carving tool overload

[justanick]

this may be redundant. But does anybody here use stubai,two cherries,
or henry taylor carving tools? I just can't decide
which full size tools to get! Please HELP!!

[Hi_Ho_Sliver]

Re: carving tool overload

I have stubai and ashley iles and really prefer the ashley ilesCowboy

[squbrigg]

Re: carving tool overload

I have Henry Taylors, and Two Cherries, Warren and a couple of discontinued German made gouges. I finally had the H.T's properly sharpened by Rick and now they cut sweet as you'd ever want. The Two Cherries are the small set of knives and I don't care for them much, but they hold a good edge. Have used Stubi's and they are great tools too, as are Pfiels. Too many choices, eh???

Are you in a carving club? Try a bunch of tools and see what you prefer before you purchase them. Or travel to a club somewhere close and attend a meeting and try some different tools. See what you like. Or order a set of each and return what you don't like! Lots of ways to choose. Have fun chooseing

Bob

[heineda]

Re: carving tool overload

Hello,

Biy did you open a can of worms here!!! Everyone has their own opinion about the best tools. My suggestion would be Stubai, and here is why:
1. Very best quality steel money can buy.
2. Ground properly at the factory, require only light honing before use.
3. Construction/design of tool insures it will last for generations. See the http://www.stubaidirect.com web site for more detailed info on this.
4. The level of service from the Whillock family that distributes Stubai in the USA cannot be matched.
5. Look who uses them:
Ivan Whillock
Bill Judt
Greg Wilkerson
Joe Dillet

I have Stubai's and love them. Two Cherries are also very good tools, but are more expensive. I would avoid steel made in England, it is not close the same quality as from Germany/Austria/Switzerland. Finally, the Pfeil tools are great if you only plan to carve basswood. If you ever decide toi carve Walnut, Maple or other harder woods, you will have to change the bevel of the tool.

Just my $0.02, but I own and use Stubai, and love them. I had a few Ashley Iles tools, and they were not up to my expectations. Also, I am told the Lamp brand tools from Wood Carvers Supply are very good. Made by the same comapny that makes Two Cherries, I suspect.

Good Luck,
Dan Heine

[Kenny_S]

Re: carving tool overload

Dan, Quit beating around the bush and tell us what you really think!

[Donna_T]

Re: carving tool overload

Two more cents:
I love Stubai--especially all the sizes and shapes they offer. Their deep veiners are awesome. Good steel that holds an edge. Wish all my tools were Stubai.

I have Harman, Flex, Dastra and prior to last Christmas, had a couple of Taylor tools. But I won some Taylor tools and they're good. Hold an edge really well, also.

I'd join in the recommendation of trying to get to a club meeting and trying out different tools before buying. In reality, you probably won't to wrong with any of those three brands. Get what works for you and feels good in the process.

Now is the tough part for you--deciding what to get. Get what feels good in your hand.

Donna T

[mdallensr]

Re: carving tool overload

I have mostly Pfeil full size tools, but just got some new Henry Taylor gouges. I had to reshape some because the bevel wasn't right, but they seem to be fine now. I also have a couple of Two Cherries and Ashley Isles, and they seem fine as well. Each brand we've mentioned is someones favorite; all are good tools. The best advice you've had is to try to find a carving group that will let you try the different brands.

[justanick]

Re: carving tool overload

Thanks for the input. I have joined a carving club. But I am a bit shy when it comes to asking to use a persons tools.From what I have seen the other members use mostly flexcut or Pfeil, and thats it.They all swear by both brands, but I have my doubts about flexcut. One woman there who is of slight build managed to break two of the flexcut gouges. How she managed that I don't know for sure. But if she can break one than I don;t think those are the tools for me. I plan on carving only soft woods for now. It is my understanding that some of the too;s that you all mentioned are only for hardwoods, like the two cherries and stubai. I am not sure if that is true or not. I did see a brand called diefenbacher that are made by stubai for a reasonable price that looked good to me.Has any one here heard about this brand ?

[dmatias]

Re: carving tool overload

Hello, Putting a few more cents into this. I have Henry Taylor and Swiss made. My favourite are the swiss made , they seem to hold their edge longer, but the taylor's are good too. I have two flex cut knives and am not liking them that much, my roughout knife I had to grind the hip off of because it kept getting in the way of the cuts I would want.

As the others say, ask around your club and almost every carver I know would let you try out their tools to see if you like them or not. I too have broken two tools but they were both v-tools and the little bitty palm ones. As one of my buddies said to me - it's not a pry bar it's a carving tool fool!!!!! No it wasn't hi ho.

Keep carving and I am sure you will find what you want - even through trial and error.

[Old_Gord]

Re: carving tool overload

justanick, interesting comment about Flexcut, shows that bad things can happen to any manufacturers products I guess.
Anyway, although you might get the idea that certain manufacturers are providing carving tools for hardwood only, that's not true, they may provide a tool with a bevel that is best suited for hard woods but any bevel can be changed to suit any carvers needs.
This is the problem with the internet any person can make any statements about any tool manufacturer as though it was a proven fact just as has been stated here previously , such as so and so has the best steel and stay way from such and such cuz their steel is not as good...all the time forgetting to mention the said tool manufacturer has been in the business for 175 years and still provides top notch tools today.
My prefernece is for full size Henry Taylor tools , I've used them for over 25 years , they have a full line of shapes and sizes.
I have a number of different manufacturers for palm tools Ilses, Harmon, Pfeil, Denny and Stubai all appear to be equal in my experience.
Personally I think buying carving tools from the main manufatcurers such as Stubai, Henry Taylor , Pfeil or Iles etc. price can be a guide as no one tool manufacturer has such an edge that price shouldn't be a factor in your choice.
Also if at all possible check how the tool feels in your hand if it feels comfortable that's an important step toward satisfaction. Being able to test how a tool cuts before buying has too many variables to be a real true test of which tool to buy, the wood being used for the test, is the tool sharpened correctly and the testers lack of carving experience can skew the results , only an extended use of a tool can truely provide accurate test results.
So to end this, IMHO just remember having the highest price tool doesn't guarentee having the best tool no matter who's two cents says it does.Smiles

Cheers.

OG

[justanick]

Re: carving tool overload

Well folks I took into concideration about what you all said. I tried the Pfeil tools and loved them. I also bidded on a set of Pfeil tool set on eBay and won! I will become the proud owner of a set of 12 tools plus 3 books!I can't hardley wait.I am so excited!!Ice Cream

[chipper67]

Re: carving tool overload

Justanick,

I was just wondering how you like your Pfeil tools you had won on Ebay? I too would like to get some full size tools (mainly for some relief work). Right now, I am torn between Stubai and Pfeil.

Chipper67

[squbrigg]

Re: carving tool overload

I just bought a few Pfeil's at the woodworking show and was using them this week on a relief carving.

Are they "ever" sweet cutting carving tools!!!

Bob

[justanick]

Re: carving tool overload

Iam sorryfor not posting a reply sooner. I like the new tools just fine. They are great. Although not the sizes that I was expecting but all the same they are great tools overall.

[chipper67]

Re: carving tool overload

Hi justanick,

I was just curious as to the sizes not what you had expected. Do you mean the length of the handles or the sweeps of the tools?

Chipper67