Pfeil
Shop Pfeil carving tools for lino and woodblock printing, including fine U gouges, V tools, wider cutters and selected sets. Choose individual tools to build a selection around the marks you want to make, or compare sets for a broader starting range. These Swiss-made tools come in different profiles and widths; understanding both makes choosing easier. Use the guide below to decode Pfeil numbers and match a blade to your next design.
Pfeil – 11/0.5 – U – Lino Cutting Tool
Original price was: £25.00.£23.50Current price is: £23.50.
Pfeil – L 11/3 – U – Lino Cutting Tools
Original price was: £25.00.£23.50Current price is: £23.50.
Pfeil – L 9/5 – U – Lino Cutting Tools
Original price was: £25.00.£23.50Current price is: £23.50.
Pfeil – L 15/2 – V – Linoleum and Block Cutter
Original price was: £25.00.£23.50Current price is: £23.50.
Pfeil – L 5/8 – U – Lino Cutting Tools
Original price was: £25.00.£23.50Current price is: £23.50.
Pfeil – L 12/4 – V – Linoleum & Block Cutter
Original price was: £25.00.£23.50Current price is: £23.50.
Pfeil – L 8/7 – U – Lino Cutting Tools
Original price was: £25.00.£23.50Current price is: £23.50.
How to Choose Pfeil Carving Tools
Start with the marks your design needs: fine outlines, rounded grooves or wider cleared areas. A useful selection covers different jobs instead of repeating several similar shapes. Compare the cutting profile and width together, then choose the individual tools or set that fills the gaps in your current kit.
How the Pfeil numbering system works
For the individual cutters shown here, the number before the slash identifies the profile or sweep. The number after it is the cutting-edge width in millimetres, measured from side to side.
The L prefix identifies Pfeil's palm-handled linoleum and block cutters. For example, L 12/1 means an L-series tool with profile 12 and a 1 mm cutting edge. Some product names shorten this to 12/1; check the full description when comparing ranges.
| Code | Profile | Width |
|---|---|---|
| L 12/1 | 60° V tool | 1 mm |
| L 11/3 | Deep U gouge | 3 mm |
| L 5/8 | Curved gouge | 8 mm |
Profile 11 is a deep U gouge. Profile 12 is a 60° V, while profile 15 is a 45° V: L 15/2 therefore has a 2 mm edge. Compare the profile and angle as well as the number, especially when moving between U gouges and V tools.
Match the cutter to the job
- Small rounded details: compare the Pfeil 11/0.5 U gouge with 11/1. These narrow options are worth considering where a larger gouge would remove too much of a small motif.
- Outlines and pointed marks: consider the Pfeil 12/1 V tool. Compare it with 12/4 for a wider edge in the same profile family, or 15/2 when you want to explore a different V angle.
- Background clearing: compare 5/8, 8/7 and 9/5. Look at the profile as well as the width when deciding how the tool will work around the shapes you want to keep.
The stated width describes the cutting edge. The depth and angle of your cut, along with the carving material, affect the mark you make. Make a labelled test block and print it: the impression shows how the raised areas and cleared spaces work together.
Individual tools or a set?
Buy an individual cutter when you know the profile you are missing. For a first selection, a narrow V, a small U and a wider clearing gouge provide different kinds of marks to explore. Treat that as a starting point, then adapt the selection to your drawings.
If you prefer a ready-selected group, compare the Pfeil tool sets and read their exact contents. Sets A, B, C and D contain different combinations; the letter does not rank one above another. Check for profiles you already own before choosing a set.