fun.

This got long, but I'm passionate about people feeling included in art. The lack of that feeling kept me away from it for years. When I finally picked it up, I fell in love with carving wild, unrealistic, abstract stuff. Not the norm, but it's great.

 

[Lou's Garage]

Fascinating, I never realized there was such a variety of specialized tools for that. Thank you.

Lou Manglass

 

[SquirrelsTools]

Fascinating, I never realized there was such a variety of specialized tools for that. Thank you.

Lou Manglass

You're Absolutely welcome. You should look (if you're interested) into pattern makers gouges. There's a whole art and industry hundreds of years old based around them. The practice was how you got the form for a negative mold in casting any metal material. Some Master Craftsman, worked with hundreds of different gouges at their disposal.

The art of it is really technically stunning. They worked free hand on patterns in measurements of 100ths of inches. Dying and nearly dead art that I couldn't hope to accomplish.