Clearing Out Inclusions

[George Yetka]

Team

I am pretty set up on most tool fronts but I realized last weekend that I am shy on any kind of carving implements. I have flat bench chisels, skew chisels, mortising chisels. But no gouges.

I was working on a live edge board that had a branch coming through it at a crazy angle. So I took a drill and took out most of it but I had a heck of a time getting it out with a die grinder.

Any recommendations on gouges?

[Rob Luter]

On those occasions where I had to dig out knots and bark inclusions I did what you're doing. I have a rotary grinder (Dremel) but didn't use it. I had better luck with an 1/8" chisel and some dental picks. I smoothed things out with some small rifflers. I usually wind up filling with epoxy afterwards.

[Richard Coers]

Depending on size of course, but I have used a pneumatic chisel from Harbor Freight where a log of hogging is required. They also sell a needle scaler that really knocks off debris.

[George Yetka]

Both good suggestions. I used some bench chisels but came close to pulling good grain apart so I stopped.

Branch was about 2" diameter