WyomingSlick Report post Posted July 14, 2014 Does anybody know for sure if the stamping tools listed in this eBay auction are actually stainless steel tools or are they calling chrome plated tools "stainless" ? http://www.ebay.com/itm/20Pcs-Stainless-Steel-Leather-Carving-Engrave-Butterfly-Drop-Tools-Stamp-Sets-/131241953473?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item1e8ea148c1#ht_2945wt_1306 LOL I was thinking that if they really were stainless, I could take some of them and modify them into some actually useful tools. The metal lathe work they would save me would be considerable Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
J Hayes Report post Posted July 14, 2014 I saw those too and was wondering the same thing. Much easier to start with ones that are half done. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mudruck Report post Posted July 14, 2014 (edited) The thing that would make me really, really nervous is that the tools all have the Z- prefix to the standard CT numbers. I have a couple of those exact stamps that have the Z- prefix, the wiggly backgrounder and the scalloped veiner, and they are for sure not stainless steel and are a very poorly chromed low grade steel stamp. From what I have seen, I believe they are possibly factory seconds from one of the tandy factories that may not pass QC for some reason or another or make it out of the factory for some other reason. The actual impression the stamps make I would rate at a poor grade. Ive thought about selling the stamps on Ebay just to free up room, but I woudnt feel right about charging more for shipping then the stamps are really worth. Edited July 14, 2014 by Mudruck Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Studio-N Report post Posted July 14, 2014 they sure look like Tandy tools. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Troy Burch Report post Posted July 14, 2014 (edited) Does anybody know for sure if the stamping tools listed in this eBay auction are actually stainless steel tools or are they calling chrome plated tools "stainless" ? http://www.ebay.com/itm/20Pcs-Stainless-Steel-Leather-Carving-Engrave-Butterfly-Drop-Tools-Stamp-Sets-/131241953473?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item1e8ea148c1#ht_2945wt_1306 Chinese stainless.jpg LOL I was thinking that if they really were stainless, I could take some of them and modify them into some actually useful tools. The metal lathe work they would save me would be considerable I have a few craftools in the Z series. They look like those but I thought they were made in Taiwon ( however it's spelled). I went to my shop and took a file to one and it was stainless steal. My pic is terrible but they look like them to me. However the basket stamp on my ct is a X series and the 7th from the right is a S series. The leaf third from the right and the first one on the right is a L series but your pic doesn't show the numbers. I bought a fella's tool set years ago and these were mixed in so mine are fairly old tools. I'm a little suspicious about the wrong lettering because I have about half of them in your pic that are labeled V, C, etc not Z. The pic is worse than I thought. If you need it I'll find my good camera and take another. Edited July 14, 2014 by Troy Burch Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mudruck Report post Posted July 14, 2014 I have a few craftools in the Z series. They look like those but I thought they were made in Taiwon ( however it's spelled). I went to my shop and took a file to one and it was stainless steal. My pic is terrible but they look like them to me. However the basket stamp on my ct is a X series and the 7th from the right is a S series. The leaf third from the right and the first one on the right is a L series but your pic doesn't show the numbers. I bought a fella's tool set years ago and these were mixed in so mine are fairly old tools. I'm a little suspicious about the wrong lettering because I have about half of them in your pic that are labeled V, C, etc not Z. The pic is worse than I thought. If you need it I'll find my good camera and take another. Now, there is a HUGE difference in the stamps marked in a manner such as Z-...., such as a Z-V451 or a Z-C211 and the regular V451 or C211. If you look at the photo from the auction, you can see the Z- prefix on the stamps. The Z- stamps are much lower quality metal than the standard craftool stamps. They are usually used on the cheap 'starter set' stamps and have even lower quality plating than the normal craftool stamps. All basketweave stamps from tandy are an X series. When I get home tonight I can take some pics and show you the differences in the finishes and stamps of the ones that I have. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
WyomingSlick Report post Posted July 14, 2014 LOL Ok folks, I appreciate all of your input, but what I really was wanting was to hear from somebody who actually bought the tools from one of the ebay auctions that described them as stainless". If you have bought one of these sets, it is a simple manner to determine if they are stainless steel or not with a magnet test. Stainless steel tools will not attract a magnet, or will attract only weakly compared to a steel tool.......depending on the alloy composition. Now while it does seem unlikely that these are actually stainless steel alloy tools........it is not impossible.....perhaps?? Checking on the ebay "sold" lists, quite a few of these have been sold and I was just thinking perhaps someone here may have bought them. I would contact the seller, but from past experiance, I have not had a great deal of luck bridging the language gap with our eastern cousins. And yes, they are very poorly shaped tools......mostly suited only for kids and other beginners.....but at less than 2 bucks a tool, certainly nothing to bitch about. Hell. at that price you could use the more ornamental ones to make a fancy hat/coat rack ! LOL See.....I have been thinking about what to do with them if I bought them and they were not stainless steel. Speaking of the eastern stuff on ebay........anybody have any input on what are described as "white steel" chisels and pricking irons? P.S. I don't need any info about Craftools. I have probably forgot more than most people know on that subject Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kidogo55 Report post Posted July 14, 2014 Interesting topic re quality and use - I have a number of the chinese made stamps with the Z prefix - the usual basic carving stamps. I often use these for classes for kids and senior craft classes for beginners - at the price they are almost a disposable item and it allows for the some tool abuse. Horses for courses. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Troy Burch Report post Posted July 14, 2014 There is a much better deal at Tandy right now. $2.99 each for out of production craftools, looks like about 95 kinds to choose from. Make sure they're stainless the flier dosen't say. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
electrathon Report post Posted July 15, 2014 There is a much better deal at Tandy right now. $2.99 each for out of production craftools, looks like about 95 kinds to choose from. Make sure they're stainless the flier dosen't say.To the best of my knowledge there is only one stainless tool in the Craftool line (it is a cam tool). Not sure if it is on close out. The pro series tools (the stainless ones) are not on close out. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kidogo55 Report post Posted July 15, 2014 Just had a chance to check the last ones I purchased and while the qual and finish is pretty poor they appear to be stainless - checked with a magnet - what quality of SS I have no idea - I will try and machine one to see how it comes out - the last lot were less than USD1.30 each so one could afford to do some destructive testing! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
WyomingSlick Report post Posted July 21, 2014 Just bought a set that had one of the Z tools in it so I did an evaluation. In one word..........or two...... CRAP ! or JUNK ! Didn't matter so much that the tool was formed by molding or that the finish sucked.......but any stamp that bent as easily as this thing did ain't much good for much of anything.. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mudruck Report post Posted July 24, 2014 Wow, that is for sure some soft metal if the shaft bent like that. Good to know to steer far away from these 'stainless steel' junk tools. Thanks for the update Slick. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Quillleather Report post Posted August 2, 2014 Wyoming slick, how did you bend it? Did you put it in a vice and give it a yank? Or did it bend during being used the way it was intended to be used? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
