New Tandy Swivel Knives

[JJs Leatherworks]

Got an email from Tandy today, like happens every Friday, and their new line of tools is now available.

Included in the new offerings are their two new swivel knives with either 3/8" or 1/2" barrels.

Anyone got to see and touch these in real life yet?

Do you think they will be able to compare to the likes of Barry King swivel kinives?

Would like to know if they are going to be a suitable upgrade from their basic models. I won't be in a Tandy store for a while, so any early opinions will be appreciated.

JJ

[electrathon]

Looked at the new tools today. Bought two just to see. My impression is that compared to the other craft tools they are a huge step up. The crispness of the tools looks good. The machining looks fair. They are stainless. They are more than Barry King (at list price).

Overall, Barry King tools are nicer. If you get a discount the new tools are charper (these tools are virtually exact copies of Barrys tools, Chinese manufacturing flattery). If you want to buy from Tandy it is really awsome to finally have a usable choice of tooling tools.

[Cyberthrasher]

these tools are virtually exact copies of Barrys tools, Chinese manufacturing flattery

Does that include the stamping tools or were you just referring to the knives?

[electrathon]

Does that include the stamping tools or were you just referring to the knives?

I was refering to the tools. They look like someone bought a set of Barry King tools and copied them.

I like the look of the knife. Didn't try cutting with if so not sure how it fits in my hand. It looked pretty good though. I didn't see any info on metal alloy in the blade.

[Cyberthrasher]

When I looked, the prices on the knives weren't much better than Barry's, so I'd say stick to his unless you're a swivel knife addict (assuming they're made in China to the same standards we're used to). I don't really know what they're like though, so I think I'd just stick to a known product. I am however always on the lookout for various bevelers since that's about 90% of what I do. Made me go look at Barry's again though

[electrathon]

I am a tool addict. Not a drug addict and not an alcholic so I buy tools. Most of my tools are Barry King.

One advantage I personally have with these tools is I teach basic tooling at Tandy and it is nearly impossible to do floral tooling with the previous line of craft tools. This gives me the ability to have tools to teach with.

[Wishful]

I got the email too and although I know they were announced previously as high end, I was surprised at the price. I think they should have stepped up the quality of the "cheap" ones but charge a bit more. Personally, I will still look for the old craftools which can be had for much less than these new ones.

[electrathon]

I got the email too and although I know they were announced previously as high end, I was surprised at the price. I think they should have stepped up the quality of the "cheap" ones but charge a bit more. Personally, I will still look for the old craftools which can be had for much less than these new ones.

I have tro agree that the price is surprising. Chinese mass production being sold for the same price as American made small scale production. But, this is true for most of what Tandy sells. Tandy is convenient and many people do shop there. Almost all new leatherworkers start at Tandy.

The new tools are far superior in quality to any tools they have sold in the last 30 years. They are stainless and not nade out of crappy metal that it covered in chrome, muting the impressions. The huge differance is that they have modernized the shapes. They now have undercut tools that actually undercut. There is a leaf liner, center shader, thumbprint and so on that they have not previously sold. If you are using western floral tooling patterns from 50 years ago, you likely will not be affected by this. If you are tooling in a more modern Sheridan style (tighter, closer more busy) this is huge.

[ReneeCanady]

I am only a year into leather work and mostly buy from Tandy because I don't know what is better. Glad to have read this post! Infact I was just cursing my Tandy swivel knife today. I wouldn't say I am good or bad using it, it just seems there has to be a better way. I find myself stropping more than carving. I thought about trying the ceramic blade but I just don't know what to buy lol. I don't want to invest a ton of money on 10 different swivel knives trying to find a good one when that money could be spent on leather. Infact, my husband bought me the huge tool set for Christmas last year and the blade they had in the swivel knife didn't even fit it, it didn't come with a pear shader, one of the bevelers were chipped etc..Sorry for running on and on.......<<<<<damn girls!

[electrathon]

because I don't know what is better.

Barry King Tools

I thought about trying the ceramic blade but I just don't know what to buy lol. I don't want to invest a ton of money on 10 different swivel knives trying to find a good one when that money could be spent on leather. Infact, my husband bought me the huge tool set for Christmas last year and the blade they had in the swivel knife didn't even fit it, it didn't come with a pear shader, one of the bevelers were chipped etc..Sorry for running on and on.......<<<<<damn girls!

Ceramic blades are very hard but are not truely sharp either. I tell people if they are not going to sharpen their knives, ceramic is good. If you are going to sharpen, quality steel is better.

If a Tandy tool is damaged, they are guarantied for life. Take it back and exchange it.

Running on is OK, I like girls.