#5F-14mm Wood Carving Fishtail Gouge – Medium Curve for Versatile Detail Work | Schaaf Tools

Professional 14mm sweep #5 fishtail gouge with medium curve. The versatile #5 sweep in a fishtail profile combines efficient shaping with excellent corner access. Perfect for detailed relief carving and sculptural work.

 

The Schaaf Tools 14mm Sweep #5 Fishtail Gouge brings the beloved versatility of the #5 sweep to a specialized fishtail profile. At 14mm (approximately 9/16") wide, this gouge delivers the moderate curve that makes #5 sweeps so popular while adding the access and visibility advantages of the fishtail design — creating a tool that's useful across an enormous range of carving situations.

The #5 sweep’s moderate curve removes wood efficiently without being overly aggressive, giving you excellent control whether you're roughing out shapes or refining surfaces. The fishtail profile allows this gouge to work close to walls and into recessed areas while maintaining visibility of your cutting line. This combination makes it particularly valuable in relief carving where you need to shape dimensional elements while working around other carved features.

The 14mm width strikes an excellent balance — substantial enough to cover ground efficiently, yet not so wide that you lose precision in detailed areas. Sculpture carvers use this tool for shaping rounded forms in confined spaces, while relief carvers depend on it for creating dimensional elements that need to be cleanly integrated with surrounding design features.

Made from alloy chromium-vanadium steel hardened to Rockwell C60, this fishtail gouge delivers professional performance through demanding work. The flared blade design requires proper sharpening technique to maintain both wings of the cutting edge, but the benefits in access and visibility make it well worth the extra attention. The octagonal ash handle provides comfortable control for extended carving sessions.

Best For:

• Versatile relief carving applications
• Shaping dimensional elements in confined spaces
• Working around carved features
• General purpose fishtail work
• Sculpture carving in recessed areas
• Medium-detail background removal
• Creating flowing shapes near walls
• All-around workhorse fishtail gouge

Tool Specifications:

• Sweep: #5F (Medium curve, fishtail profile)
• Width: 14mm at cutting edge (approximately 9/16")
• Steel: Alloy Chromium-Vanadium hardened to Rockwell C60
• Handle: Octagonal ash wood
• Edge: Out-cannel (external bevel)
• Profile: Fishtail design for improved access
• Use: Versatile all-purpose fishtail tool

What's Included:

• 1× 14mm Sweep #5F Fishtail Gouge
• Factory sharpened
• Complete fishtail carving tutorials
• Sharpening guides for fishtail tools
• Lifetime tool replacement guarantee

The #5 sweep’s reputation as a versatile workhorse transfers perfectly to the fishtail format. This gouge handles an impressive variety of tasks while giving you the access advantages that make fishtail profiles so valuable. Many carvers find this becomes their most-used fishtail tool.