[chuckt]

I think the very difficult thing is that it isn't always easy to determine what is quality versus NOT quality. Price is not always an accurate indicator though in general I do think you get what you pay for. There are so many variables and so many different types of tools that can all potentially achieve an objective with varying levels of effort, that it can get VERY confusing.

The toughest thing for anyone entering into a new activity like carving, is getting a feel for all of these variables and thus it seems that the chorus of voices will tell you . . . go slow, buy only what you need when you need it so that you don't waste lots of money on things that you don't need or don't work well for you. The wisdom in that advice is pretty hard to argue with.

That is why boards like this are valuable. You can get lot's of advice from lot's of knowledgeable people who have been there and done that. Though sometimes the plethora of opinions - all from good & knowledgeable folks can also lead to a "which voice do I listen to" challenge. Carving, and tools, and sharpening all seem to be very personal with a range of answers from inexpensive to expensive (scary sharp shaprening vs. Jool Tool for example, or Amt vs. Henry Taylors vs. Pfiel vs. Stubai, or Poulon vs Stihl) and the folks who advocate each are all "right" for their usage. I think it actually has more to do with experience and skill in using the chosen tool, and understanding that tool's limitations and how to work with them or around them. And that . . . isn't something you can buy or read. <sigh>

So that's where getting together with skilled folks in a local club, or visiting experienced folks and observing or having them observe you and point things out can really help you up the learning curve. At least that's my hope. <grin>

So there's this newbies take on it. That's my story and I'm sticking with it (for now). <grin>

!
ChuckT

[AlArchie]

Chuck you got me thinking about my last reply, and I hope it didn't sound like I was advocating buying cheap tools. What I was trying to get across was that "high price" vs "low price" isn't always a good determiner of quality. I still think the best wat to select and purchase tools of any kind is to go to a supplier that has tools in stock, take them in your hands and see how you like them before you by. Some stores even have an area where you can actually try the tool out before buying.

Even if you can get a hands on purchase, a lot of the personal preferences you will hear depend a lot on how the individual likes the "look" of a tool, along with the feel. I happen to like the look and heft of the finely finished Ashley Isles tools as opposed to the standard finish of the Henry Taylor tools. That look has absolutely NOTHING to do with how the tools carve, but it's an asthetic thing that works the mind more than the hand. I also have quite a few Henry Taylor tools and use them frequently (as I do several other brands), and like them all.

It ain't quite as bad as selecting a spouse, and if you stray to a different brand, you don't have to worry about divorce lawyers!

Al

[Anda G]

This is a very informative thread. Thank you all!

I bought a "quality" set Made in China real cheap. They need to be ground and honed. I now am at the beginning and need to buy real quality, ready-to-use tools. I'll need to buy them one at a time, so I can eat.

Andagail

[chuckt]

Nope - I didn't take it that way at all Al. Sounds like you and I are in complete alignment here. When I posted I was responding in many ways based on Lynn's post and it got me to thinking that depending perhaps on what you're carving, some folks (like Lynn) can do AMAZING things with you're basic "Old Reliable" box cutter that others can't do with a fancy $50 carving knife. Some folks in other parts of the world do some amazing carvings with hand made tools crafted from nails, or any piece of steel that they can get ahold of, that folks here with the best tools available aren't able to do. The difference is not the tool, but the skills of the carver.

That said - I agree with you that since I have the means I find an nice tool much more inspiring to work with than the box cutter. But for folks who are starting out and don't have the means, or who have the means but just prefer it - there is certainly nothing wrong with the low tech, low cost approach if it can get you where you need to go. Different strokes for different folks.

Funny, I am just picturing a bunch of old timer's sitting around and telling carving tales . . . "Why when I was a kid, we didn't have any fancy carving tools like they have now. We had to learn to forge our own with steel found in junk yards." "Heh - that's nothing. We didn't have junk yards where I grew up, we had to use sharpened beaver teeth to make our carvin tools." "You think that's bad - we had to carving with sharp rocks!" <grin>

!
ChuckT
(who grew up walking to school, in blizzards, 5 miles, uphill both ways!)

[Eddy Smiles]

Andagail... Before you make a major purchase why don't you give Rick at Little Shavers a call and tell him what you've got. For the cost of shipping you could always send your cheap set to him and let him look at them. If he thinks that they are worth saving he can give you an estimate as to what it will take to put them in carving condition. Perhaps for the cost of one good tool you can still have your own starting set. And again, once you get involved in carving and figure out what you need you can then start buying a more quality tool. When I first started I made the same mistake and bought a Harbor Freight special. Like the Home Depot Buck set that I mentioned above it wouldn't cut anything. However, over the years I have gone back and retooled all the blades and now I use it for rough work where I don't want to chance messing up one of my good tools. Just a thought......!

[Anda G]

Thanks, Eddy! I was thinking about trying to get someone to salvage something out of these tools. I will follow your advice. Thanks a lot. I will never again try to get a deal on eBay unless I know the maker. (Which will be a LONG time from now.)

Andagail

[Dull Knife]

Normally, I've gone for the more expensive, and have had very favorable results with the better tools.....however, a few months back, I bought a few cheap air tools thru Harbor Freight, to cut sheet metal ('cause I like to make metal whiryl gigs and my hands aren't strong enough to work with hand powered snips). A couple of the cheapers do a pretty good job, but the one that I really needed, is a piece of Chinese crap. So I guess from now on I will stick with the better quality.

[Eddy Smiles]

Dull Knife...

As tempting as it is sometimes I try not to purchase any tools from Harbour Freight that require power to operate them. I bought a 3/8" reversible drill about two years ago and within two days I had gone through the same amount of drills and that was just drilling holes in wood with good bits. I finally took the third one back, got a refund, and then went to Lowes and bought a cheap Black and Decker. Still made in China but with a little better perfromance.

[Hi_Ho_Sliver]

I can't swear to it, but from what I have heard...the "Chicago Electric" power tools from Harbor Freight are not bad, my neighbor has a 3 horse router and he thinks its great, a number of contractors have said they buy the Chicago electric because they hold up as well in contruction as anything else and are cheap! Don't confuse however "Chicago Electric" from their "Central Machinery".....the central machinery isn't worth bringing home in my opinion!

[JIM QUILICI]

after reading this post I pondered (thunk about it)... lol ....
about the tools to make you carve better. Its not the tools, its the people using the tools.although some tools make it easy and some make it hard. If a person has talent They can use a table knife or a box cutter to make something out of nothing. and it seems that they have the ability to make things work . some are better at this than others. I don't think you need a cadallic to drive across town. you can do it with a pair of skates if you have a mind too. it just takes longer.
Jim