New Tandy Swivel Knives

[JJs Leatherworks]

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.

That was the other thing I noticed, was the new shapes added to the Tandy collection. Like you, I am a bit of a tool addict (attracted to shiny things) as well, so am certain a few of them are going to end up in my collection.

Will probably ask to try out the swivel knives on my next visit to the store. I am curious as to the controllability differences between the two barrel diameters. Wondering which will feel better for real fine detail work.

There is no mention though, that the blades themselves are of any better quality ...

JJ

Edited January 19, 2013 by JJs Leatherworks

[electrathon]

I personally prefer smaller barrel knives. My hands are small (wear medium gloves) so they fit me. The blades are tapered and I am not sure of the metal alloys. As usual, this information is not available. If you are currently using a Tandy knife I think you will be in awe. The bearing in the top makes a huge differance. Most other knife makers have been using a top bearing for a long time, so if you are using a top end knife I am guessing it would be a sideways step.

[ReneeCanady]

Thanks, I will check out the site!

[lightningad]

maybe i was lucky, but the swivel knife that came in my Tandy kit seems fine to me.

I have never used one before, but after spending a while honing and stropping it when i first got it, it seems to cut well. I have done quite a few cuts this past year, and my technique has improved with every project, the knife has given no hints that its dodgy.

Please could someone explain what it is about these Tandy knives that people seem to have problems with? I'm keen to know if a more costly knife would improve anything for me.

[TwinOaks]

The issue with most of the 'standard' knives is that they use a "cup on a point" - pull one apart and you'll see what I mean- and over time, the knife can/will develop a "less than smooth" feel to it. It's not just the blade, it's the yoke as well. A good bearing supported yoke will allow the knife to turn with no added resistance or choppy feeling from the yoke. To give an example, I can hold one of my tandy knives by the blade and lightly thump the yoke....it might go ONE full revolution. I do the same thing to a bearing supported yoke (different knife obviously) and it spins for just under 10 seconds. Completely free spinning. Heck, I can blow on the yoke and it'll turn....it's so much smoother that you really do have to feel it to understand it.

[Tzalabak]

lightningad, one of the biggest issues with the standard Tandy swivel knives is the way the saddle bit connects to the barrel. It's just metal on metal were the barrel goes into the collar.

This makes it not swivel quite as easily or cleanly as it should.

Most other brands use ball bearings in the collar, making for a much smoother turn.

It's not really that much of an issue with the blades, although people often have preferences concerning blade angle, width, and so on.

Edit: Had this post up since earlier in the morning, and didn't refresh, so I didn't see TwinOaks reply.

Edited January 20, 2013 by Tzalabak

[electrathon]

maybe i was lucky, but the swivel knife that came in my Tandy kit seems fine to me.

I have never used one before, but after spending a while honing and stropping it when i first got it, it seems to cut well. I have done quite a few cuts this past year, and my technique has improved with every project, the knife has given no hints that its dodgy.

Please could someone explain what it is about these Tandy knives that people seem to have problems with? I'm keen to know if a more costly knife would improve anything for me.

i think the best way to explain it is that many times you do not know what you are missing till you get better. Imagine someone from the jungle of Africa and give them really low quality ice cream. They would be is awe of how great it tastes. Would rant and rave, tell their friends that it is the best tasting stuff in all the world. You could tell them thst it is low quality and the good tasting stuff is Ben and Jerrys. They would tell that that there is no way that there could be anything better, this cheap ice cream is wonderfull.

As to the sharpening, I can sharpen almost any quality of steel to a razer edge. The question is not if you can get it sharp, it is will it stay sharp. Quality steel holds an edge. Tandy blades are not that hard, they can easily be sharpened, they also easily go dull. I don't know if the steel is differant or the same in the new knifes, so not sure if the blade issue has been addressed.

Aaron

[billymac814]

I don't think a super expensive knife is going to make anyone better at tooling though unless they are already good. I do very little tooling so I'm not that good but when I started I had Tandy ones as well as Barry King ones and another good one that I can't remember what it is. Neither made any noticeable difference to my tooling however someone more experienced than me would probably be able to tell the difference.

Moral of my post? I have no idea but if you're new don't think that spending 100 bucks or so on a new knife will improve much, that's what I thought and I was let down although at the time I probably mentally thought it made me better just to justify the cost. I still use my cheap ones along side the better ones since I have different blades in each it makes it easier for me.

[sinpac]

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.

I really enjoy my King knife

Edited January 20, 2013 by sinpac

[lightningad]

thanks everyone...now i understand. Its not so much the blade thats the problem as the bearings or lack thereof. I'll stick with what i have and spend any spare cash (ha!) on leather for the foreseeable.