Menu
Frontbent (long and shortbent, or spoon) gouges come into their own when the hollows get deeper, and you need to reach areas inaccessible to straight tools.
| 29 December 2012 06:53
Ann - Except in the downloads that accompany the projects here, I never recommend sizes for spoon gouges because what you need depends so much on what you've taken on, which differs so much between carvers. The best thing is to get carving and then, when you find the regular gouge you are using won't get into the hollows, work out what bent tool you need from the Sheffield list. That way you build up your kit according to what you carve. Having said that, with relief carving it's a fair bet you'll need some flat spoon gouges for cleaning up the background recesses. Pfeil make nice ones (cut #3a) so a couple of these, say 3 and 8mm widths would no doubt find a lot of use. Also their left and right, skewed flat gouges (cut #2aR and #2aL) x 3mm are great for finishing into background corners - always buy a pair. Best of luck with your carving!
| 28 December 2012 09:21
Chris - You use the spoon gouge in many projects and videos, but you don't have one yet on your basic list of tools. As a semi-beginner (self-taught and taking this great hobby back up after 20 years) I'm doing reliefs and some smaller in-the-round projects. Can you suggest a size or two for a shortbent gouge? Thanks!
| 07 December 2012 15:40
Jon - I haven't addressed the 'spoon gouge grip' as such, although you do see me using it in several projects. I'll add it to the list of future lessons - though it might be a while before it surfaces; so many to get through! In essence I'm using the high-angle grip (see Tools > Grip Series). My thumb naturally positions itself at the back, behind the crank. I then use the thumb as a pivot. If you hold a spoon or shortbent gouge in the high-angle grip you see immediately what I mean. So, either you pull back on the handle and pivot on the thumb to make a deeper spoon arc into hollows; or simple push forward with the thumb for cleaning up a background with a flat spoon gouge. The thumb's the thing!
| 04 December 2012 20:25
Chris, Have you adressed how the grip on the spoon gouge should be? I seem to need to grip it somewhat differently from the grips used for the other gouges. Is this correct? You may have talked about this in a video, but if so I have missed. thanks again for all of your very clear and helpful videos!
| 02 November 2011 01:08
Carrie Hi, Sound is so much better the old and deaf. Thanks Gerald
