toolmakers

[ElNino]

Luckily a tight budget is making me do a lot more research than usual before buying any tools. From the list I have found the names of some toolmakers that definitely make some very fine tools, I am trying very hard to make the right choices when buying any tools so I would appreciate any guidance regarding your favorite tools and the reason for choosing that particular maker.

These are some of the names I have heard you talking about, I am also looking for website and or contact information for them please feel free to add others that make fine quality tools.

Robert Beard

Vergez Blanchard

Bob Douglas

Barry King

Norm Lynds

Danny Marlin

Chuck Smith

Cheers,

Chris

[leatheroo]

chris, i just got some tools from barry king. i live in australia and i rang him direct. he took my order himself and delivery was swift. the tools were about $20 each but they are amazing and a joy to use. i didnt understand the huge difference they could make, but i am definitely a convert now. My humble advice is, if you have $100 to spend dont buy 20 at $5, buy 5 at $20

Barry King Tools

184 N. Main

Sheridan, WY 82801

USA

Phone: (307) 672-5657

FAX: (307) 672-5235

[ElNino]

chris, i just got some tools from barry king. i live in australia and i rang him direct. he took my order himself and delivery was swift. the tools were about $20 each but they are amazing and a joy to use. i didnt understand the huge difference they could make, but i am definitely a convert now. My humble advice is, if you have $100 to spend dont buy 20 at $5, buy 5 at $20

Barry King Tools

184 N. Main

Sheridan, WY 82801

USA

Phone: (307) 672-5657

FAX: (307) 672-5235

Leatheroo,

Cheers mate, I absolutely agree with you there are few things worse than working with cheap tools (other than tossing them in the corner and buying the tool you should have bought in the first place) I live in Spain so the shipping and duties can be quite brutal. I just had a very expensive go around with UPS but from what I understand they are notorious for their "brokerage" fees. I just ordered some books and I'm having them shipped USPS so we'll see how that pans out.

Cheers,

Chrid

[Mike]

Luckily a tight budget is making me do a lot more research than usual before buying any tools. From the list I have found the names of some toolmakers that definitely make some very fine tools, I am trying very hard to make the right choices when buying any tools so I would appreciate any guidance regarding your favorite tools and the reason for choosing that particular maker.

These are some of the names I have heard you talking about, I am also looking for website and or contact information for them please feel free to add others that make fine quality tools.

Robert Beard

Vergez Blanchard

Bob Douglas

Barry King

Norm Lynds

Danny Marlin

Chuck Smith

Cheers,

Chris

Gomph/Hackbarth tools

Gore Tools

These are not as common these days.

[ClayB]

Ron's tools for some nice hand tools.

[LarryB]

Wow, I feel out of place... but here it goes. All my tools came from tandy except for one and it came from S-T leather. Nothing flashy here.

[outcast]

I have some of Craftools, Barry King, and Robert Beard. I use the RB bevelers most of the time, however I do use BK's bevelers when I need a steeper beveler for tight work as in Sheridan style tooling.

Steve

[ElNino]

Wow, I feel out of place... but here it goes. All my tools came from tandy except for one and it came from S-T leather. Nothing flashy here.

Hi Larry,

I don't rule Tandy out as a source, but.....here we go.... I lived in the States for 25 years and owned a small business. The way things are being outsourced makes it harder and harder for the small shop to survive.So without waxing political...in a nutshell where ever possible I try to support the "local" guy, hopefully this helps keep him or her around and in business, this also gets you a fine tool or product and I'm sure you will agree there is artistry and qc involved in custom work/toolmaking which is definitely lacking in High Volume Low Profit mass production.Other than that I work hard for my money and I'm really hoping to only buy once

Cheers,Chris

I have some of Craftools, Barry King, and Robert Beard. I use the RB bevelers most of the time, however I do use BK's bevelers when I need a steeper beveler for tight work as in Sheridan style tooling. Steve

Steve,

Do you have contact info and or a source for Robert Beard tools?

Cheers,Chris

Edited February 17, 2008 by ElNino

[ClayB]

Robert Beard tools

Larry,

Whenever this subject comes up, I worry that people will feel like you do. Thing is, most of us started out with Craftools, and most of us probably still use mostly Craftools. I have some tools by Bob Beard, Barry King, and a few others, but the vast majority are Craftool. Just going out and spending a couple thousand dollars on some really high end tools isn't going to make you a great carver. Being a great carver takes practice and learning what you can do with the tools you have. If a tool wont do what you want it to do, sometimes a little work with a file can make a big difference. Some of the best carvers out there use only Craftools, some of them modified to work better. So, I hope that nobody feels like they cant be a good carver without the really expensive tools because that just isnt true. Use what you can afford and practice to do the best work you can with those.

[LarryB]

Both Elnino and ClayB are correct. I own the tandy because thats what I started with and I could not afford the nicer tools. However Elnino is right about also supporting the small shops. USA forgot about the small business owners many years ago. The cost of the finer tools are well worth it. I have seen what the end results of better tools looks like and its impressive. Thank you both for good posts.