Barr Tools, whose products have received very positive reviews in this magazine, has redesigned some of its classic tools, improving its forging process and thickening blades for even better strength and power.

I worked with three of the new tools: a broad gouge, a wide bench chisel, and a carver’s drawknife. All three were skillfully made and performed very well. They also felt great in the hand, thanks to the careful attention paid to edges and transitions. Stout ash handles are perfectly fitted and aligned in the sockets of the gouge and the chisel, and their striking ends are protected against splitting with thick steel hoops. All three tools were sharp out of the box and held a fine edge very well.

The 1-1/2-in.-wide chisel is ready for serious work like chopping large joints in thick stock, but it also provides pleasing inertia for delicate paring cuts.

The gouge has a useful medium sweep, close to a #6. It came with a 50° bevel angle, which was too obtuse to work with. But after I ground and honed it to 30°, it did a beautiful job carving wide flutes in dry cherry, as well as removing heavy stock with the help of a mallet.

I especially enjoyed the carver’s drawknife. The cutting edge is ready for use, and the geometry enables excellent control. I used the tool to shape the exterior of bowls and other pieces, and it left behind a beautiful surface.

 

—Dave Fisher is a professional carver in Greenville, Pa.