Which beginner tool kit ???

[Hardrada]

10 hours ago, chrisash said:

Nobody makes garbage tools anymore

Not true at all. China has been consistently flooding the market with garbage and they will continue to do so as long as there are people willing to 'save' money buying such rubbish.

Even Tandy has quite a number of Chinese-made items and a number of them are utter garbage. Case in point: their economy Craftool oblong punches. I bought one: it's an ABJECT PIECE OF CRAP! Can I say that louder? Flimsy thing, bent so that the shape isn't regular but bean-shaped, won't punch through 9 oz English bridle cleanly and without about a dozen whacks of a heavy mallet (wanna have fun? Try punching a hole with that using Tandy's yellow poly mallet)... I could go on, but the point is made: there are plenty is a mega-surplus of garbage tools out there, just waiting for the 'budget-minded' poor sap to buy them—buy them many times over.

Edited January 19, 2020 by Hardrada

[Hardrada]

11 hours ago, Onidori said:

What im asking is, do i avoid Tandy's tools because they are garbage? Or are they good? Are Weaver's tools better quality than Tandy's? (Which seems to be what im picking up, Weavers tools tend to be better made and more geared toward the professional, while Tandy's are more for the beginner). Avoid both altogether and go with a different brand?

Tandy is all over the place. Some of their stuff, such as their Craftool Pro punches,  is made in Taiwan, which is good, whereas other items are made in China which should say enough about what you can expect in terms of quality. Now, there's some Chinese stuff that is relatively decent, but it won't be the cheapest priced, obviously. We do get what we pay for. BuckleGuy, for instance, has most of their hardware manufactured in China: I ordered two different kinds of buckles from them: the ~$1.04 buckle is garbage: you can bend the prong with your fingers effortlessly, but their $1.78 buckle is solid enough.

Weaver's tools, the ones made in the USA are very good. I just got one of their Mastercraft oblong punches to replace the crap one I got from Tandy, and I'm impressed: sharp, perfect shape, and it punches through 9 oz English bridle easily. Of course, Tandy's junk punch is $13, versus $86 for the Weaver. Again, we get what we pay for. I didn't 'save' $73 when I bought Tandy's economy punch: I LOST $13! The time spent fixing the twisted shape with a clickers knife should be chalked up as a loss too.

If you have a Tandy store nearby you can physically visit, do go there and check out their tools. Check the labels to see their provenance; weigh them in your hand; see how sharp they are; &c. If your only choice is to buy online, then avoid the 'economy' tools and save money by choosing the 'pro' ones.

Other tools that are good: C. S. Osborne (although there are reports that they've been cutting corners too, but what I've got from them is good); Kyoshin Elle and Seiwa (you can get them at Rocky Mountain Leather Supply or at goodsjapan.com); Barry King (their mallets are a must, skip the Tandy mallets).

Edited January 19, 2020 by Hardrada
Addenda

[sinpac]

10 hours ago, chrisash said:

"regardless of price are now made using CNC machines and the finishing is the only difference in price"

I would have to say that is a false statement. Here is a statement made from a dealer in stamps " This tool should not be struck with a weighted maul as this stamp is made of a lightweight metal, likely zinc, and could bend or break." 

This is from another tool manufacturer. "Using only stainless steel in the making of these tools, you will see the precision grinding in every impression you make." Key word grind. That tells me handmade. Like Craftool did years ago.

There are several manufacturing plant pumping out low quality tools. I for one don't want to keep buying them over and over. Am I saying never buy overseas? of course not. Japan has some great tool makers. What I am saying is, if it sounds to good to be true, then it probably is.

Edited January 19, 2020 by sinpac

[sinpac]

15 minutes ago, Hardrada said:

C. S. Osborne (although there are reports that they've been cutting corners too

I would say on some of there stuff you are correct.

top left: Vintage #6 Craftool U.S.A.

top right: #9 Gomph

bottom Osborne #6

[Onidori]

On 1/19/2020 at 11:18 AM, Hardrada said:

Case in point: their economy Craftool oblong punches. I bought one: it's an ABJECT PIECE OF CRAP! Can I say that louder? Flimsy thing, bent so that the shape isn't regular but bean-shaped, won't punch through 9 oz English bridle cleanly

Ironically, watching videos from Tandy and Weaver on their obling punches is what brought this question up in my mind. I could see in the videos the apparent quality difference between the 2, as well as their fit & finish and build quality. Then, when i physcially went in to the  local Tandy store and saw their oblong punches, i was rather disappoineted and immediately knew something was up. So i started searching the internet, and thats how i wound up here.

[Onidori]

One thing i would like to really make a point to say to you all is: thak you.

 

I have gotten a lot of great responses and information from you all, and have gotten nothing but a friendly, warm welcome from this community, which can be a very rare thing to find in any hobby/trade, which tend to be full of condescending and standoffish "veterans". So far that has not at all been the case and i want you to know it is appreciated.