more rounded, premium/stainless pear shaders? Not so flat -ish?

[LakeOtter]

I started with a super el-cheapo pear shader that I've actually gone back to using, for now.

It is quite rounded over or convex-topped and easy to use, for me, for making nice, contoured dish shapes.

When I received my B.K. Pear shaders, I was surprised to find they seemed scarcely more rounded over than a thumprint (which I expect to not be very rounded over on top).

I love Barry King products and have nothing to criticize, here... in fact, I also noticed another premium brand or so pears that were fairly flat-topped like this, as well, when browsing pictures online. Must be an expert thing.

(see pic attached)

As a returning novice (with experience, tho) I find it difficult to make as gentle of a convex impression. They want to dig in like a thumbprint, requiring loads more expertise in walking it around and tapping gently around the outside on the shaded area, to compensate, esp. when checkered (if even possible).

This flatter-or-more-rounded seems to be a preference thing. Jim Linnell showed an early Ray Hackbarth (long gone except vintage used) pear shader that was more rounded over like my cheap one. The only thing I don't like about my cheap one is its cheaply molded “checkered” pattern that matches nothing else I have.

Does anyone know where I can get a more rounded pear shader in choices of horizontal lines and fairly fine checkers? I believe Hackbarths to be few and far between.

Thanks!

Jeff in FL

Edited Tuesday at 02:46 AM by LakeOtter
spelling typo

[RWentz]

Try weaver supply. They have the rounded shape you are looking for.

[FrankHester]

14 hours ago, RWentz said:

Try weaver supply. They have the rounded shape you are looking for.

@RWentz Would you happen to know the number(s) of the tools you are referring to? 

Thanks in advance.

[RWentz]

one is the 215 and the other is just called pear shader.

[rktaylor]

I love my Robert Beard pear shaders.

Randy

[chuck123wapati]

On 6/30/2025 at 8:45 PM, LakeOtter said:

I started with a super el-cheapo pear shader that I've actually gone back to using, for now.

It is quite rounded over or convex-topped and easy to use, for me, for making nice, contoured dish shapes.

When I received my B.K. Pear shaders, I was surprised to find they seemed scarcely more rounded over than a thumprint (which I expect to not be very rounded over on top).

I love Barry King products and have nothing to criticize, here... in fact, I also noticed another premium brand or so pears that were fairly flat-topped like this, as well, when browsing pictures online. Must be an expert thing.

(see pic attached)

As a returning novice (with experience, tho) I find it difficult to make as gentle of a convex impression. They want to dig in like a thumbprint, requiring loads more expertise in walking it around and tapping gently around the outside on the shaded area, to compensate, esp. when checkered (if even possible).

This flatter-or-more-rounded seems to be a preference thing. Jim Linnell showed an early Ray Hackbarth (long gone except vintage used) pear shader that was more rounded over like my cheap one. The only thing I don't like about my cheap one is its cheaply molded “checkered” pattern that matches nothing else I have.

Does anyone know where I can get a more rounded pear shader in choices of horizontal lines and fairly fine checkers? I believe Hackbarths to be few and far between.

Thanks!

Jeff in FL

many of these are designed to replicate specific styles of tooling, such as Sheridan style for example. You can easily adapt them to your style with a little sanding, polishing, and elbow grease. If it doesn't fit your style, fix it so it does.

[LakeOtter]

Thanks so much. I appreciate every recommendation so I know I'm not missing anything.

I'll check out Robert Beard, and I super do plan on some of my own tinkering with some. I have decent files and, in case or extra removal, a diamond (CBN actually) HSS sharpening wheel left over from my prior lathe gouge maintenance, on a slow speed grinder.

I wasn't sure of the no.(s) exactly I was looking for, since I don't know all the variations. But it occurred to me to look at the elCheapo-kit stamp that I like the convex nature of... and, looking, she's a 217, so (duh, I forgot to look) I'll look at other makes of 217 as well as others. Thanks for the obvious reminder, sometimes it's been right under my nose.

Also I lucked up and hooked up with two Hackbarths (prob. from one of you?) from CountryZach, a 411 and a 414!

Thanks again!

(P.S. I'll be sure to brush up on my metal sculpting skills & practice on a spare stamp, bolt, or an old printer rod etc. before I take a file or grinder to a new BK)😅

Edited Friday at 03:26 AM by LakeOtter