Many of you have complained that the #7 sweep straight gouges we have recommended by two European makers are always out of stock and do I recommend any others. I do. I have used Pfeil gouges since 1995 and these too match and exceed the UK makers at least. This spoon took me about 6…
The Ashley Iles gouge I suggested for UK spoon makers following my videos on spoon carving are out of stock and it seems that it’s a multi-week waiting list if you do order one. I think that companies will take preorders and this has happened because of a blog post we did almost a year…
Today I want to take two generally divided worlds of spoon making and unite them. Instead of seeing the axe-cut knife-cut spoon making as a splinter group from the world of woodland crafts, we engage them with other tools like the bow or frame saw, bevel-edged chisel, spokeshave, gouge and scraper; tools more generally associated…
Chopping spoons with axes versus other hand tools and vice-versa I think spoon making is one of those remarkably simple woodworking tasks that become even more remarkably simple with the right tools and a good bench. Rarely if ever do I see spoons being made the way I am about to show you in this…
Briefly. In answer to the question, why I prefer a #7 35mm gouge over a hand scorp or hook knife, it’s dead simple really. Whereas knives and scorps do similar and sometimes the same work, they are designed for different action, presentation and even wood types, I think. This gouge cuts a spoon in a…
Hirsh straight #7 37mm carving gouge – a top-notch gouge for artisans Everyone needs at least one substantive gouge and I am asked at least once a week if I can recommend a good carving gouge for bowls and chair seats, spoons and such. They are not always that easy to find in larger widths…
Here is the Thos Ibbotson gouge John restored. It’s an old one and well used but it has cobs of good life in it yet. The handle is sound and will last him for a lifetime and that’s the whole point about these articles. Take a little time, develop some restoration savvy and another tool…
This 1 1/4″ woodworking gouge has an out canal and is used for carving scalloped work like wooden bowls and spoons. This was made by Thos Ibbotson who was a famous chisel and cutting iron maker from Sheffield England and had a good reputation amongst hand tool makers and hand tool users like myself. Bit rugged to…
I’ve commented on inexpensive tools available to woodworkers because sometimes it is false economy to buy something that seems cheap because it seems inevitable that the tool or equipment will fail by breaking, or have some built-in faults from low quality standards in manufacture or materials used. Aldi chisels for example are extremely cheap in…