Replies

1. 
   Timberwerks | May 23, 2003 02:28am | #1

   There is also Stubai and Auriou and Dastra. All of these tools are of excellent quality. I have Pfeil, Stubai, Auriou and Flexcut in my collection. If you would like I could send you a Stubai catalog or you can go to http://www.stubaidirect.com for Dastra go to http://www.dastrausa.com  for Auriou go to http://www.chrispye-woodcarving.com/

   For overall value and performance I suggest Stubai of course the Pfeil are what I consider to be the best but theyt pricey and sometimes hard to get the profile you need because of limited dealers and importing you could try http://www.kmstools.com/ for better pricing.

   Flexcut makes a great palm tool but the full size don't compare to the other makes.

   Hope this helps.

   If you would like that Subai catalog send me a Email [email protected] I will see what I can do to give you a good deal or let you try a loaner set.

   Dale

   
   

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   Edited 5/22/2003 7:31:25 PM ET by timber
   

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   Edited 5/22/2003 7:35:51 PM ET by timber

   
   

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   Edited 5/22/2003 7:37:15 PM ET by timber

2. 
   LeeGrinding1 | May 23, 2003 04:39am | #2

   Were there a perfect answer to your question there would be but one brand or style of tool available. There is no real "best brand" for you.

   Perhaps this will help with the fog of choices...

   http://furniturecarver.com/carving.html

   I like the steel in both the Pfeil and the Stubai however they have eliminated the ferrule which I feel is of importance for mallet work. For a tool used under hand pressure the ferrule probably does not play a large role but when mallets are used the ferrule can mean the difference between a long lived tool and a useless shank.

   I like Lamps, all of the Henry Taylor tools, old Marples (with the emphasis on OLD), Two Cherries and several other brands. I feel the steel in all of these is comparable...but comparable for different reasons.

   I'd suggest you buy a chisel or two of several brands and try them on yourself. See what fits.

   Lee

   Lee Grindinger

   Furniture Carver

1. 
   Lar55 | May 23, 2003 05:45am | #3

   Hey Lee,

   I ordered 3 Stubai carving chisels then read your website and where you say Stubai and Pfeil have eliminated the ferrule.  I called the company I bought the Stubai's from and he told me the ferrule is internal in the Stubai chisel and if you took the chisel apart you would see it.  I had no desire to disassemble the chisel so to be safe my next order was for Two Cherries and I'll stick with them in the future.  Thanks for the information.

   Lar

1. 
   Timberwerks | May 23, 2003 03:38pm | #4

   Lar

   Yes, the Stubai's do indeed have a internal ferrule and it does prevent splitting. Some of the shoulders on the Stubai tools are pretty large and this may prevent you from seeing this. I do alot of heavy carving and have never split a Stubai or Pfeil handle. I would like to try the Dastra tools at some time they really look well made.

   Dale

1. 
   Lar55 | May 23, 2003 04:48pm | #5

   Dale,

   Thanks for the update on Stubai.  I wonder if Lee G. will agree.

   Lar

1. 
   Timberwerks | May 23, 2003 05:01pm | #6

   Lar

   To view the ferrule you could walk the tang out of the handle a bit just so you can look under the shoulder. This should not affect the seating of the tool in the handle.

   Contact Chris at http://www.stubaidirect.com and ask for a 2003-04 catalog there is a good overview photo and discription of the tool. Or Email me your address and I could send one out to you today.

   [email protected]

   Take Care

   Dale

   Edited 5/23/2003 10:05:30 AM ET by timber

   Edited 5/23/2003 10:06:12 AM ET by timber

2. 
   Lar55 | May 23, 2003 06:47pm | #7

   Dale,

   Thanks for the info.  I'll have to continue with the Stubai chisel purchases they look nice mixed in with the Two Cherries.  I'll contact Chris to get a catalog.

   Thanks again,

   Lar

3. 
   LeeGrinding1 | May 24, 2003 01:32am | #8

   Sure enough...I have a Stubai gouge a dealer sent me for my opinion. I took it apart and there is a small ferrule. I will change that in my carving page.

   I suspect the dealer would prefer the ferrule slam, though. In taking the tool apart I found the hole for the shank to be well outside center of the beech handle... but perhaps that would be offset by the line of the shank being dramatically off center from the rest of the tool.

   If you guys want pictures I'll try to get them posted, just let me know.

   I know brand loyalty is a touchy topic and in no way do I have an axe to grind with any tool maker. However, what I found when I took this gouge apart is pretty bad.

   Lee Lee Grindinger

   Furniture Carver

4. 
   Timberwerks | May 24, 2003 02:53am | #9

   Offset tangs and handle's is what also concerned me about Stubai tools awhile back. At that time I started buying more Pfeils which nine times out of ten are in perfect alignment but still pricey.

    I talked to Chris Pye about this awhile back and he said at one time he spoke about this with Stubai and at that time they were in the works of addressing better quality control. This is when I started buying Auriou tools which is between Pfeil and Stubai in quality and price. They also have a little larger handle's with an external ferrule, very nice tool's.

    Within the last year or so the quality of fit and finish has greatly improved with the Stubai's. Talk to the dealer who gave you the sample and show him your findings. I myself am very picky about alignment, if it is not acceptable back it goes.

   Take Care

   Dale 

5. 
   Lar55 | May 24, 2003 05:12am | #10

   Thanks Lee for checking the Stubai.  Not sure why Stubai puts their ferrules inside and not outside.  I'll ask when I get my catalog from the guy Dale recommended.  It's on it's way.

   Lar

6. 
   Timberwerks | May 24, 2003 08:51pm | #11

   I think it could have to do with cost. It would take an extra machining step to turn down a section of the octaginal handle. Also some carvers feel an all wood handle is more comfortable. Interesting question though.

   Dale

7. 
   Lar55 | May 25, 2003 09:38pm | #12

   Dale - Good reply thanks!!!

3. 
   lwilliams | May 26, 2003 04:09am | #13

   I like my Pfeil chisels. The steel is good and the over-all thickness of the bodies of the chisels are more refined than Lamp Brand or Henry Taylor. The Pfeil chisels are thinner and shaped more like the carving chisels of earlier British and American carving chisels. These more refined bodies represent a time when the cost labor was less of an issue than it is today and when skilled grinders spent their working lives straddling grinding stones in places like Sheffield.

   There is another brand of chisels not yet mentioned here. Ashley Iles carving chisels are made from good steel and their shape more resembles earlier British chisels than those like Lamp Brand or Henry Taylor. Ashley Iles chisels available in America aren't quite as refined as the 19th Century British chisels but, I understand, those they sell in Germany (where wood carving is still a viable trade) have more refined bodies. I've been told Barry Iles, who owns Ashley Iles, is concerned about sending those more refined chisels to America where sharpness and carving finesse often give way to semi-sharp (or semi-maintained) and brute force. Still, the Ashley Iles chisels are a lot closer to what I'd want than the others.

   Now, I'm no great carver and would never dare to compare my work to Lee's but I do use carving chisels and like the bodies of my 18th and 19th Century carving chisels I have. I've even ground down my old Marples set I bought in the 70's to match the earlier ones. Not long ago I spent a couple days with another carver, Don McConnell, who's more of an equal to Lee and had some of my chisels with me. He looked at my ground down Marples chisels, grinned and produced early chisels that were near exact matches. He mentioned that Mack Headly suggests Ashley Iles chisels and talked about how they were nearly usable in spoon, back bend and others with tight bends. Don thought the Henry Taylor and other thicker bodied carving chisels required several hours of careful grinding to get functional.

   
   

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   Edited 5/25/2003 9:39:27 PM ET by Larry Williams

4. 
   Timberwerks | May 26, 2003 06:02am | #14

   Here is another brand I have not seen before today. The brand is Profi it looks as if they are made in the Czech Republic. They have an add in the latest Wood Carving Illustrated on page 18. You can order a catalog by Emailing [email protected]

   It looks as if they are a tang gouge with a very large contoured shoulder something like a carpenters chisel. They have an octagon handle looks tapered. I orderd a catalog and I think I may pick up a few and give them a try.

   Dale

1. 
   Byron | May 27, 2003 03:00am | #15

   Thanks to all of you for your information and advice.  I will use all of it to make my decision.  Thanks again for helping out a novice. 

   Byron

1. 
   Timberwerks | May 27, 2003 03:49am | #16

   Glad to help out. If you are new to carving the Nora Hall videos could be a great help if you don't have classes in your area.

   http://www.norahall.com

   Good Luck

   Dale