German products
- Thread starter rangers62
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Aha: which makers do you rate highly? I have a good opinion of Sorby and Henry Taylor; Marples production has now moved to China. I agree that German steels seem to work better in knife applications, but that's a different cutting action where large carbides are an advantage (as opposed to, say, a straight razor).henkverhaar said:
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Arrowhead said:
Hah, you know about steels... Yes, knives, razors, and lathe tools all have different requirements.
Taylor is good. I know that people think highly of Sorby but I do not particularly care for them; not related to any bad experience though. I am partial to Ashley Iles. I also have a load of old secondhand Nooitgedagt chisels, of DUtch origin. Tool steel (not HSS) but good tool steel. HoW, budget tools from, I think, Craft Supply, are OK too.
I have a few German chisels too but am not too impressed with them, with the exception of the Carl Heidtmann tools -- pretty expensive though.
That, and the Oneway termite, for end grain hollowing.
Henk
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I am very pleased to hear this as I knew Ashley, and have recently seen his son Ray. The latter is a fascinating character, and what he doesn't know about the Sheffield tool trade is probably lost knowledge. Ray's cabinetmakers' chisels are the best modern ones I have ever owned: the blades are made by his brothers trading as Ashley Iles, Ray finishes them off and adds octagonal boxwood handles. The steel is basically O1 - very simple stuff by today's standards - with a very good heat treatment. Presumably the turning tools are HSS though to withstand the friction heating of the cutting edge. Incidentally, when Marples moved production to China, it was Ray who picked up most of their machinery.henkverhaar said:
I must be fair here and concede a liking for Pfeil carving tools: they're pretty good but ruinously expensive; the 2 cherries brand is also quite dependable and their tools are very nicely finished.
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Does Coventry count as a German product? I mean it was probably quite nice before the Luftwaffe remodelled it....
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I have always wondered why the Merkur blades were so poor, I just assumed they were outsourced and bought in. Either way I think they could do themselves a favour with a better blade. They might even sell a few...
As a mechanic tools to me were either Britool or SnapOn.
As a mechanic tools to me were either Britool or SnapOn.
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Arrowhead said:
I've communicated a few times with hem when ordering tools by e-mail.
And simple steel is perfect for such tools. They don't get hot in use, so don't need to be HSS. O1 and similar steels have a finer crystal structure than high speed steels, so can be sharpened to a keener edge than HSS...
Yep. They have their turning tools (most of them anyway) in two versions, tool steel and M2 HSS. HSS is great for turning, especially since you can grind them in a jiffy without too much care.
Henk