Any use MHG Tools from Hartville

borderline · #1 12-06-2005, 11:41 AM

I am considering purchasing some MHG gouges from Hartville tool. Does anybody have any experience with these? Are the good enough tools to try out. I will be getting a couple of Pfeil and Stubai along with the MHG (If anyone thinks they are any good.) to see which ones I like the best, then I will fill out the rest of the tools with the that brand.

I have searched for any opinions on this site and others and have found very little information (Perhaps these are relatively new tools).

Thanks for any opinions and advice you might have.

P.S. I am very new to all of this and have purchased a starter set and a few other gouges from Rick. I have made several "Test" carvings to get a feel for it and have decided I definetly need the larger (Longer) tools.

Chuck

carver6 · #2 12-06-2005, 05:17 PM

I've never heard of MHG tools. That doesn't mean they or not good tools. You can usually depend on the old adage "You get what you pay for". I've seen some cheapo tools that held a decent edge and some that were not worth carrying out of the store. Maybe someone else is familiar with MHG tools. Guess I'm not much help so unless someone else has a better opinion, just wing it.

Garon

borderline · #3 12-06-2005, 05:28 PM

Garon, thanks for the reply. Actually the MHG tools are comparable in cost to the others (Stubai, Pfeil, Two cherries) and I have heard good things about their chisels. They are a German company and it looks like Hartville tool is the only US dist. (http://www.hartvilletool.com/category/816) I am following the advice by Chris Pye, and trying several different brands of gouges. It looks like I may just stick with Stubai and Pfeil for now until there is more of a track record on the MHG.

Thanks again.

Chuck

rick-in-seattle · #4 12-06-2005, 07:22 PM

Chuck,
While I am not familar with MGH tools, their line of tools is extensive and that tells me they have been in business for some time.
The prices are competitive with other brands, so it will be a matter of personal preference.

I think you will be purchasing a quality tool; I also respect Chris Pye and his opinions.

Heine · #5 12-08-2005, 03:49 PM

Hello,

I suspect the MHG tools are made by one of the major carving tool companies in Germany. MHG appears to be a house brand like the Lamp brand that Wood Carvers Supply sells. They appear to be similiar to Two Cherries, but I do not know for sure.

For full size carving tools, my choice would be Stubai. Thew tools are of the highest quality, and require only minimal honing right out of the box. They shape their tools with the wings swept back a bit, so you can twist the tool to make holes, and the wings do not drag during delicate work.

Ivan Whillock is one of the premier carvers in the USA, and he would not have brought these here if they were not of the highest quality. Like Rick at Little Shavers, and many others, the Whillock family is a pleasure to do business with.

Holidays,
Dan heine

borderline · #6 12-08-2005, 04:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Heine

Hello,

Ivan Whillock is one of the premier carvers in the USA, and he would not have brought these here if they were not of the highest quality. Like Rick at Little Shavers, and many others, the Whillock family is a pleasure to do business with.

Holidays,
Dan heine

Dan, I will be taking a trip to rockler to use a 25% coupon on the 5 piece Stubai set. I looked up Ivan Whillock to see what they offer and did not see that they sell the tools themselves. What do you purchase from them, and do you have a link to access their Store?

Thanks for the information
Chuck

Hi_Ho_Sliver · #7 12-08-2005, 05:58 PM

send an email thru carving magazine to Marnie Whillock, her brother sells Stubai I am pretty sure....Also Marsha Berkal sells, she is registered here but don't know how often she comes in.........Might check with Rick...he may sell them too!

Paul_Guraedy · #8 12-08-2005, 06:52 PM

A search of the internet came up with the following

MHG Tools - Quality For Professionals
MHG Messerschmidt GmbH of Germany has quickly established itself as one of the top chisel manufacturers in the world. MHG chisels are forged, hardened, and machined to demanding German DIN manufacturing standards from top quality German Chrome-Vanadium steel. Quite uniquely, MHG is making chisels for the American market in true imperial (fractional) sizes. To our knowledge these are the only German made chisels offered this way. Of course we will continue to make metric sizes available to the market as well. In addition to their wide range of chisels, MHG also manufactures professional carving tools, and has many other products in development. For more information about MHG and their high quality products you can visit their website at http://www.mhg-tools.de/indexe.html.

Sounds like this is a good line of tools. It has been my experience that if you stay with the recognized brands pfeil, stubai, two cherries, henry taylor, etc. you can't go too far wrong. Probably would be best to concentrate on the cost of the tool being offered. I have tools from all of the above plus flex cut and a few others. I have more flex cut than any other single brand; but, am gradually replacing them with one of the others named. Flex cut has good tools and have served me very well and I can't say exactly why I reach for the others first. Because of price (I have been saving $5-$10 per tool), I find that I am acquiring more swiss made (pfeil) than any of the others. But, of the others, I really can't tell much difference as far as honing, holding an edge, etc. Henry taylor does seem to be a little thicker in some of their tools and I think a little more cumbersome to use.

rick-in-seattle · #9 12-08-2005, 06:55 PM

This is Ivan Whillock's site:

http://www.whillock.com/

This is the site for Ivan's son Chris:

http://www.stubaidirect.com/

This is the site for Ivan's daughter Marnie:

http://marniewhillock.com/

Please note; When I give the address to a site, it is not a recommendation or endorsement.

borderline · #10 12-09-2005, 10:07 AM

WOW, you folks are amazing. Beleive me that I tried finding this information on the web and failed. Between all of you on this forum, the books I am reading (currently the Chris Pye collection) and my recently ordered collection of back issues of this magzine, I hope to some day actually improve in my carving and even be of some help to others here (If I can ever nail down this whole sharpening thing).

Thanks for all of your help.

Chuck