[Just Carving]

Not a word. Doesn't say much for customer service.

Bob L

[Tucson Bill]

Has anyone actually gotten their hands on one of these tools yet? If so, what do you think?

I got Mark Gargac's tutorial on carving a wood spirit and I need to order a few gouges. These seem like a good way to go providing the quality is ok.

[sbirkes]

I have one of the gouges and it seems OK. Haven't used it long enough to know how the edge will hold up.

I spent the week in Branson carving. There was a carver there working on a life sized bust that had 6 of the MasterCarver gouges. I talked to him a bit. He said they were holding an edge very well. He had carved quite a bit and was pleased. He did say that one gouge was loose on the handle but had never came off. So we don't know how long the tang is or how it is affixed.

I'm going to be ordering a few more and but won't be using them for a month or so.

[Mottles]

Hi folks I'm still waiting for my the #5-40mm MasterCarver Gouge from Wood Carvers Supply, Inc. In there defense I did receive on 2-19-08 a letter from them letting me know my gouge was on backorder.

I haven't heard anything further, but plan to give them a call on Monday, March 10th.

I have ordered other things from Wood Carvers Supply and had really good service. Sounds like they are at the mercy of this manufacturer. I will post again when my gouge arrives.

Kathy

[Mottles]

Hi folks:


Spoke with Tim in customer service at Wood Carvers Supply, Inc. who returned my call of 3-10-08. Tim informed me that the manufacturer of the MASTERCARVER HAND FORGED TOOLS have push back the delivery date to them again.

Wood Carvers Supply are looking at approximately mid-April for delivery to them. Tim informed me that the next largest mm available in stock is 25mm in the #5. There are other sizes including 25mm in stock, so best to call them and check. Here is for orders 1-800-284-6229 (Florida) for questions 1-941-460-0123 number www.woodcarverssupply.com

I decided, to leave my gouge on backorder to assure I still will get one when they arrive at Wood Carvers Supply.

I did place another order I've been wanting one and it's in stock a heat activated transfer tool. Our club is making small carvings for our various demonstrations as handouts to children. This will cut down the hand drawing and make the process faster. I've seen these in use by one of our chip carvers in our club and they really work great.

I found, Tim to be very courtious and informative. As I mentioned earlier I have purchased products from these folks before and had good service.

Kathy

[Tucson Bill]

I Recently ordered 8 of the MasterCarver gouges from Woodcarver's Supply. Yesterday I received 7 of the gouges (1 was backordered).

Image 1 shows the ones I received. They are (from left to right) #7-16mm, #7-20mm, #3-20mm, #5-30mm, #5-20mm, #9-12mm and finally a #8-6mm.

An initial inspection showed that 4 of the 7 tools were noticably loose in the socket. In fact, I was easily able to remove the handle from the #8-6mm gouge. The handles appear to be simply glued into the tool socket with what appears to be something on the order of hot glue. There is no internal tang. This tool is shown in Image 2.

3 of the tools were ground such that the cutting edge was not square with the longitudinal axis of the tool. the most noticable was the #7-16mm tool which is shown in Image 3.

Most of the tools do not seem to be ground very well. Image 4 shows the #9-12mm. Look at the left side of the cutting edge. There is a definite high spot there. It does not show that well in the photo but is quite noticeable.

A couple of the tools have burrs left on the barrel from the casting process. The one on the #5-20mm is large enough and sharp enough to cause a small cut. It would have to be filed off.

All of the tools seem to be nice and sharp even though the polishing and buffing leave a little to be desired. Cannot say anything about edge holding since I have not actually used them.

Overall, on a scale of 1 to 10 with Pfiel being a 10, I would rate these tools at about a 7.

I ordered the tools on March 6. I received an email from Woodcarvers Supply stating they had shipped on the 7th. I waited the proper amount of time and then called Woodcarver's Supply. They stated on the phone that the tools had shipped on the 7th via UPS. I asked for a tracking number and according to UPS they actually shipped on the 11th. I received them on the 18th.

According to the catalog, they have a 100% money back guarantee. Guess I will test that!

[Donald K. Mertz]

Tuscon Bill, I hope that after you actually use MasterCarver tools, hand forged in China, that you will be more than pleased with their carving ability. They are hand forged, meaning that they have some "roughness" about them and a little glue will hold the handle in the socket. After you buff them and start carving with them you, I think, will be amazed at how they slice and carve, by hand powered and mallet powered. I dearly love all sixty of these tools and for me they carve just as well as Stubai, Pfiel, Henry Taylor, Dastra, Harmen (now Ramelson) Sculpture House and Flex Cut of which I have many, because I have a sickness about tools: "One is plenty, two is enough and three is never enough," and in reality, the proof of the tool is in the carving, not how they look, but any way, give MasterCarver tools a try and besides, they are affordable.

[rick-in-seattle]

Check out these custom made replacement handles.
Wood Chisel Handle - Custom Fit Replacement! - eBay (item 380004852377 end time Apr-08-08 10:55:28 PDT)


Actually a pretty good deal.

[VAwoodcarver]

The price of these tools is so inexpensive.

[Tucson Bill]

Well. I ended up sending the MasterCarver gouges back for a refund. In the meantime I heard about a 50% off sale of some American made tools at carve4less.com (a divison of Mountain Woodcarvers in Estes Park, CO). I called up Skylar Johnson (the owner) and talked to him about the tools at some length. Finally orderd 4 gouges from him and had them in my hot little hands in 4 days. I have to admit, I am impressed. A lot cheaper then the MasterCarver and much better quality. I have only had a chance to use them for less than an hour, but so far they cut like a knife through butter, and seem to hold the edge very well. By the way, the tools are not sharpened at the factory, but Skylar will sharpen them for $1 per tool. Well worth the money! They do not have the cosmetics of Swiss made, but so far they perform just as well.