Carving an Epic Fantasy Out of Wood - Which Carving Gouges Do I Use? Wood Carving for Beginners

The Gambler is Madcarver's current work, and as you know, Randy loves to tell a story with his carvings.
Although the carving is still in it's roughing phase, already we can start to see a story coming together. The main character in this fantasy is a rogue gambler, wearing a cloak and flinging dice into the air. He leans over a barrel, protecting a stack of coins...
In this wood carving video, Randy 'Madcarver' Stoner pulls a few chisels out of the three, signature Schaaf Tools woodcarving sets to demonstrate how he would use each profile on a personal project that's currently sitting on his workbench.
The Carving Chisels Highlighted:
From the 12-piece Foundation Set - Starter Wood Carving Tools Set for Beginners
- The #9-10mm
- The #8a-10mm spoon gouge
- The #7L-20mm Long Bent
From the 7-piece Expansion Set - Auxiliary Carving Profiles to Build on Your Foundation
- The #12-10mm V Parting Tool
- The #3F-20mm Fishtail Gouge
- The #11-15mm
From the 4-Piece Detail Set - Fishtail Profiles to Reach Into Spaces Other Gouges Can't
(This specialty set only contains fishtails, which flare out on either side of the cutting edge)
- The #3F-6mm
-The #7F-14mm
Timestamp [3:42]
- This relief carving is called The Gambler
- Still in the roughing phase
- A piece like this will take months to complete
Timestamp [5:01]
- Starting by highlighting #7L-20mm gouge
- This gouge allows you to get into spaces from over the top of something
- Good for when you're working into a lower area of your carving
Timestamp [6:56]
- The #9-10mm gouge
- Gouge with a super nice sweep on it that allows you to make circular shaving cuts
- Creating texture and a billowing nature in a cloak or other clothing
- Making grooves in your wood carving
- Can waste away a lot of material quickly
Timestamp [9:36]
- The #8a-10mm
- Great for getting into and hollowing out places other tools cannot
- Think about the bowl of a spoon
- In between fingers for example
Timestamp [11:45]
- The #12-10mm V Parting Gouge
- Used for cutting along lines
- Create deep, thin lines and grooves
Timestamp [13:25]
- #3F-20mm Fishtail Gouge
- Slicing motions for smoothing and removing cut marks
- Great for creating contour and rounded surfaces
- The flares allow you to get into tight places while also letting you see what you're doing better than other carving tools
Timestamp [15:18]
- The #11-15mm
- Burly looking tool with a big sweep
- A gouge like this can be used to take out a lot of material
Timestamp [16:27]
- #7F-14mm Fishtail Gouge
- #3F-6mm Fishtail Gouge
- I like to use these types of chisels in areas that are already rounded, but where there's still a corner (like in the arm of The Gambler)
- When you want to clean up a surface, but you have to maintain the corner movement or the curve of the area
- Smaller fishtails like these ones are ideal for creating detail and depth in tight areas, such as the glove straps on The Gambler's hand
"I'm using all of my Schaaf Tools Sets, and I'm using them daily"
- Madcarver

[@mikeevans3766]

I love your use of forced perspective in your carvings. I have the Schaaf tools along with other brands and keep coming back to the Schaaf tools as my "go-to" chisels and gouges. A great video demonstrating the advantages of different tool types.

[@pauloneves8007]

Mais Reseita

[@earth2becky]

You sold me on the fishtail set. Thanks!

[@scottnei1377]

Can't agree more. I purchased the 12 piece Schaaf set and they are excellent. Thanks for the review. May I ask.....What kind of wood are you using I this carving please.

[@sunmazu3470]

Is there any video on the entire piece?

[@MrVaggelis49]

What species is the wood you’re working on?

[@SchaafTools]

cottonwood bark

[@christinehill2782]

Did you pre sharpen these tools before using it

[@SchaafTools]

Hey Christine, unless you buy a pre-sharpened set, you'll always need to sharpen before using!