[Woodcarver] Tools

[Joe Dillett]

Hi Stephan,

Thank you for responding to the tool breakage question. I've had students
break several inches off one side of a V-tool by prying. That was a hefty
Hirsch V-tool that broke one side because of the general weakness at the
bottom of all V-tools. That was AFTER I told him never to pry with the
chisel. The Hirsch company, like the Swiss company and any other company I
know, offered to replace it free but I decided to keep it around to teach
other students not to pry with any tool. Other than that, all other breakage
I experienced was with Swiss made tools.

I think it was Ivan that mentioned a student using Ivan's chisel for prying
broke it and immediately stated that it must have been a cheap tool.


Joe Dillett
The Carving Shop
645 E. LaSalle St. Suite 3
Somonauk, IL. 60552
(815) 498-9290 phone
(815) 498-9249 fax
http://www.thecarvingshop.com
jdillett at thecarvingshop.com
http://www.carvingmagazine.com Carving Magazine web site and Readers Forum
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----- Original Message -----
From: "R. Stephan Toman" <rtoman at hvc.rr.com>
To: "[Woodcarver]" <woodcarver at six.pairlist.net>
Sent: Wednesday, January 14, 2004 7:40 AM
Subject: Re: [Woodcarver] Tools





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> Now that you've mentioned it Joe, I think that the only breakage I have
> experienced has been with my Swiss Made gouges, which are notable for
their
> slim shanks and over-all lightness and balance ( = less metal overall than
> Stubai or the English tools ).  But I keep my bevel very acute to work
> quickly in basswood and mahogany, and the edges broke when I was using the
> tools to set in stop-cuts in birch and cherry and maple without taking the
> time to re-grind the bevel.  It hasn't happened too often:  Maybe 4 or 5
> times in 18 years, and most of that was when I was still gaining
experience
> early on.  I haven't shattered an edge for several years now.  The worst
> case I remember broke about a quarter inch off the edge ( what's
> that...about 2 - 3 years of tool life?).  When you consider the fact that
a
> gouge is both a wedge and a lever, it's surprising that more breakage
> doesn't occur.
>
> Stephan Toman
>
> P.S. For anyone who might be interested I've just updated my
> web-pages.  Mike and Patty:  The sassafras piece is on my "possibilities"
page.