Spoon

spoon gouge

Either side of the spoon cuts.  When the grain shifts, switch sides of the tool.  The upper surface is flat and is not beveled.  The bottom is sharpened.  Just above the "spoon" the tang has a slight bend to make spoon out material in a bowled out area much easier.

Skewed Gouge

Skewed Gouge

A curved triangle mounted at an angle makes this a skewed gouge.  With three sharpened sides it not only "gouges" it slices lines and removes odd chips.

 

Making the Tools

Start with a 1" flat wood boring bit and cut out the shape of the tool with a rotary cutoff tool. Shape with a bench grinder, and have water handy to quench the heat and temper the tool.  Shape a handle (I used deer antler) and drill a hole for the tool.  Coat the tang with glue or epoxy of choice and insert into the handle.  Sharpen to a razor edge.

 

For the skewed gouge, I used the left over cutoff portion of the drill bit from the spoon gouge.  I cut a groove in a pole barn nail and brazed the triangle shaped piece at an angle.  While it was hot, I bent it into a gouge.

Hand Made Carving Tools

Photo of carving tools  

I created these carving tools to fill a gap in my tool set.  The design is similar to a smaller tool I purchased online from some company I don't remember.  I wanted tools that would cut cleanly, leave a flat surface, and be versatile--no constant changing of tools to make another kind of cut or to deal with a change in grain pattern.

Hooked Skew

Slicing the side of a vertical line to make a "Vee"

This is a modified skew chisel. It is available commercially as a "Ray Gonzalex Hooked Skew from Ashley Iles.  Both sides of the cutting edge are beveled, so it cuts as well to the right as it does to the left.  When the grain changes, turn the tool.  Sometimes it works to turn the edge down into the wood.  Sometimes it works to turn the tool upside down so the edge is facing up.  It allows one to turn the tool to avoid tearing the wood.

Walking in a vertical line or stop cut

What else does it do?  By "walking" the edge vertically, you can cut a line.  By coming back and using the heel of the tool, you can slice out a "V" very cleanly.  By using the tip of the tool, you can chip out small areas with ease.  Lay the tool down flat and plane a flat surface.

Bottom line:  While it doesn't replace other tools, it gets awfully close....