[wchips]

Hi every one
I need some opinions.
Do you think i could use the flexcut chisels, sweeps veeners ect. without handles. designed for palm handles for mallet chisels if i bought the adaptor for power carving and built my own handle around it for mallet chisels? Do you think they would stand up to the extra impact a mallet would exert on them? .
Have a nice day Lee

[Hi_Ho_Sliver]

they aren't designed for mallet use....and even with power, because of the thin edge, you have to be careful or you will ding them. imho

[Claude]

At the risk of being considered persona non gratis, I'm going to have to disagree with Hi Ho. I just bought the $180 set of flexcut chisels that comes with a removable handle, a removable handle for use with a mallet, and some other stuff. I suspect it's not appropriate to use a large heavy mallet and try to cut major amounts of wood off a walnut log, but they do provide a handle for use with a mallet...

Claude

[Hi_Ho_Sliver]

If I understood his question right, he is talking about the palm set that you also use with the power ie ryobi.etc etc...

[mdallensr]

I have a set of the Flex-cut gouges for my Ryobi. They do well for their intended use, but I can't imagine getting those small parts tight enough in a handle to take serious mallet blows. OTOH, I never tried to do it, so maybe it works.

[photodog]

I tried the same thing on some pine 4x4's I was experimenting on carving faces in. Thought I'd save a few bucks.
Cracked the blade on two of my little V's
$35 mistake.
Use the right tool for the right task.
Dan

[Kenny_S]

Peronally, I wouldn't use them with mallets. They are not made for mallets. The are made from spring steel and thin steel at that.
Kind of like using a mallet with a pocket knife. Or a kife as a screw driver. First thing taught to young boys is a knife is a tool for cuting, not for playing or used as a pry bar ot screw driver.
Story about a uncle of mine and I will make it short.

My uncle never listened to anyone in his life. He did his own thing and danced to a different tune than normal people did.
When he was a teenager, back before the Civil War, he was using a knife as a pry bar to get some lead out of a tree he just shot. he pried and pried and finally, the lead chunk came loose but not befor he broke the end of the knife blade off and the knife end went into his eye. It was his shooting eye at that.

He had to give up shooting as he couldn't see very good out of the other eye.
But his nick name stuck with him the rest of his life.
Dumba$$ Herman!

Well that is the story my Grandpappy told me before the Civil War.

[wchips]

Thank you all for the input on the flexcut chisels. I guess i woll have to brake down and buy some mallet chisels. Did anyone ever buy chisels on Ebay? I am a little leary about some of those tools they sell on ebay
Have a nice day Lee

[wade clark]

I've bought tons of tools on ebay. Read everything they say and check their feedback; if their feedback is less than oh, about 100%, read the complaints against them and then decide whether you can trust them or not. Sometimes Folks get a negative from an idiot, sometimes they deserve them too. But weigh the feedback and go with your instincts. I'd suggest finding a brand you like and collecting it a piece or so at a time. Mixing brands is just fine too, but it sure makes a nice looking set to collect one brand.
If you get one someone really screwed up sharpening or chipped, send it to Rick at Little Shavers and he can make it right.
Wade
p.s. there's a set of Ashley Iles gouges on ebay right now. Check both "Iles" and "Isles" in your search as people commonly assume it should be Isles, but it is a last name, Iles. They're what I collect. Excellent tools! New they range from $26 to $64 depending on size and complexity to make. I tell myself I won't pay over half, usually, but once in a while I'll pay above retail if I really want it--they're not easy to come by! Good luck!

[arbarnhart]

I have the small Flex Cut set and a Weecher reciprocating carver along with the Flex Cut adapter to use the blades in the Weecher. It works quite well and the little blades will hog some wood. You do have to exercise care and don't pry with them or get them embedded. The way the Weecher works is to "hit" them often but not hard.