I have posted a couple of photos of the K gouge:

http://www.atlasquest.com/gallery/viewalbum.html?gAlbumId=3810

I intend to add more photos to this gallery. I'll post notes to this board when I do.

I just recently bought a right handed K gouge. Took a couple of minutes to get used to, but I think I've found a new friend! It is awesome!! I acquired a reverse recently and still haven't gotten the hang of that thing. Not sure what the heck Mrs. Wolf is doing with it to have such disgusting results!!

You can always send that reverse to me. :)

Or me :)

You can always send that reverse to me. :)

I'm sure I will be, especially since it's for the greater good anyway!

Darn, replied too late :p

I'm gonna demand a lesson for using mine someday. After a good thumb wrestling tournament.....

You're on :)

You can always send that reverse to me.

Or me. I'm really liking my new reverse. Time to try the K now.

you don't get a lesson in how to use your reversed. you just hand it over, nice and easy. . .

after all, i know where you live.

~tigs (slowly. . . nicely. . .)

I'm gonna demand a lesson for using mine someday. After a good thumb wrestling tournament.....

Think you are gonna win, do ya?
Muahahahahahaha!!

Darn, replied too late :p

Ya snooze, ya loose!!

I acquired a reverse recently and still haven't gotten the hang of that thing.

Me too!

I bought the mini and a reverse #1. The mini was easy to use and will become my go-to gouge for fine detail.

I'm having trouble with the reverse #1. I guess I got too used to knowing how much pressure to apply and when/where to stop with normal gouges that the reversed version is boggling my mind. I feel like I keep stabbing the rubber slab instead of carving with it.

I feel like I keep stabbing the rubber slab instead of carving with it.

psst, you using the sharp end?

psst, you using the sharp end?

d'oh! I knew I must be doing something wrong. Thanks for clearing that up :P

Ya snooze, ya loose!!

Umm...interesting typo there!?!?!

Not only am I late, I am excessively available too... ;)

You fight dirty :p

The mini was easy to use

I'm having trouble with the reverse #1.

Man, I can't use either one! Some sort of moron effect seems to take over when either one is in my hand. I'm almost scared to try the K, even though it sounds like just what I need.

This gallery now contains one new pic of a K gouge as well as pics of reversed and miniaturized gouges and a 3U:

http://www.atlasquest.com/gallery/viewalbum.html?gAlbumId=3810

I really wish it were possible to rearrange the photos into a deliberate presentation order rather than just chronologically or alphabetically.

Perhaps some of the experienced reversed gouge carvers can chime in here, but I think there's probably a fundamental difference in style that determines whether a reversed will work for you or not. When using a regular V gouge, there are two methods that you can use to control how deep the gouge cuts, and hence how big a cut it makes. The first and most obvious method is to just hold it carefully; when it's a bit too deep, lift it a bit, and when it's a bit too shallow, press it into the rubber more firmly. The other, less obvious method is to allow the gouge to ride on the surface of the rubber on the smooth bottom of the nib just behind the cutting edge, and adjust the depth of cut by changing the angle of the handle: The higher the handle, the deeper the cut. Either method works well with a regular V gouge because it's designed to be easy to control.

The reversed is a different animal, though. Simply guided through the rubber, it wants to dive! And it'll quickly go entirely too deep if the carver isn't careful. If you control the depth by holding the gouge at the level you want, you'll have to manhandle it to keep it from going too deep. Honestly, I do that -- but I'm 6'4" and 300 lb, no shortage of strength here. And, frankly, it's still not easy to do. The other method, though, letting the gouge ride on its smooth bottom and merely adjusting the handle angle to control depth, works much better and with much less brute force. You can run into some issues when the smooth bottom falls into the groove you just cut, but in general it seems to work well.

Alternatively, you can choose to use a reversed only when you're making very tiny cuts, which keeps the diving issue negligible.

That's probably a pretty darn good assessment! I was pretty sure it was in the carving style but I couldn't explain it. I know I angle my gouge every which way. And for long wide cuts I pick up a normal #1. The reverse is for detail work.

I've had people tell me that they think their reverse is just not sharp but I kind of doubt that. I think it is just in the carving style. But I plan on trying someone else's reverse next week and they will use mine so we shall see...

I really wish it were possible to rearrange the photos into a deliberate presentation order rather than just chronologically or alphabetically.

Weellll, if you name your photos "A. reversed" (or whatever you want first), then "B. mini" (or whatever you want second), etc., then arrange alphabetically, you should be able to arrive at your deliberate presentation.

Did you not see that Forayach said that he would thumb wrestle with me & then he would give me a NICE carving lesson! neener, neener, neener! Some folks are just nice.

I can't say I'll run when you show up cause I'm still not fast enough. You'd overtake me, I'm afraid. I'll hide it & leave clues. yeah, that's it! NO! I'm hanging on for that lesson!

I was hoping for the lesson whether I won or lost. Hoping the winner would feel sorry for the loser, if that is the way the thumb lands! ; )

I'm almost scared to try the K, even though it sounds like just what I need.

Oh be brave & give it a whirl! Then just send it off to Foraych if you can't get it to work! (or me!)

I was hoping for the lesson whether I won or lost. Hoping the winner would feel sorry for the loser, if that is the way the thumb lands!

Here's how it works:

• If I win, I get the reverse
• If I lose, you hand over YOUR reverse, and I'll give you a lesson

(of course, I can't say that your reverse is ever making it back into your hands...)

ere's how it works:

If I win, I get the reverse
If I lose, you hand over YOUR reverse, and I'll give you a lesson

(of course, I can't say that your reverse is ever making it back into your hands...)

Wow! You are wicked. Where did you write about me pocketing YOUR reverse? Thought you had one did you???????

Where did you write about me pocketing YOUR reverse?

Yes, I did seem to have left that part out, didn't I?
I guess that would be a possibility IF I brought it with me. Thankfully, it will be safely elsewhere...

well, i'll give you a lesson too, and no thumb wars! that sounds WAY too violent. how's about just a nice cuppa tea, and a little walk, a carving lesson, and we call it good?

how's that Boy o' yours?

~tigs

and no thumb wars! that sounds WAY too violent.

Well, I don't think it's supposed to be but...

Wolf *who likes to apply Calvin Ball "rules" to all games*

Those "Calvin Ball" rules really are great - maybe you can teach me those while I give a carving exhibition to bluebirdlover _{(and tigs sneaks your reverses from your stash)}. :)