Straight gouge carving chisel Kirschen 31110- cut 11

The straight gouge carving chisel from Kirschen Serie 3111 cuts curved flutes and hollows in wood. Its blade follows the cut 11 profile, the deepest sweep in this carving range. Every edge is ground to 25 degrees. Blade widths run from 2 mm up to 40 mm. The family therefore covers fine detail work and faster waste removal.

Blade and handle are matched for controlled hand work. The octagonal hornbeam handle resists rolling on the bench. It also gives a secure grip under mallet blows or palm pressure. Total length grows with blade width, from 230 mm on the smallest sizes to 280 mm on the widest. Weights span 65 g to 373 g. The blades are hand-forged in Germany, so sweeps are indicative rather than binding. Dimensions and weights may vary slightly. Single blades without a handle are also available.

Straight gouge carving chisel Kirschen Serie 3111 in detail

Serie 3111 covers the straight-bladed gouge in the cut 11 group. Neighbouring series share the same sweep with different blade shapes: Serie 3120 is the curved gouge, Serie 3132 the flat spoon bent gouge, Serie 3147 the grooving gouge. Choosing between them depends on how deep and how far inside a hollow the cutting edge must reach.

Blade geometry and cut 11 sweep

Cut 11 describes a deep U-shaped sweep. The semicircular edge lifts a narrow, deep chip with each pass. On a straight blade the edge stays in line with the shaft, which suits open surfaces and long flutes. The 25 degree bevel keeps the edge keen for paring. Narrow sizes trace outlines; wide sizes clear volume quickly.

• Blade form: straight gouge, Serie 3111
• Sweep: cut 11, deep U profile
• Bevel angle: 25 degrees
• Blades hand-forged, sweeps given as a guide
• Octagonal hornbeam handle fitted with ferrule
• Blades also supplied separately without handle

Sizes step closely in the small range, at 2, 3, 4, 6, 8 and 10 mm. Larger steps follow up to 40 mm. This spacing lets a carver keep flute depth consistent while changing width. Regrinding should preserve the 25 degree bevel and the original sweep so the tool keeps tracking cleanly through end grain.

Handle and handling

The hornbeam handle is turned in an octagonal form. Flats stop the chisel rolling off a sloping bench and help the hand feel blade orientation without looking. Hornbeam is dense and takes repeated mallet contact. Handle mass rises with blade size, which keeps balance close to the hand on wide gouges and keeps small gouges light for push cuts.

• Handle material: hornbeam
• Handle form: octagonal
• Total length: 230 mm to 280 mm across the family
• Weight: 65 g to 373 g across the family
• Suited to both palm pressure and mallet work

Keep the handle free of oil so grip stays reliable. Store gouges in a roll or rack with the edge protected. Hone frequently on a slipstone shaped to the sweep rather than waiting for the edge to dull fully. A sharp cut 11 edge leaves a burnished flute that often needs no sanding.

Common applications

Straight cut 11 gouges cut deep flutes in panels, columns and furniture components. Sculptors use them to rough out volume in figures and reliefs. Narrow widths define hair, drapery folds and decorative grooves. Wider widths hollow bowls, troughs and seat blanks. Instrument makers and sign carvers use the same sweep for lettering and ornament. The series also fits teaching workshops, where a graded set of widths shows how sweep and width change the cut.

Catalog data

The catalog page lists Serie 3111 in sixteen blade widths from 2 mm to 40 mm, each with its own measured dimensions and weight. A footnote states that dimensions and weights may vary slightly, that single blades are available without a handle, and that sweeps are not binding because the blades are hand-forged.