I am a newcomer to carving and am most interested in relief type carving. I am planning to buy some carving tools and I would like some help deciding what brand to buy. I am concidering Flexcut or some of the more traditional types of carving tools. Are the flexible shanks really of much help? Do they bend if you are using a mallet? Thanks, Charlie

[Captain_Bandaid]

Charlile, I am a tradionalist and was very skeptical of a flexible shaft. However, I tried one and, although it was a palm tool, it performed as advertised. The tools are just about as expensive as the traditional hand forged, rigid shaft tools from Europe so any advantage has to be in performance, which means something different for every carver. As far as the mallet tools go, the shaft design inhibits bending when the tool is hit straight on. The carver must exert a bending moment on the shaft prior to hitting it to use the flex and that may take some experience.

They make tools that fit the Ryobi too.I like them
better than the tools that come with the Ryobi.