[rick-in-seattle]

I received a large box of tools to sharpen and included inside was a set of Buck Brothers
plastic-handled tools. This was my first real set of carving tools and probably one of the worst sets ever made.

They do have a fair temper, but they are roughly cast steel and overly thick.
At age twelve, there was no way I could get them sharp. Interesting the difference forty years makes.
Today I cleaned and polished them, reground and sharpened them into good useable tools without any problem.

It's heartbreaking to think how that twelve year old kid struggled to sharpen his tools with dad's round axe sharpening stone that must have been 60 grit.

Help a young carver if you can.

[Hi_Ho_Sliver]

Thats "True Grit" Rick! lol

[dryheat]

Rick, A bit of the history of these tools. In the mid 90’s I was taking a Windsor Chair making class from Mike Dunbar in Hampton, NH. After the class my wife and I were hitting the antique shops in NH & ME and I found a H. Gerstner Machinist Tool Box full of tools at a very reasonable price. The proprietor of the shop wanted me to buy these Buck carving tools too and as I was feeling a bit guilty about the price of the tool chest and tools, I thought “what the heck� they were only $5 so I bought them. At the time I had not tried any carving other than sharpening a pencil or pointing a stick. As you can tell I played around a bit trying to sharpen them but soon gave up and they went into a box with other assorted “stuff� a tool junkie accumulates. As I was gathering up tools I came across them and thought if any one could get the sharp it would be you and so I sent them along with the rest of my menagerie of tools. I plan to lend them out to people who want to try carving but don’t want to put any money into tools till they have tried carving a bit. Do you think that these tools are so bad that they might discourage would be carvers?

Thanks in advance for the great job I know you are doing on the tools.

[big_Wayne_P]

Do you remember those old round
stone wheels with a hole in the middle

you either turned them either by peddling like a bicycle
or some had a steel rod through the center and made like a crank handle
tht you had to crank to turn
Is that what you are describing Rick?

When I was little Mom and Dad both worked day shift in a textils mill
I stayed at my grandparents house during the day

I learned to sharpen knives on an old sharpening wheel like that
Papa had 1 with the crank handle

[Kenny_S]

I understand totally Rick, I was given a set of those Plastic handled Buck Bros gouges and have had the darnest time stropping them and keeping them sharp. They are still not as sharp as my other tools but are used anyway. My little granddaughter uses them when she comes over and we Have our carving date.

[rick-in-seattle]

Do you think that these tools are so bad that they might discourage would be carvers?

Dryheat,
They used to be, now even I could carve with them. Be very carefull with the spoon gouge, it moves very quickly through the wood.

Wayne,
The stone I used was a 4 inch diameter, palm held, dark gray, very rough stone for touching up axe blades.

Kenny,
I sent my set to Mexico with a missionary, but they could easily be made into useable tools (now).

[Kenny_S]

Yes, You are correct. As the way they were as a beginner, I had problems and kept at sharpening the Buck Bros tools. Being the only ones I had at first, I just struggled through. Now the Ramelsons and Flexcuts made my carving life better.


I agree, they are to thick but I still used them on occasion as I do like the spoon gouge. Guess they need to be shipped to you for sure.

Got another set that was given to me by my pastor and they came in a yellow shelf barcket and they are a little better than the BBs but still don't hold a candle to the Ramelsons or Flexcut. When I get some time, will box them up and send them to you for "Fixen".
Best to you.