Hand carving tools and draws

[cheap_walmart_art]

I have a few trees that I'd like to try my hand at carving on this year. I have watched some of the bonsai empire courses on carving - looks like using dremels and rotary tools is the popular option. However, I see a lot of hand carving tools out there such as these: https://www.americanbonsai.com/American-Bonsai-Carving-Scoop-p/ab271.htm

Does anyone know of a resource out there that details the use of the hand carvers and draw tools? Does anybody out there do a lot of carving by hand? I'd be interested in reading more about it and any suggestions as to what might be needed to get started. Most of the trees I would like to carve on would be chumono or smaller. Thanks!

 

[sorce]

Most of the trees I would like to carve on would be chumono or smaller.

It's almost impossible to keep a thing sharp enough to not jostle roots working by hand.
It's a romantic idea, been there, but not very practical.

Especially for small things.

Sorce

 

[TomB]

Does anyone know of a resource out there that details the use of the hand carvers and draw tools?

http://www.sidiao.com/index_e.htm

I suspect the book would be useful to you (I only know it by reputation). The 'tools' link gives some information about how to uses some of the carving tools.

see also https://ibonsaiclub.forumotion.com/t924-cheng-cheng-kung-s-bonsai-school-taiwan-juniper

 

[cheap_walmart_art]

It's almost impossible to keep a thing sharp enough to not jostle roots working by hand.
It's a romantic idea, been there, but not very practical.

Hmm, thats too bad. Maybe time to look into bits for the ol' dremel instead.

 

[MrWunderful]

I have carved by hand, with electric gouge and with dremmel. Dremmel/ rotary tools is fastest and easiest for big stuff. For Anything small, cleaning up chops or underside of a deciduous I prefer the electric gouge. Its has most of the control of a hand gouge but is way way faster (expensive though).

 

[David wv]

I have not done much carving and I am a total amateur and have not done any major carving yet, just small stuff and cleaning up cuts and stuff. I use a small hand gouge that I made, flat chisel and a double edge or loop hoof knife used for trimming horses hooves and make sure you sharpen and polish them. A razor sharp tool makes everything so much easier. But I am sure a dermal or die grinder is the best for removing a lot of wood on big jobs though.