Reddit reviews Woodcarving: Tools, Materials & Equipment, Volume 2
We found 1 Reddit comments about Woodcarving: Tools, Materials & Equipment, Volume 2. Here are the top ones, ranked by their Reddit score.
Wow are you every lucky, that's some nice stuff there once you clean it up and if you take care of it.
For carving with gouges I strongly recommend these three books:
Chris Pye's Woodcarving Course
Chris Pye's - Woodcarving Tools, Materials & Equipment vol. 1
[Chris Pye's - Woodcarving Tools, Materials & Equipment vol. 2](
https://www.amazon.com/Woodcarving-Tools-Materials-Equipment-2/dp/1861082029/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1466087662&sr=8-2&keywords=Chris+Pye)
As a beginner I found them immensely useful to learn how to properly use and take care of my tools. If you use gouges wrongly not only do you create dangerous situations for yourself but also you tend to do worse work at much more effort than required. The first book above is great for teaching you how to use the tools, it does so by walking you through some projects and teaching you the grips to use and such. It's really good. The other two books are like encyclopedia's practically on how to look after that good quality gear you have. They'll tell you everything you need to know and more about them, like what those numbers are on the tangs (the "sweep" of the gouge) and how to sharpen a v-tool (those V shaped gouges you've got there).
For the stones I think you've lucked into something there. I used to restore straight razors as a hobby and those guys are insane sharpening fanatics and know a ton about sharpening stones. If you went to talk to them I bet they could identify the stones for you dead on. This is where they hang out. If you went on their forums I'm sure they'd love to help you figure out what the various stones are. In my experience old stones your grandpa used to have that you find outclass modern stuff by a mile and a half so long as you use them properly. I've seen it again and again when guys luck into finds like yours on that forum heh.
The knife on the far left is a good knife I'm jealous of. You could use that for any kind of knife carving work you see out there (caricatures, bird carving, etc..) not just chip carving. If you get into that make sure you get one of these and try to find some of this high friction guard tape for your knife holding thumb. That tape is the best stuff on earth and has saved my thumb from being cut in half many a time.
Finally pay close attention to what syntax said about needing a strop, that's super important as you'll learn. Just buy your own leather and glue it down to some MDF with 5-minute epoxy and then rub honing compound into the leather. Use this frequently as you work.
Oh and final bit of advice is one power tool every carver needs is a band saw, like you say to cut out patterns and do bulk wood removal. If you haven't got one make friends with someone who does quick!