[Woodcarver] tool sweeps--did you know?

[Linehan718 at aol.com]

Did you all know that at one time there were about 2400 different profiles  
available thru European manufacturers.  About half have been lost to  time. 
 This is known from old shipping manifests uncovered in many  parts of the 
world.  The Sheffield list is considered the standard by which  most 
companies manufacture the sweeps and profiles of  their chisels.  The Sheffield 
list was a descriptive list of carving  profiles available in the 1800's in 
Sheffield, England, the city of legendary  steel making fame.  It is still 
pretty much adhered to by English  manufacturers. Variations occur when the skew 
chisel is called the S1 or  the #2 profile which changes the numbering of 
the sweeps down the line  accordingly, depending on the maker.  Americans 
companies being  Americans of course, number their profiles in any manner they 
wish and even  chose inches over the more standard metric equivalent.  Throw 
in other  countries, with their own numbering systems and there is lots of  
variations.  
 
If a serious woodcarver from 1000 years ago saw the profiles of the tools  
you use today, he would understand their purpose.
 
The best thing I have found is to get a piece of corrugated cardboard and  
make an impression in the cardboard with the profiles of all your chisels 
and  gouges, keeping like sweeps in columns.  Small notations can be made to  
denote, skews, bents, fishtails, palms, etc.   Bring this piece  of 
cardboard with you when you are going somewhere where you might want to  purchase 
tools.  This way there is less of a chance that you will  duplicate an edge.
 
Maura
_www.Carvinginnyc.com_ (http://www.carvinginnyc.com/) 

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