? about flexcut

[big dave]

I Have In The Last Year Bought 3 Or 4 Flex Cut V Tools And #11 Gouges, And Have Had The Cutting Edge Brake Or Chip On The V Tools And The #11 Just Will Not Hold An Edge,(flexcut Has Replacedthem One Time But The Ones They Replaced Them With Did The Same Thing) I Have Alot Of Flexcuts That I Got When They First Come Out And Most Have Never Even Had To Be Sharpened Just Buffed Or Stropped, I Talked To Another Carving Friend Who States He Has Had The Same Problem, I Was Just Wandering If Anybody Else Has Had This Happen Or Had Any Other Problems With Them

Thanks Big Dave

[CarverFromNoWhere]

I had a #9 9/16" gouge chip along the edge at this time I did not know Flexcut would replace them so I reground it on my Tormek and now it's fine. I have had a large V tool break, the 90 degree. Flexcut replaced said there was a flaw in the steel microstructure. I have more the 60 other Flexcut blades and tools and have not had any trouble with them at all. I did find one #11 that was mis aligned when it was forged Flexcut replaced it immediately and where very sorry that the tool had gotten past sorting.

So Big Dave your not alone
Carl

[Claude]

I had a couple chips happen to the edge of a 20mm #3 when I was using it with a mallet on some walnut, but after "grinding" it with sandpaper and re-stropping, it's fine now. Works great on basswood, so I may have been a bit aggressive when I was using it on the walnut. Other Flexcut chisels I used on the walnut were not affected...

Claude

[Eddy-Smiles]

I have over 25-Flexcut tools and generally only use them on soft woods like basswood, poplar and sweetgum. So far (knock on wood) I haven't experienced any problems.

[Bartster]

dave

i bought a brand new set of thumbnail #11 about 3 years ago and was using one of them and it broke right in the bottom of the sweep, i was able to regrind it and get it right but i tend to stay away from them.

bart

[Kenny_S]

Never say never but,,,, I haven't had any problems with the Flexcut tools I have. Now I have had problems with a couple Ramelson Tools being not gound correctly or one side of the V tools bevel different than the other side and a couple being really rough on the edges.

[Colin-Partridge]

Yes I have had problems with only the V Tools especially the SK models. I have had many chip or break off completly. Now be advised that I use them mostly for tree carvings for the detail. Usually it is when I try to cut across the end grain or go too deep when making a cut. Flexcut usually always replace them for me without any problems. They have advised me that if you use the entire length of the V then you put a lot of pressure on the edges of the blades and they are right. The weakest gouge has to be the V gouge because the blade has to be bent. Also if when you carve a pry the chip out before it has gone all the way through the cut it will break. I have done that from time to time not paying attention. When I do that I dont ask them for replacement when this happens because that is my own stupid fault and I dont blame the tool. I use Flexcut a lot and have for years, for the money they are a very good tool and I would be lost without them.
Colin