Basic Tools

There are 17 tools that make up Chris Pye's selection of "Basic" carving tools:

SWEEP 3 (series #3) - 5mm (3/16"), 8mm (5/16"), 14mm (1/2"), 20mm (3/4") & 26mm (1")

SWEEP 6 (series #6) - 5mm (3/16"), 8mm (5/16"), 14mm (1/2"), 20mm (3/4") & 26mm (1")

SWEEP 9 (series #9) - 5mm (3/16"), 8mm (5/16"), 14mm (1/2"), 20mm (3/4") & 26mm (1")

60 deg. V tool x 10mm (3/8") & 10mm (3/8") Skew chisel

These tools give you many carving choices: deep gouges for shaping, medium for modelling, flat gouges for smoothing surfaces, and the ever-useful V tool; and with these tools you'll have the means of carving a wide range of subjects.

Auriou woodcarving tools have been among Chris Pye's favourite tools since he began carving. Uniquely their blades are forged by beating out a blank of steel to length before hammering the cross-section profile. This creates a very resilient grain structure in the metal which, when hardened to Rockwell 58C, underpins their great edge-holding properties.

Chris enjoyed working with Auriou on a re-design of their woodcarving tools several years ago now. The new gouges have the older, 'allongee' style of blade that splays from the shoulder: they are lighter to use, the corners are more available for cutting, and their thin walls are of a uniform thickness.

Chris is confident that you have here some of the finest carving tools being made today and is proud to endorse both the tools and the caring, traditional manner in which they are made. Slender octagonal ash handles with polished brass tapered ferrules.