Henry Taylor vs. Pfeil tools

[Brian T]

Re: Henry Taylor vs. Pfeil tools

Use Leonard Lee's logic: "the edge has to have enough metal behind it to support the service". (Uh, Leonard Lee = Lee Valley?) You can't work oak with 15 degrees. Period.

My kitchen bone cleaver is 40 degrees. My veg knives are 15. Enuff said.
My Pac NW knives are all 12 degrees, my gouges are 20, spoke shaves 28.
I'm content = nothing gets wrecked.

[pallin]

Re: Henry Taylor vs. Pfeil tools

Regardless of brand, most carvers will have to learn to improve and maintain the gouges for their use. Each manufacturer makes the tools for average use. When you learn this process, the gouges you rework become the choices for your current project.

My present favorite is an old Herring Brothers fishtail gouge given to me in rusted, pitted shape. After hours of cleaning, reshaping, sharpening and honing it glides through wood better than any of my Pfeil gouges when they were new.