[missioni]

I have some flexcut tools that I want to get rid of, some people swear by them I swear at them
There is nothing wrong with them they just do not work with my carving style. Instead of collecting dust in my studio hopefully someone can use them.

Here is what I have
Palm set FR404 list $60.00 Picture -
MC303 #3 3/4" Mallet Tool list $25.00
MC209 #9 1/4" Mallet Tool list $24.00
MC208 #8 7/16" Mallet Tool list $23.50

If any of you are interested you can have them all for $100 (thats $32.50 less than retail) and what ever it cost to ship them. First come first serve.

Thanks
Dale

[hobbyjack]

What is the latest status on the Flexcut tools?

[twoclones]

Seems like l'm not the only one unhappy with Flexcut. I have more than a dozen mallet tools which I'll be trying to sell soon. They're pretty nice tools but Flexcut doesn't make a very broad selection.

Butch

[Revlis]

Well I just got my first Flexcut Palm tool last night in the mail and I gotta say I like it. It may lack some of the feel and finish of the Diobsud Forge, or Pfeil but it certainly doesn't lack in usefulness or cutting ability. I'm impressed with how well it motors through Mahogany.

I can see where their long handled or mallet tools could be a problem with the black finish rubbing off, and flexcut lacking in desired tool profile, but I get the distinct impression that there is a good bit of unwarranted tool "Snobism" out there when it comes to Flexcut. Well that and I can see not liking the "Flex" in Flexcut.

Too often I think tools/ machines get scapegoated. I see it a lot in the motorcycling community, a similar thought process. The that "That Guy is faster than I am because of X". X of course being his motorcycle having more horsepower, or being newer, lighter etc. Similar kind of thing happens with tools, and I am just as guilty as anyone, it's just much easier for imperfect results to be some short coming with the tool instead of within ourselves. So the obvious solution is to buy a more expensive/better tool, be it motorcycle, carving tool, digital camera etc.

Just may not be the case all the time, while I am a fan of good stuff, and I like quality tools I have no misconceptions about who's to blame when a project or a piece doesn't turn out just right, and 99% of the time it's not the tool, it's the tool holding the tool.

I see a lot of crap produced out there in the world by folks with the best tools money can buy, a superior shop, I also see a lot of wonderful work done by a guy with a freaking pocket knife.


Anyhoo early morning coffee kicked in... It's another perfectly cloudy day here in the Northwest, going to need lots of Coffee...

[twoclones]

Originally Posted by Revlis

...I get the distinct impression that there is a good bit of unwarranted tool "Snobism" out there when it comes to Flexcut. Well that and I can see not liking the "Flex" in Flexcut.

Snobbery aside, when it comes to mallet tools, Flexcut is just scratching the surface with their selection. For example:
Flexcut makes 4 sizes of #1 chisel while Dastra makes 17 sizes of #1.

Fact is that Flexcut does not make more than 5 sizes of any mallet tool profile. And don't even dream of buying a Flexcut bent, back bent or spoon mallet tool. They aren't made.

Nice tools, terrible assortment.


Butch

[redbird46]

Revlis, wait a minute while I get another sip of my coffee. There now I'm ready too! I have to say I agree with you completely. While a lot of us (including me!) are concerned with getting the finest/sharpest tools,etc. When you see real talent you realize that tool obsession is overkill. I have been fortunate to study under Harold Enlow and his homemade wooden tool box is full of homemade tools he made himself....... did you know you can talke the ribs off an old umbrella and make a super u-gouge?? The metal is tempered spring steel and takes a great edge after you use a propane torch to turn the edge a dull red and quench in transmission fluid. Also different umbrellas have different size ribs too. Harold even makes his own knife from old two-man crosscut saws and they cut teriffic. All that being said, your comment about what can be done with talent is right- Harold could take a butter knife from your kitchen and put an edge on it and carve a masterpiece! I'm sure there are many more super-talented folks that can do that too and there are a few on here like Mark and Lynn who don't need the "special" tools just to create! They may have them but they could do with less!
Norb

[Clifford_Parker]

I would be interested but I already donated my flexcuts to the local carving club years ago because they didn't fit my style either.

[twoclones]

Speaking of home made tools, yesterday I saw an assortment of home made adzes. Some were made from Flexcut mallet tool blades screwed to a curved handle and they'd all been well used.

[Plain_Ol_Ed]

What makes flexcuts desireable for some makes them undesireable to others. For example the handle shape, but most of all the lack of stability due to the flexing of the tool. It's a feature for some and a design flaw for others. It all depends on what you expect from a tool.

[Revlis]

Originally Posted by twoclones

Snobbery aside, when it comes to mallet tools, Flexcut is just scratching the surface with their selection. For example:
Flexcut makes 4 sizes of #1 chisel while Dastra makes 17 sizes of #1.

Fact is that Flexcut does not make more than 5 sizes of any mallet tool profile. And don't even dream of buying a Flexcut bent, back bent or spoon mallet tool. They aren't made.

Nice tools, terrible assortment.


Butch

If their mallet tools have the same parkerized type of coating and basic construction as their palm tools I could certainly see them being a bit off. Selection wise from what you've said it sounds like they have a long way to go as well, I was mostly referring to their palm tools though .

I'm certainly not pointing fingers and saying someone is being a tool snob, especially when I tend to be a tool snob myself. Hell I caught myself doing it some hand tools the other day, I am barely qualified to change the oil on my car, but I sure did want the Snap-On socket set more than the less expensive Craftsman set... it's the way I'm wired unfortunately.

With the wood carving though it really is something that I will likely be doing for the rest of my life, so I don't mind spending money for quality stuff, problem is that I had gotten the impression that FlexCut wasn't quality from folks here and on other forums. Seems that saying Flexcut isn't as pretty, or isn't as fancy might be a better way to put it. I was pleasantly surprised by the effectiveness of the gouge I got. Though as I mentioned I can see the Flex in Flexcut not being liked by folks.