Description
Power Grip Japanese Wood / Lino Carving Chisels — Set of 5
Forged by Mikisyo Hamono, Niigata Prefecture, Japan
What’s in the box
A compact grey travel case doubles as a bench-top stand and houses five razor-sharp carving tools:
| Width (approx.) | Shape (Japanese name) |
|---|
| 3 mm U-gouge (Maru-tō) | Cutting hair-thin furrows, fine stippling, tight curves |
| 6 mm U-gouge (Maru-tō) | Clearing small hollows, modelling mid-tone textures |
| 4.5 mm V-gouge (Sankaku-tō) | Engraving crisp outlines, cross-hatching, lettering |
| 7.5 mm skew knife (Hangitō) | Slicing clean edge cuts, trimming borders, plunge cuts |
| 8 mm flat chisel (Aisuki) | Levelling backgrounds, clearing waste, inlaying highlights |
Each blade is a 3 cm billet of double-laminated steel—hard high-carbon core for edge retention, cushioned by softer cladding to absorb shock. Mikisyo artisans hone every edge by hand to a mirror polish, so the tools arrive shave-ready.
We also sell 1.5 mm Fine Detail Cutting Tools.
Ergonomics & build quality
The Power Grip handle is shaped from red beech and measures 14.5 cm overall. Its hour-glass profile flares to 19 mm at the thumb web and narrows to 10 mm near the heel, letting you choke up for pencil-like finesse or drive from the base for power cuts. Use your spare palm as a “push cap” when extra force is needed—ideal for dense cherry or stubborn lino.
Versatility across media
- Woodblock printmakers can carve both kento registration notches and silk-fine feathers on the same block.
- Linocut artists will appreciate how the factory grind glides through soft vinyl without tearing.
- General woodworkers can refine dovetail shoulders, relief carvings and small furniture details with surgical accuracy.
- Mobile makers benefit from the compact case: toss it into a rucksack for plein-air block carving or workshops.
Care & longevity
Strop the edge lightly on compound-charged leather between sessions; a full resharpen is seldom needed thanks to the laminated construction. A dab of camellia oil prevents oxidation in humid studios.
Who it suits
Absolute beginners gain confidence because the tools cut cleanly with minimal pressure, while experienced printmakers and wood-artists can push the steel hard without chipping. Teachers, too, value the set for classroom resilience and the protective case.
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