new carver

[mary_jo]

Hi everyone,I just discovered this list and I'm thrilled to find people from my neck of the woods.I live north of Lockwood Mo,miles from anybody.I've been carving since April and have found that I like it very much.So far I've done a few simple relief carvings a rabbit and a mt.lion.I took a class from Jim Willis at the rendezvous in branson last Oct.I learned alot but I also learned I need to learn alot more.I've been using palm tools but in the class I discovered I need some bigger tools.Does anyone know where I could come up with some reasonably priced swiss tools?

I assume your referring to Pfeil Swissmade, if so
check out
kmstools.com
they are in Canada so price depends on the exchange rate and shipping is a bit slower, but they are reliable and the price is (at least was last time I looked) a good bit lower than Stateside.

I agree with Ed and I think that the price is still better even with the exchange on the $. Although last year at this time the Canadian $ was about 70 cents US and as of Friday it was almost 86 cents US. Our economy must be getting better but with the taxes we pay you would never know it. >
Colin

Hello Mary Jo, you're close to Springfield, they've got a nice selection of carving tools at very good proces at the Grizzly store. They're not Swiss, but Robert Sorby, very good Sheffield steel! Here's a link to their online store and the chisels in particular http://www.grizzly.com/products/item...mp;StartRow=11

Mary Jo, I am located just south of you, across the ARkansas line. Unless you are locked in on 'Swiss' type tools, you may want to take a look at the flex-cut line. I have a number of both types and probably use the flex-cut a little more. Certainly, I see little difference between them during woodcarving. I do believe that the flex-cut are a little faster to hone and am told that the 'swiss type' last longer. I have been using my flex-cut for several years and have not noticed much wear. The flex-cut are usually a little cheaper than the others.

I bought a couple of sets of tools when I first started carving. That I do not recommend. Buy individual tools that you need and gradually build a set of your own.

I would recommend a trip to Branson and a visit with Bernie or Chet at the Art and Woodcrafters Supply in Branson. They have a selection of flex-cut there and you will be able to try the different types. There is nothing that can beat trying a new tool prior to purchase. An excellent source of tools and supplies is Larry Yudis. He is on-line at www.woodcraftshop.com.

[AlArchie]

Just gpt back from St. Louis, and they have a nice Rockler store ther. they stock a good supply of flexcut sets and knives, and a full line of Ashley Isles gouges. Ashley's are Brits, not swiss, but are excellent tools.

There is also a Woodcraft store there but I didn't getup to that one. They handle the Swiss Made brand pretty exclusively. You can always order these tools out, but I really like the chance to heft them before purchasing....kinda hard to do from a catalog.

Al

[Nancy_G]

Hi mary-jo .... welcome aboard . I'm Missouri too - just SW of Missouri. Must be something in the air.

I have some of those SWISS MADE hand tools but I sure don't like the handles. And now I can't remember where I bought them.
I'm not 'stuck' on any one brand of tool ... I'll carve with anything that's sharp. SHARP That's the problem. >

Mary-jo ... just did a price check on kms and woodcraft on the pfieil tool. Picked 1/2' (12 mm) #5 (just cause that's may favorite size) and at Woodcraft it's 39.99 and at kms its 23.79 (u.s. dollars). I'm all for buying locally, but at that price difference??? The Flexcuts are good tools also with the same size and sweep running about $19.00. Two things I (just my opinion) don't care for on the flexcuts and that is they are less stable through a cut than a traditional tool and they are only tip tempered (about 1/4'). Both are necessary tradeoffs to allow for the flex action of the tool. 1/4' sounds like a lot, but a couple three good knicks, or just sharpening/adjusting bevels over time, and your buying a new tool. With traditional tools your looking a full length tempering. A lot depends on how much you are planning on using the tools and personal preference I guess.

[Hi_Ho_Sliver]

Pfeil tools I found depend on who you get them from whether they are sharp or not! I bought one from Woodcraft, that I have worked and worked and still don't have the edge I would like to have (this is a funny shaped blade for chip carving )......I am convinced , you are better off to pay a bit more to someone that will assure you of 'sharp and honed' tools...especially if you are new and don't know how to sharpen yet!

Hi-ho ... The only problem with that is sooner or later, your going to have to sharpen the tool or change the bevel on it. The alternative is to ship if off to a sharpening service. Much easier to learn how to do it yourself. Learning to sharpen is not hard, just a little patience and the intestinal fortitude to try. You can always grind (for lack of a better word) off your mistake and try again. There's alot of steel in a tool. And there's nothing as satisfying (well, almost) as the feeling of a sharp tool sliceing through a piece of wood. All that said, I have a feeling Rick is going to be in the sharpening business for a long long time.