[AlArchie]

Just got back from the hardware store, and they had a set of Buck Brothers carving tools on sale for $39.95.

Back in the late 60's when I worked in hardware, Buck Brothers produced some very fine tools, so I took a look at them. First glance showed acrylic handles (ok, no major drawback in and of itself) and what looked like cast steel shanks and extremely thick blades. The bevels were ground to what looked like 30 degree or steeper angles, and had heavy grinding marks on all the bevels. Maybe the shanks and blades were not cast, but they were extremely thick with vewry coarse grinds.

If any new carvers are thinking of getting these sets, I'd highly recomend against it. It may be able to regrind these to a reasonable cutting angle, but it would take an awful lot of work, and you'd still be left with a very thick, heavy blade. Even if the steel is of good quality, you're in for a disappointment.
What happened to the original Buck Brothers?
Is Stanley going the same way?

Al

[Plain_Ol_Ed]

What happened to the original Buck Brothers?

Beats me, but the tools sure aren't the same. Some of my favorite tools are the old Buck Bros. Took one look at the new ones when Home Despot had them and almost died.

[Kenny_S]

My set of Buck Bros are old but still has the acrylic handles, thick blade and shaft. Of course, I loaned them out and got them back in less condition than when I loanedthem. Some Gorilla ground them on a grinder and may have ruined them. I said it before, I need to send them off to Rick.

[Plain_Ol_Ed]

Kenny, the really od Buck Bros have wooden handles.

[Kenny_S]

I believe you! The set I got is roughly 15 years old and I don't know how long the person had them before me. Can;rt ask as He past away a couple of years ago.
I know they will take some punishment as the Gorilla I loaned them to did enough punishment on them. Need I say, I haven't loaned him anything since.

Thanks ed for the info on the OLD Buck Bros. Gouges.

[cerndog]

I too have the set from Home Depot and with the exception of the two straight chisels (which took some work to sharpen) you could carve wood easier with a rock from your driveway. I got a giftcard for christmas and bought the tools to regrind them and alter them for an odd project or two. The bevel angle is almost 90 degrees!

mc

[dart]

I saw the Buck Brothers Carving set at Home Depot today. They look bulky. Just $29.95 plastic handles too I don't think I'd want this set. They look pretty crudely made.

[ElWoodTroll]

My brother n law gave me a set of them after he saw me using his lathe tools to carve a totem. I used them while carving The Wiz (stump carving). Afterwards (thinking I might want more) I googled Buck Bros which led me to this post (and my first contact with WoodCarving Illustrated)
My First Carving Tools - Revisited
Regrinding to 20 degrees didn't do much to improve their performance.

[Ron Davidson]

Here is a set of Grizzly's that a friend gave me. The angles seem to be too steep for me compared to my other chisels and gouges. I think I will send them to Rick and see what he thinks.
Ron

[Plain_Ol_Ed]

Ron, Could you post a picture of one of the straight gouges. The tool you showed is a specialized tool and it's really hard to tell bevel angles on it. From what I can tell the angle doesn't appear too bad, but the profile of the heel could use some work. Be interesting to see what Rick says about the set in general.