Planning my first big carving project, after doing a few small pieces and practicing on some scraps.
The question is, whether there is a big difference between a set of carving chisels, low priced out of the Grizzly catalogue, and Robert Sorby, or something from Switzerland?
After a good sharpening session, won’t they all do the job equally well, or do they use low grade tool steel in the cheaper chisels, not allowing a true sharp edge?
Replies
Jellyrug
Several years back, my kids chipped in and bought me the carving tools from grizzly, without asking me about brand names I'd prefer. You know, fathers day surprise. I sharpened them all up on my tormek, and tried em out. They don't stay sharp very long, and they're more trouble than they are worth. I don't do much carving, but just enough to need a good set of chisels. I bought a 12 piece set of Swiss Made, and have been very happy. They are the ones at Woodcraft.
I'm gonna sell the grizzly set one of these days when I get around to it.
Jeff
Jellyrug,
Woodcraft is having a 20% off sale on their Swiss made chisles...starts Feb. 5 I think. Stay away from Taylors...crappy
Jelly,
My wife bought me a cheap set for a job and they lasted less than 2 hours in the shop. A young girl now finds them useful for polymer clay jewlery.
I finished the initial job with a set of six of the Pfiel "D" size which is about their smallest starter set and have progressively added as required for particular jobs. Dont forget, you still have your chisels and probably a good pocket knife to expand the set. These are swiss and, in Aus, as good as are available as well as economical.
My only other advice would be to get a dedicated set of sharpening gear and have it readily to hand when carving. you will need a very fine flat stone, a slip stone suitable for your tightest sweep and, most importantly, a strop. The swiss tools are good enough that my young kids (9&10) can carve using a maul onto hoop pine for about an hour just touching up on the strop before I have to use a stone. On the one occaision they have dropped a tool onto the floor i have been able to restore the edge easily.
These guys stock a goodset of stones and other kit at good local value and are easy to deal with. I am sure that there are closer dealera to you. http://www.mik.com.au/
I've only used the Swiss Made ones, but they are perfect. Compared to others I've seen, they are more refined in shape, and are better balanced. Also, they stay sharp for a decent amount of time. I also have a few antique cast steel tools that I picked up at flea markets. These are excellent tools. I avoided buying sets ,and let the work at hand dictate what I bought, now I have nearly 30 of them. For me, carving is enough of a pain without substandard tools.
Rob Millard
Carving tools are like all tools, when you buy cheap you end up buying them twice. Buy high quality in small numbers. As long as the carving is not to complex you could carve almost any job with about 5 tools. The more experienced you get the larger the collection gets. Its seems there is always just one more tool to buy. I really like Studbai (Austrian) but I can only find them on line, also use Dastra (German) and Pfeil (sp?) Swiss I think. The previous poster was right on about getting the right sharpening set up. Lots of good beginning carving classes out there and most of them teach you the best way to keep things sharp.
Hope this helps, Dennis
I am a new carver, having jsut finished my first 4 shell blockfront. Several years ago, knowing I wanted to learn to carve, I bought all of the carving tools of a retiring furn. maker, about 105 gouges, mostly on the smaller size, as he did period work. There are mostly Meier, with a few Addis. They are lighter weight than the Swiss made, which I also have a few of, and the steel is quite good, at least to me. I think I gave just under $10 for each, bought as a whole, and while it was expensive, I do not regret it, esp. now that I am really learing how to carve. I will post the blockfront desk when it is finished with finish, which I am now working on.
From the guys I met in a carving class, who were pretty experienced, there is a company in Canada which sells the Swiss ones for about 2/3 of the W-C price.Alan
http://www.alanturnerfurnituremaker.com
I'm in the process of pricing carving chisels. Do you have a name or website for the Canadian company you mentioned????
Thanks
Scott
http://www.kmstools.com/
A Canadian site that sells Pfeil carving tools.
Hope this helps,
Dave
About this time last year I found myself in the "monkey business", that is I had a couple of monkeys to carve so I bought a few of the power carving tools. Since woodworking is my only source of income, I figured anything I can do to get the job done faster without compromising the final outcome can pay for itself and make life easier.
A friend of mine had already given me one of those little power carvers which he had bought for about $20 which worked great for carving flutes in one green walnut turned vessel before it self destructed, but by then I had found how easy carving could be with the handset providing 20,000 taps per minute.
I ended up buying the automach brand after that. that unit sells for about $300 but it has paid for itself, and is a pleasure to use.
Dave;
Thanks for the website. The prices on Pfeil carving tools are about 30% LOWER than Woodcraft. Thanks for the info.
Scott
Anytime. I've purchased several chisels from them. They seem to have quite a selection of chisels and other tools.
Have fun,
Dave
I don't know how widely they are sold but the Woodcraft store and the Rockler in the Seattle area carry a brand called "Diobsud Forge". I have no interest in the business but I know the guy that hand forges these tools. They are superb!!
Regards,
Mack
"WISH IN ONE HAND, #### IN THE OTHER AND SEE WHICH FILLS UP FIRST"
I'm addicted to carving tools. I just got a cheep set of 8 yesterday for 14.95 silly but somtimes you get lucky. I use all kinds of tools. swiss, german, japanese. By far my favorite are very old buck brothers that I buy from on line auctions or antique stores. Not the new ones. They sharpen like razors and last longer.
If you ever find yourself in a WW'ing store that carries "Diobsud Forge" carving tools, I'd highly recommend you pick one up. If you do, I guarantee it won't be the last one you buy. They are not cheap but the steel and the edges are world class.
Regards,
Mack
"WISH IN ONE HAND, #### IN THE OTHER AND SEE WHICH FILLS UP FIRST"
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