Beginners Tools?

[Suicide]

I can't speak for the Ultimate set, but I recently got a "deluxe set" The tools are pretty sad... so much so I wrote a long letter of disgust (in a nice way) to Tandy and "strongly urged" them to bring craftool back to the USA. I have old tools and these tools and the quality is not that great in the Deluxe kit. I knew that from the folks here but I was seriously shocked at the extent of the poor quality. I mean I could see where the head was welded/pressed on. Pfft! But tools aside the deluxe kit has plenty of projects and other goodies to make it worth the $50 I spent. (it was on sale)

If you order from Tandy... google search for Tandy Coupon Code or Tandy Promo Code... there is a $10 off online coupon. Every little bit helps right?

My suggestion is to spend some good money on a decent swivel knife first off. I got a tandy "deluxe" adjustable knife with the kit which is better than the basic swivel knife, but the Barry King is far superior compared to those and it's moderately priced. The others can tell you the name of the Rolls Royce of swivel knives, SKS? I'm not sure of the name and I couldn't afford it either. Anyway, you can get by with funky kit stamps and mallet while you are learning but a knife needs to work smoothly and feel good in your hand. I really like my Barry King Knife... hes also a member here. Barry also sells tools but expect to pay around $30-50 for each stamp.

I agree about deluxe and other sets.

But. If you have a look at stamps you'll see they have a... surprise! kinda a special labeling: for instance beveler B701 marked as "Z-B701" etc. All these have "Z" prefix and they sucks.

If you going to buy b701 from tandy (not as part of the kit), you'll see no such "Z" on the handle and ... it will be a bit different tool. Not a Barry King, but a bit better than from the kit.

So there are my 2 cents.

PS I believe "Z" means something like "Zero quality" or might be "sukZ"

[Sylvia]

I agree about deluxe and other sets.

But. If you have a look at stamps you'll see they have a... surprise! kinda a special labeling: for instance beveler B701 marked as "Z-B701" etc. All these have "Z" prefix and they sucks.

If you going to buy b701 from tandy (not as part of the kit), you'll see no such "Z" on the handle and ... it will be a bit different tool. Not a Barry King, but a bit better than from the kit.

So there are my 2 cents.

PS I believe "Z" means something like "Zero quality" or might be "sukZ"

lol This is true.

That was one of the things I pointed out to TLC when I wrote the letter. That if a novice's first experience is with the tools in these kits they may as well just not expect them to buy from them ever again. Like the one fellow here who broke the head off his beveler... Tandy did him right and replaced it.... but that beveler is a completely different size even though same number sans "Z." and he was in the middle of a basket weave project! <faint>

Anyway... I think that if enough hobbyists toss a fit about the tools in the kits... they may return to putting quality tools in them. Any one want to join me on facebook and start a campaign? ha ha ha

[electrathon]

The best solution is to spend a lot of money. Most people just starting out do not want to do that, understandably. Unfortionatly there really are not any good cheap solutions that I know of. If you can locate an old set of Tandy tools (25 years or more old) many of them were good tools Make sure they are not rusted or pitted.

The Tandy situation really saddens me. I have an emotional attachment to the store that ties to my father/childhood. It is rerally sad to see a company that really cares less about what they are selling, but solely the prophit margin they are producing.

Aaron

[Art]

True Aaron,

The only option that is reasonable today is to buy quality tools from the start. This will pretty well destroy your wallet (but you will be able to MAKE a nice wallet). Buy only the tools you need to complete a project. For newcomers, ask here, we know who makes good tools and where you can get them. Be very careful on eBay, things are not always what they appear to be. If they say it's Gomph, check the wording carefully, it usually isn't.

Just buy what you need when you need it.

Art

The best solution is to spend a lot of money. Most people just starting out do not want to do that, understandably. Unfortionatly there really are not any good cheap solutions that I know of. If you can locate an old set of Tandy tools (25 years or more old) many of them were good tools Make sure they are not rusted or pitted.

The Tandy situation really saddens me. I have an emotional attachment to the store that ties to my father/childhood. It is rerally sad to see a company that really cares less about what they are selling, but solely the prophit margin they are producing.

Aaron