BeaverCraft Long Bent Gouge, Sweep No. 6, 15 mm

BeaverCraft Gouge Sweep No. 6 – for deep cuts in spoons and bowls

The BeaverCraft Compact Long Bent Gouge (K6L/15) is a carving tool with a bent blade for hollowing wood by hand, for example in spoons, kuksas and bowls. The cutting edge has a Sweep No. 6 curvature and is 15 mm wide. According to the manufacturer, it is suited to deep, continuous cuts.

The blade is made of carbon steel and is hand-sharpened and honed. The ash handle is oil-impregnated. This is the compact version with an 80 mm blade and a 115 mm handle. At only 192 mm overall, the tool sits in the hand and is easy to control.

What Sweep No. 6 is suited to

The sweep number describes the curvature of the cutting edge: the higher the number, the more strongly curved it is. No. 6 removes a deep hollow in a single pass. That is useful when you hollow out the bowls of spoons, kuksas or bowls. The bent blade helps you work inside hollow shapes without the handle catching on the workpiece. For fine details and shallow grooves, choose a flatter number; for contours and stop cuts, use a knife.

Wood type and technique

The manufacturer sharpens its tools with a bevel angle of 20° and recommends them mainly for softwood. Hardwood can be worked, but the fine edge dulls more quickly there. Carve using the strength of your hand: set the blade in place, guide it with light pressure in the direction of the wood grain and take several thin shavings rather than one deep one. If the wood tears out, you have usually been cutting against the grain; turn the workpiece and start from the other side.

Care

Wipe the blade after carving and store it in a dry place. A thin film of oil protects the carbon steel from rust. When the edge loses its sharpness, strop it again with a leather strop and suitable compound.

BeaverCraft Gouge Sweep No. 6 product details

• Manufacturer: BeaverCraft, art. no. K6L/15 (Compact Long Bent Gouge)
• Shape: gouge, long bent, Sweep No. 6
• Blade width: 15 mm
• Blade length: 80 mm
• Handle length: 115 mm
• Overall length: 192 mm
• Blade: carbon steel, hand-sharpened and honed, bevel angle 20°
• Handle: ash, oil-impregnated
• Use: manual carving without a mallet

You will also need: a clamp, a vice or a carving mat to hold the workpiece; a cloth and a little oil for blade care.

Intended only for work using the strength of your hand; do not use with a hammer or mallet. The cutting edge is very sharp and there is a risk of injury: secure the workpiece firmly and always keep both hands behind the cutting edge. The carbon steel blade can rust, so store it dry.