what do you think about this set?

hi everybody, I'd like to start carving wood and looking for a set to begin with. I've read previous posts but I'm from Italy and I'm looking for some vendor in europe.
I've find this set at a reasonable price:
http://makeashorterlink.com/?C65C260C8
what do you think about?
thanks

Andrea

ps. I apologize for my poor english....

[Hi_Ho_Sliver]

I think your english is fine, hard to tell about those tools from a picture....you should probably talk to some local woodcarvers and see what they think..I posted on general carving about getting tools that are sharp to begin with....I know you are in Italy, but you might want to talk to Rick at Little Shavers....postage is not a big deal in comparison to getting the wrong tools and having to re-buy another set! Good Carving!

I have six or eight of those particular tools. They take a good edge and hold it well. Downside is the handles are rather smallish and the blades (shanks?) are rather short so you can't get into some tight spaces. My assessment is they are a quality tool but with a poor design which limits their usefullness. In short, I'd not recommend them as a first set.

Dick's is also a large well known tool store in Germany, I'm sure you will not have any problems dealing with them.

Your English is much better then my Italian

thanks guys!
let me make another question...
if you'll have to chose between this set:
http://makeashorterlink.com/?Y235333C8
http://makeashorterlink.com/?O285453C8
http://makeashorterlink.com/?L1C5213C8
witch can be better? ???

thanks again!

Andrea

[AlArchie]

Andrea, I'd DEFINITELY go with the Pheil Swiss Made brands. I have quite a few of these, and they are excellent quality tools. I have not tried the Japanese tools, but they sound like they will need a lot of work to get the edges where you need theem. Swiss Made need just a little stropping and are ready to go. I purchased a set of large fishtail gouges from AMT several years ago that were of Chinese manufacture. I was extremely disappointed in these tools until I spent about an hour or more on each, regrinding the bevels, and about that much time each honing and polishing the edges. Since then I have been very well pleased. They are of good quality steel and have served me very well, but for a beginer carver I would recommend tools that come pretty well designed and sharpened right from the manufacturer.

It looks like the Swiss Made are the better choice of these three. I would also suggest that you buy a set that is designed for the type of carving you plan on doing. These companies offer different sets for different styles of carving. Once you have your basic set, you can then buy only the individual tools you need as your skill level develops.

Hope this helps.

Al

[Hi_Ho_Sliver]

there are a lot of people more qualified to answer that question than me, but my opinion for what it is worth is to go for the pfeil....however, they are not sharpened, at least the one I bought...buy from someone that will sharpen and hone for you!

What style or kind of carving do you plan on doing? It will have a great influence and whether any of those tools would be right for you.

[Captain_Bandaid]

No question, go with the Swiss Made. Your country is right next door to Switzerland, you know what kind of quality you can expect. Don't buy the Chinese tools, PLEASE! A few more Euros and you can have high quality tools that you will use for many years.

Andrea - Before you buy anything, make sure the tools you buy will suit the carving you intend to do. The Swiss Made are good tools, but they are the intermediate (euro) size and the selection is not ideal for many styles of carving. I can't think of very many times where I've used and 1 mm veiner or a 2 mm parting tool. As Capt. B..A.. recommended, don't get the chinese tools, I have some of those and they are good tools, but need a lot of work to put them into carving condition, plus the socketed handles are on the heavy side. As for the Crowns, am not familiar with the brand at all.