Stubai tools

Can anyone comment on the edge retaining quality of Stubai carving tools,
even by comparison with other famous name tools? I have their bench chisels
and am very impressed with the quality of the steel.

Are there any really good U.S. made carving tools?

TIA all,

--
Alex - "newbie_neander" woodworker
cravdraa_at-yahoo_dot-com
not my site: http://www.e-sword.net/

On Fri, 9 Dec 2005 23:24:04 -0800, with neither quill nor qualm,
"AAvK" quickly quoth:


Can anyone comment on the edge retaining quality of Stubai carving tools,
even by comparison with other famous name tools? I have their bench chisels
and am very impressed with the quality of the steel.

Are there any really good U.S. made carving tools?

Here's the best list I've found for U.S. gouge mfgrs:
http://www.woodworkersdepot.com/1/Products/Tools/HandTools/Carving/carving.htm

I've heard good things, only praise, about the FlexCut tools, but I
haven't used any long enough to really tell. I'm still sold on Pfeil,
the Swiss-made gouges. I like them better than any Austrian, British,
U.S., or German gouges I've ever used. They're slower to sharpen but
much slower to dull, and they're not brittle. That seems to be a Brit
trait if wood-handled Marples gouges and Henry Taylor veiners are any
indication.


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On Fri, 9 Dec 2005 23:24:04 -0800, "AAvK" wrote:


Can anyone comment on the edge retaining quality of Stubai carving tools,
even by comparison with other famous name tools? I have their bench chisels
and am very impressed with the quality of the steel.

Are there any really good U.S. made carving tools?

TIA all,
Keeping in mind that I'm only a few months at woodcarving, I'll offer
my experience. I own 1 Stubai, a spoon gouge. No problems, holds a
great edge, and is the most expensive gouge I've purchased.
Ashley Isles, quick to a great edge but also quick to require honing
after use.
Pfeil/Swiss Made along with Dastra are my personal favorites but not
by a whole lot. Good edges and long lasting but both pricey. If you
opt for Pfeil, search the net for a Canadian retailer. Much less
costly than Woodcraft who appears to have exclusive US retail
privileges. In a nutshell, I'm not disappointed with any of the major
brands I own. I even have a few Ramelson which I use to practice my
sharpening techniques.

Here's the best list I've found for U.S. gouge mfgrs:
http://www.woodworkersdepot.com/1/Products/Tools/HandTools/Carving/carving.htm

I've heard good things, only praise, about the FlexCut tools, but I
haven't used any long enough to really tell. I'm still sold on Pfeil,
the Swiss-made gouges. I like them better than any Austrian, British,
U.S., or German gouges I've ever used. They're slower to sharpen but
much slower to dull, and they're not brittle. That seems to be a Brit
trait if wood-handled Marples gouges and Henry Taylor veiners are any
indication.


Sounds very good about the Pfiels actualy. I have had a little experience with
Henry Tailor steel, these were a new set of registered mortice chisels (thick
firmers). I spent serious time sharpening them when I got them new, tested the
cutting edge with a corner run on a block of doug fir and wound up with some
flat. No good! I returned them and got some sharpening stones. The Stubais are
awesome compared to that.

--
Alex - "newbie_neander" woodworker
cravdraa_at-yahoo_dot-com
not my site: http://www.e-sword.net/

TomL wrote:
If you
opt for Pfeil, search the net for a Canadian retailer.

Try http://www.carvers.ca/coffeehouse/Pfeiltools.html


--
Derek Andrews, woodturner

http://www.seafoamwoodturning.com
http://chipshop.blogspot.com - a blog for my customers
http://www.seafoamwoodturning.com/TheToolrest/ - a blog for woodturners

Keeping in mind that I'm only a few months at woodcarving, I'll offer
my experience. I own 1 Stubai, a spoon gouge. No problems, holds a
great edge, and is the most expensive gouge I've purchased.
Ashley Isles, quick to a great edge but also quick to require honing
after use.
Pfeil/Swiss Made along with Dastra are my personal favorites but not
by a whole lot. Good edges and long lasting but both pricey. If you
opt for Pfeil, search the net for a Canadian retailer. Much less
costly than Woodcraft who appears to have exclusive US retail
privileges. In a nutshell, I'm not disappointed with any of the major
brands I own. I even have a few Ramelson which I use to practice my
sharpening techniques.


I think that sounds as good as my Stubais for sure. And, I suspected as much
about the steel of the Ashleys, I think the UKers design their steel to wear out
faster so folks will be buying them again for that "Sheffield" name. How well
do the Ramelsons hold the edge?

--
Alex - "newbie_neander" woodworker
cravdraa_at-yahoo_dot-com
not my site: http://www.e-sword.net/

On Sat, 10 Dec 2005 16:22:31 -0800, "AAvK" wrote:


Keeping in mind that I'm only a few months at woodcarving, I'll offer
my experience. I own 1 Stubai, a spoon gouge. No problems, holds a
great edge, and is the most expensive gouge I've purchased.
Ashley Isles, quick to a great edge but also quick to require honing
after use.
Pfeil/Swiss Made along with Dastra are my personal favorites but not
by a whole lot. Good edges and long lasting but both pricey. If you
opt for Pfeil, search the net for a Canadian retailer. Much less
costly than Woodcraft who appears to have exclusive US retail
privileges. In a nutshell, I'm not disappointed with any of the major
brands I own. I even have a few Ramelson which I use to practice my
sharpening techniques.


I think that sounds as good as my Stubais for sure. And, I suspected as much
about the steel of the Ashleys, I think the UKers design their steel to wear out
faster so folks will be buying them again for that "Sheffield" name. How well
do the Ramelsons hold the edge?

They are not in the same league as the others.
FWIW, I recently took a Nora Hall class and she was very complimentary
about Sculpture House carving tools. I've never used them.
My experience with the current Henry Taylor/Acorn tools was not a
positive one. I returned them to the seller.

"AAvK" wrote in message
news:ynvmf.19$Zu5.3@fed1read03...

Can anyone comment on the edge retaining quality of Stubai carving tools,
even by comparison with other famous name tools? I have their bench
chisels
and am very impressed with the quality of the steel.

Are there any really good U.S. made carving tools?


Taking and holding an edge depends more on the angle of bevel and cut than
the steel in the tool. There aren't a lot of secrets in how to make and
forge carbon steel anymore, and the local impurities that made Mora,
Solingen, Sheffield and Kruppstahl different are now pretty much a thing of
the past. Wouldn't surprise me if the major makers bought from the same
supplier nowadays. Hardness equates to brittle, soft to tough, but most
tools are tempered within a fairly narrow range.

Preference is more from personal opinion than difference. Make your edges
blunter if you're going to do rough work, thinner for fine trims, and pay
attention to the depth of the bite and the angle of entry.

Only exceptions I know to this are the forge-welded steels in Swedish knives
and Japanese chisels.

Helvie is a well known and respected maker of carving knives. They are
hand made in Tipton Indiana. Check them out.
http://sharp-stuff.com/catalog/index...8f0 32b9330cc.
You may have to copy paste this link. Or just go to
www.sharp-stuff.com and search for Helvie. These are the best prices
you will find on the net. $30.50.

Thanks, can't bring up 'sharp stuff' on the 'net anywhere. And... I want mallet tools,
not knives bro... 'preciate it though.

--
Alex - "newbie_neander" woodworker
cravdraa_at-yahoo_dot-com
not my site: http://www.e-sword.net/