Chinese Tools?

[Donsexton]

Do any of you have those Chinese made tools that Wood Carvers Supply sales, the price is very good? They have the socket style handles instead of a tang style and all appear to be fishtail. What do you think of the quality of the tools?

[Tom Ellis]

In most cases Don, The price is a good indication of the quality. I tell people to buy fewer tools, but buy ones of great quality.

Tom

[Just Carving]

If you're referring to the Mastercarver hand tools, then click on the 2 links below for info. previously posted on them:

Mastercarver mini hand push tools

New Master carver hand tools, how are they?

Bob L

[mateo]

I have the sculpture and detail sets. I like these tools, in fact some are great. But a few fell short of my expectations, mostly with the detail set. There is also a little deception in advertising. They advertise the socket detail set tools as 9 1/2" long when in fact they are 8 3/4. They also say that the width's begin at 2 mm. The smallest tool in the roll I received was 4mm and it was much smaller than the others.
The sockets come loose from the handle on some of my sculpture tools, no problem, pull the socket off and take a lighter to the glue on the handle for a few seconds and jam it back into the socket, whack it with the mallet and back to carving. I've used these tools to carve large and small and in some very hard woods and most of them stood up and did the job quite well.

I wont make a recommendation. Mostly because i feel there's some inconsistency in quality from these people. your set might not be anything like mine.

And no, they're not going to feel as good as your Henry Taylors.

[Donsexton]

Thank you guys that is helpful. I am considering them. I am working in India and away from my huge collection of Henry Taylor tools. If I do get them I will use them here and give them away when I come home.

[davidinsarasota]

What kind of weird wood do they have there in India, Don ?

[mateo]

Ha! wood carvers all think alike. I was wondering that to, David. We expect you to file a full report, Don.

[Donsexton]

Wood here in India that I have been given by my workers so far is teak hard as dry white oak heavy and dense its deep brown with dark streaks and mango wood it looks a little like mahogany to me and is not as hard as mahogany more open grain should be fine for stylized carvings. I have a small chunk of black wood its so dense it sinks in water they say it’s a bush that has small berries its harder than rock maple will wait for my power tools on it.

[Dennis Taylor]

did not read all the replies, but the cheap set, I think is on sale now at Woodcraft.... Woodworking Plans & Tools | Fine Woodworking Project & Supplies at Woodcraft for $3.99, I have the set, and I got it on sale for 14.00 awhle back, you might check out the site, how wrong can you go for that $$$$$....Dennis

[SeanMcD]

Originally Posted by Dennis Taylor

did not read all the replies, but the cheap set, I think is on sale now at Woodcraft.... Woodworking Plans & Tools | Fine Woodworking Project & Supplies at Woodcraft for $3.99, I have the set, and I got it on sale for 14.00 awhle back, you might check out the site, how wrong can you go for that $$$$$....Dennis

Looks like the $3.99 price is for a single tool, the 3mm #9 gouge. The picture in the clearance section is a little deceiving since it shows the whole set, but clicking it links to the section with all the Power Grip tools.