[Woodcarver] So many tools ... so many differences ...

[My Chip Carving]

Hello Chris,
Fine Woodworking reviewed chisels and decided on Narex, Czech-made as the best chisel for the money.
I took their advice and bought some from Highland Woodworking and am very pleased. Quality steel, very nice.
Flatten the back as the first step in sharpening :-) 

My two cents worth...

Make some chips,
Marty
www.MyChipCarving.com
 
 
If you are not a subscriber yet to the free lessons, patterns, and giveaways offered by My Chip Carving, you are invited to subscribe at:
http://www.mychipcarving.com/Chip_Carving/Pages/chip_carving_free_eletter.htm



  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Chris Howard 
  To: [Woodcarver] 
  Sent: Friday, July 03, 2009 7:50 PM
  Subject: Re: [Woodcarver] So many tools ... so many differences ...


  Friends in Carving: Please support our List - visit carverscompanion.com/List/Support.html to donate.





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   While on the subject of tools does anyone know of a good brand of Asian Chisels?.
  Chris Howard
  chrishowardstudio.com
    ----- Original Message ----- 
    From: Ivan Whillock 
    To: [Woodcarver] 
    Sent: Friday, July 03, 2009 5:39 PM
    Subject: Re: [Woodcarver] So many tools ... so many differences ...


    Friends in Carving: Please support our List - visit carverscompanion.com/List/Support.html to donate.





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    Tool Sweeps and Beer.

    In the history of wood carving, the disparity of sweeps is a only a fairly recent problem, because few European carvers would "mix and match" their tools as many American carvers do today.  As recently as 40 years ago there were many tool makers spread throughout Europe.  Tools were made in Spain, Italy, Germany, Austria, in small local factories that made tools only for the carvers in the area.  Liken that to the small breweries that were once spread through the small towns, before the national breweries took over and made a standard brew available everywhere.  The tools were made largely by hand, each hand forged and hand ground in the tradition of the local factory.  The sweep of the tool was set at the forge, and fine-shaped by the grinding wheel.  There was no drive to standardize the sweeps across the various countries because there was very little intermixing of the different brands.  A carver in an area used the tools manufactured there. At any rate, it's unlikely that the independent factories would throw out their tried and true forms and wheels to make their sweeps match the competition's or even see the need for a universal standard.

    Only relatively recently, with the disappearance of most of the local factories, have the carvers had access to several tool brands with their varying sweeps.  In America, where tools are imported from many different countries, the disparity is more of an issue than in Europe where the carvers still mostly use the tools of their region.

    Standardization will automatically happen as fewer and fewer factories supply more and more of the tools, just as now a few breweries supply the same "standardized" beer everywhere.

    Drink Up!

    Ivan Whillock Studio
    122 NE 1st Avenue
    Faribault, MN  55021
    Visit my website at
    http://www.whillock.com
    Visit my Picture Trail album at
    http://www.picturetrail.com/gallery/view?username=ivancarve
      From: Larry Yudis 
      Sent: Friday, July 03, 2009 11:37 AM
      To: '[Woodcarver]' 
      Subject: [Woodcarver] So many tools ... so many differences ...


      Friends in Carving: Please support our List - visit carverscompanion.com/List/Support.html to donate.





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      Hey Corey,

      Good observations on your eclectic assortment of tools.  I tend to agree with most of what you've said.

      The one thing you would think would be standardized in the industry would be the sweeps of tools.  You can take a #5 in Ashley Iles, Henry Taylor, Stubai, Flexcut, Two Cherries, Marples, Sculpture House, Ramelson, Warren, Denny, etc. etc. etc. ... and find differences in the sweeps between them.  Some will match, where others might be considerably different.

      You've just have to find the tools that suit you best and stick with them.

      Larry (BIG DOG) Yudis
      The Woodcraft Shop
      2724 State St
      Bettendorf, IA 52722
      800-397-2278
      www.thewoodcraftshop.com

      Carol and Larry Yudis, Show Chairs
      International Woodcarvers Congress
      Affiliated Wood Carvers, Ltd.
      PO Box 104
      Bettendorf, IA 52722
      563-359-9684 (days)
      563-355-3787 (evenings)
      www.awcltd.org






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