BeaverCraft K8a/14 Short Bent Gouge, Sweep No. 8, 14 mm

BeaverCraft K8a/14 – short bent gouge for hollowing out wood

The BeaverCraft K8a/14 is a short, bent gouge (sweep No. 8, blade width 14 mm) for hollowing out wood. You use it for concave surfaces, for example on bowls, kuksas and spoons. Thanks to the bend in the blade, the handle does not touch the surface of the wood as you carve. This gives you room to remove shavings one by one, even inside a hollow.

The gouge is intended for hand use only: carve by hand, not with a hammer or mallet. The blade sits in an oiled ash handle. The compact overall length of around 19 cm makes the gouge easy to control on smaller projects.

Working with the gouge

Clamp the workpiece firmly or secure it on the workbench so that both hands can work behind the cutting edge. Place the blade flat and remove thin shavings along the grain. If you cut against the grain, the wood tears out easily. On a bowl or spoon, work from the edges towards the deepest point in several passes, rather than removing too much material at once. The bent blade guides you into the curve.

Which wood?

BeaverCraft sharpens these gouges to a 20° cutting angle and designs them for softwood. The manufacturer does not recommend them for hardwood, because the fine edge dulls more quickly there. For bowls, kuksas and spoons, choose softer woods and check the edge from time to time. If it becomes ragged, sharpen it before you work with more pressure.

BeaverCraft K8a/14 product details

• Manufacturer: BeaverCraft, art. no. K8a/14
• Shape: gouge, short, bent, sweep No. 8
• Blade width: 14 mm
• Overall length: approx. 190 mm
• Blade material: C50 carbon steel, hardness 57 HRC ±2
• Handle: ash wood, coated with linseed oil
• Cutting angle: 20°
• Use: manual only, not for hammer or mallet

You will also need: softwood for carving, camellia oil for blade care

The blade is very sharp. Secure the workpiece and always keep both hands behind the cutting edge. Do not use with a hammer or mallet; work by hand only. Carbon steel can rust: store the tool dry and wipe the blade regularly with camellia oil.