Cap'n Rat Fink Posted March 2, 2015 Share #1 Posted March 2, 2015 Hello All, As I slowly get my shop together, I am also looking into tools needed for my wood working. I am not looking for top of the line tools. Top of the line tools too me is for professionals that do this for a living. (YOU KNOW....MAKING MONEY). I am strictly a hobbyist. A lot of you know who I am from my build logs. But I not only do model ships. But I am also into furniture making, Black Power weapon making, pen making, and wood turning. I am also venturing into Acoustic as well as Electric Guitar making. Since my son is a musician. So I am finally starting to put my shop together and getting it stocked. I am looking at midrange in price tools. So I have been checking out chisels and carving tools. I do love the German, Japanese, and Swiss made tools. I will go with those if need be. I am from Southern California, USA. I would like to support the workers of America. Like to give our USA made tools first consideration. (but I will go to other countries quality of tools if it boils down to that.) My present stuff is old and getting old.er(LIKE ME!!!) I will keep it to let my little ones practice and learn from those. But it is time for a new upgrade. I know I might be opening a can of worms. Because CHEAP, MID-RANGE, and TOP of the LINE tool pricing varies differently my craftsman to craftsman. SO ANY ADVISE AND/OR RECOMMENDATIONS WOULD BE VERY HELPFUL! To assist me in my decision making. With a lot of you having these tools and used them, it would be nice to get feedback. So ladies and Gentleman I am awaiting your feedback. And Thank you for taking a little time out of your day to assist me. God Bless Mario Quote Thank You all... Mario "Each of us is a mixture of some good and some not so good qualities. In considering one's fellow man it's important to remember the good things ... We should refrain from making judgments just because a fella happens to be a dirty, rotten SOB(biscuit) " My Builds.... BETTEAU WAR OF 1812 BOUNTY LAUNCH(bashed) CHESAPEAKE BAY FLATTIE THE SEA of GALILEE BOAT VICTORIAN STEAM LAUNCH(bashed) HOWARD CHAPELLE's CRABBING SKIFF LADY KATHRINE 1812 SCHOONER Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tuffarts Posted March 2, 2015 Share #2 Posted March 2, 2015 I have found these chisels to be both cheap and good quality. http://www.bnamodelworld.com/trumpeter/tr-09923 there are others in the range also Cap'n Rat Fink 1 Quote USS Constitution:Cutaway Build Log :- Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob Blarney Posted March 2, 2015 Share #3 Posted March 2, 2015 How much time would you be willing to invest in making your smaller hand tools, as opposed to spending your time to search out good tools and then spending your money to buy them? If you think about it, any tool that you might buy or make, will need to be sharpened from time to time. I've found that making and sharpening tools works for me. There's good steel available. I buy old 1/4" shanked HSS spade bits at yardsales, and then grind them down to what suits my need. I use a 6" bench grinder with an aluminum oxide (white) wheel to shape them, and dunk the bit in water from time to time to cool it. (Another method is to stick the spade bit through a piece of a potato -- when the potato cooks, then the bit is getting hot.). You can do the same with hacksaw blades, but they're a bit more delicate. After grinding, then honing the tool with stones or wed/dry silicon carbide paper on glass can finish the sharpening of the tool. Once you get the hand of it, it goes pretty fast, and faster than hunting around.For a handle, I buy a 6" extension for the spade bits (~$3) and drill a broomstick to hold it. I glue the extension into the broomstick with epoxy. This makes a handle this is interchangeable with many bits, and you can shape the broomstick to fit your hand. The same can be done with hacksaw blades. hornet, JPett and Cap'n Rat Fink 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mtaylor Posted March 2, 2015 Share #4 Posted March 2, 2015 Mario, Have you checked out Woodcraft (http://www.woodcraft.com/category/HT115-07/carving-sets.aspx) or Wood Carver's Supply (http://www.woodcarverssupply.com/)?? I have three sets of the Dockyard chisels.. as well as several different grits of carving burrs. Love 'em... I just need to get better with them. As for those two sites... prices range from very inexpensive to super-pricey... Cap'n Rat Fink, Martin W and Canute 3 Quote Mark "The shipwright is slow, but the wood is patient." - me Current Build: Past Builds: La Belle Poule 1765 - French Frigate from ANCRE plans - ON HOLD Triton Cross-Section NRG Hallf Hull Planking Kit HMS Sphinx 1775 - Vanguard Models - 1:64 Non-Ship Model: On hold, maybe forever: CH-53 Sikorsky - 1:48 - Revell - Completed Licorne - 1755 from Hahn Plans (Scratch) Version 2.0 (Abandoned) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jack12477 Posted March 3, 2015 Share #5 Posted March 3, 2015 I agree with Mark. Also the Pfeil brand (Swiss) of gouge is excellent as is Soligen (Germany) - I have several of each brand. Another brand which I have not tried but is reported to be very good is Two Cherries (Germany). A source for carving tools is Chipping Away Dedicated to Wood Carvers Canute, Cap'n Rat Fink and Martin W 3 Quote Jack "No one is as smart as all of us" - Is ón cheann a thagann an cheird The craft comes from the head --------------------------------------------- Current build: US Constellation Non-ship builds: USCG UH-65A Dolphin M16 Multi-gun motor carriage diorama M4A3 Sherman Tanks dioramas 1936-1939 Mercedes Benz 540K 1934 Rolls-Royce Phantom II JSDF Light Armor Vehicle Figures: The Last Bridge: Raider Reaper Edge of Universe: Ianis The Last Bridge: Vadim with cart Completed build log(s): 18th Century Longboat , Marie Jeanne, Willie L Bennett 1888 50 ft Gaff-rigged Ice Yacht Scratch Build The Sullivans (DD 537) Liberty Ship SS John W Brown USS England (DE 635), Artesania Latina Titanic Lifeboat Gallery: Swift , Armed Virginia Sloop, Santisima Trinidad Captain's Launch , 18th Century Longboat , Marie Jeanne Other: Rhinebeck Aerodrome Tour Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cap'n Rat Fink Posted March 3, 2015 Author Share #6 Posted March 3, 2015 (edited) How much time would you be willing to invest in making your smaller hand tools, as opposed to spending your time to search out good tools and then spending your money to buy them? If you think about it, any tool that you might buy or make, will need to be sharpened from time to time. I've found that making and sharpening tools works for me. There's good steel available. I buy old 1/4" shanked HSS spade bits at yardsales, and then grind them down to what suits my need. I use a 6" bench grinder with an aluminum oxide (white) wheel to shape them, and dunk the bit in water from time to time to cool it. (Another method is to stick the spade bit through a piece of a potato -- when the potato cooks, then the bit is getting hot.). You can do the same with hacksaw blades, but they're a bit more delicate. After grinding, then honing the tool with stones or wed/dry silicon carbide paper on glass can finish the sharpening of the tool. Once you get the hand of it, it goes pretty fast, and faster than hunting around. For a handle, I buy a 6" extension for the spade bits (~$3) and drill a broomstick to hold it. I glue the extension into the broomstick with epoxy. This makes a handle this is interchangeable with many bits, and you can shape the broomstick to fit your hand. The same can be done with hacksaw blades. Thanks Bob, I just handles to make my super micro as you suggest. These would be used for models. Mario, Have you checked out Woodcraft (http://www.woodcraft.com/category/HT115-07/carving-sets.aspx) or Wood Carver's Supply (http://www.woodcarverssupply.com/)?? I have three sets of the Dockyard chisels.. as well as several different grits of carving burrs. Love 'em... I just need to get better with them. As for those two sites... prices range from very inexpensive to super-pricey... Hi Mark, Yes i have been to both sites and others. I am considering those. Just trying to get feedback from others who have used them. I agree with Mark. Also the Pfeil brand (Swiss) of gouge is excellent as is Soligen (Germany) - I have several of each brand. Another brand which I have not tried but is reported to be very good is Two Cherries (Germany). A source for carving tools is Chipping Away Dedicated to Wood Carvers Jack, i do love those your are mentioning here. I'm getting the feedback i want so far. I do plan on spending a few hundred on each chisels and carving. In the long run it pays off with the good stuff. I plan to purchase sets, and then add to the set when i need certain ones. Edited March 3, 2015 by Cap'n Rat Fink Quote Thank You all... Mario "Each of us is a mixture of some good and some not so good qualities. In considering one's fellow man it's important to remember the good things ... We should refrain from making judgments just because a fella happens to be a dirty, rotten SOB(biscuit) " My Builds.... BETTEAU WAR OF 1812 BOUNTY LAUNCH(bashed) CHESAPEAKE BAY FLATTIE THE SEA of GALILEE BOAT VICTORIAN STEAM LAUNCH(bashed) HOWARD CHAPELLE's CRABBING SKIFF LADY KATHRINE 1812 SCHOONER Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GLakie Posted March 3, 2015 Share #7 Posted March 3, 2015 I use the Stanley Sweetheart 750 series 8 pc set. Very good and re-sharpenable. Reasonably priced at about $230 depending where you get them. Cheers Canute 1 Quote GEORGE Don't be bound by the limits of what you already know, be unlimited by what you are willing to learn. Member of the Nautical Research Guild Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KARAVOKIRIS Posted March 3, 2015 Share #8 Posted March 3, 2015 According to recommendations posted in carving forums (e.g. The Carving Path Forum) two of the best U.S. carving tool makers are: 1. http://www.capeforge.com/ 2. http://www.drakeknives.com/ Kostas GLakie 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dgbot Posted March 3, 2015 Share #9 Posted March 3, 2015 Flex cut makes good chisels that hold an edge well. David B GLakie 1 Quote Work in progress USS Maine in cardstock.http://modelshipworld.com/index.php/topic/7446-uss-maine-by-dgbot-hmv-card/#entry220003 Completed Blockade runner Teazer http://modelshipworld.com/index.php/topic/6063-blockade-runner-teazer-by-dgbot-card-stock/#entry175967 Completed The Monitor Lehigh http://modelshipworld.com/index.php/topic/6920-the-monitor-lehigh-by-dgbot-card-model/#entry203680 Completed Kingston Class MCVD http://modelshipworld.com/index.php/forum/10-kit-build-logs-in-progress/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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