C.S. Osborne modeling tools

[tashabear]

I just received this C.S. Osborne modeling tool that I just ordered from Zack White. (Wonderful experience dealing with them; my issue is not with the vendor.)

Are all C.S. Osborne modeling tools poorly finished, or did I just get (un)lucky? The surfaces of both faces are very rough; I'm going to have to spend a bunch of time polishing them before I can use it. It probably isn't worth returning it in favor of the Midas deerfoot that they sell, what with the restocking fee and the shipping there and back; I almost think I'd be better off just ordering the Midas tool and chucking $10 worth of C.S. Osborne tool in the garbage.

Thoughts?

[manfrommuc]

Hi

I work with a modeling tool from peter main and it works great, also I use the modeler from barry king works great too

Greetings

Johann

[tashabear]

Hi

I work with a modeling tool from peter main and it works great, also I use the modeler from barry king works great too

Greetings

Johann

That's awesome, and I thank you, but it doesn't answer my question.

[celticleather]

Are all C.S. Osborne modeling tools poorly finished, or did I just get (un)lucky? The surfaces of both faces are very rough; I'm going to have to spend a bunch of time polishing them before I can use it.

This seems to echo my experience with Dixons tools in the UK, which I mentioned in the 'Stitching awl' thread.

Knives and awls are no longer supplied in what I would call a 'finished' condition. Knives have to be honed and stropped, and awls have to be sharpened and polished. I wonder if this is in deference to craftsmen who prefer to put their own finish on tools, or is it a way of cutting out the final stage of production to save on costs and avoid price increases (or increase profits!)?

Any further thoughts . . ?

[tashabear]

This seems to echo my experience with Dixons tools in the UK, which I mentioned in the 'Stitching awl' thread.

Knives and awls are no longer supplied in what I would call a 'finished' condition. Knives have to be honed and stropped, and awls have to be sharpened and polished. I wonder if this is in deference to craftsmen who prefer to put their own finish on tools, or is it a way of cutting out the final stage of production to save on costs and avoid price increases (or increase profits!)?

Any further thoughts . . ?

Now that I've spent some time with it, it's not even the profile I want. It's less of a deerfoot modeler than it is a petal lifter, and I have a petal lifter already. Now I'm doubly disappointed, as I could have gotten the tool I wanted for half the price. This is one tool that will sit in my toolbox unused.

[Tannin]

...

Knives and awls are no longer supplied in what I would call a 'finished' condition. Knives have to be honed and stropped, and awls have to be sharpened and polished. I wonder if this is in deference to craftsmen who prefer to put their own finish on tools, or is it a way of cutting out the final stage of production to save on costs and avoid price increases (or increase profits!)?

Any further thoughts . . ?

I think you probably got it spot on. I don't know if these tools were ever sold honed & stropped but I suspect not. Nowadays you can buy some blades that a sharpened, honed & stropped - Scandinvian tools often come this way (Gransfor Bruks axes, Mora/Frost knives, Martiinni filleting knives, Hans Karlsson tools) - but you will usually pay a hefty premium for it: it takes time, tools and skill. I could have shaved with my Gransfor Bruks axe when it arrived and that is not an exaggeration - I had no idea a tool could be that sharp, especially an axe, the Swedes are master sharpeners.

Like many craftsmen in the past, leather-workers would have had to either know how sharpen, hone and strop their cutting tool or, perhaps, have access to somebody who could (perhaps a dedicated sharpener in a tannery/workshop?), because they would need to use these tools sharp, day-in day-out. Also, "back in the day", men-folk would have to sharpen their razors in order to shave. When I took up bowl carving, I quickly realized that I needed to learn how to sharpen and maintain the edges of my hand-tools. So I learnt (and am still learning), such that I am no longer worried if tools arrive blunt (as long as the price reflects that) as I know that I can sharpen them myself and learn something from doing it. I quite enjoy it, it's therapeutic, and I get to decide bevel angles/lengths/shape/finish.

It takes time though and, for professionals, time is money - in which case it may well be worth paying the premium. You'll still need to need to learn how to maintain your blades for day-to-day use though (I find frequent stropping drastically reduces the need to sharpen or even hone my tools).

Edited October 18, 2014 by Tannin

[RiverCity]

From my experience, the newer Osborne tools seem to be lacking in finish quality. Everything Ive bought with their name on it has needed to be sanded and polished. I use 1000-2000 grit auto body sandpaper and flitz on a felt wheel in my dremel. I bought a creaser from them that was so misshapened that I had to take it to a belt sander. And while I have decent workable tools now, I honestly wonder if I should have just bit the bullet and bought Douglas, or Gomph or the like and saved the time right out of the gate.

Chuck

[bruce johnson]

Chuck, Some of the newer Osborne tools bear little resemblance to even their own older tools. Creasers and bisonette edgers are shining examples.