I was at a Harbor Freight store about a month ago. I saw this set for $30
and couldn't pass it up. Yea, I have all the nice Sorby tools I need, but
for the price I had to get it. They really are not too bad. The fluting on
the gouges is a little rough. They don't stay sharp too long, but are
reasonable. Besides I needed practice with my sharpening. I actually use
these for roughing the outside of bowls, but after that I switch to the
Sorbys. I actually find myself using these more then I thought I ever would.

This is the "starter" set I never had. My starter set was a bunch of carbon
steel Craftsman tools. I used them a few times and couldn't take the
torture, so I started buying individual Sorby tools as I needed/wanted them.

Leslie

--
She's got tools, and she knows how to use them.


"Darren" wrote in message
...
Wow an 8 piece set for $30
(http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=47066).
That just doesn't seem right ... too good to be true type thing. I am
seeing other sets that are at least $75 and am seeing a single tool that
is
selling for $75.

Are they really any good? Not to sound disrespectful, but is this just
the
"company line" to get me to buy tools at Harbor Freight? To be honest, I
am
thinking of getting these and just replacing individual ones if there
seems
to be a better one out there.

Thanks
Darren

"Ken Moon" wrote in message
ink.net...
Hi,
You should look for High Speed Steel (HSS) M2, M4, etc. tools. These are
offered by many outlets in several brand names. The most popular is
probably
Robert Sorby or Henry Taylor. Also, there are less well known brands:
Crown,
Hamlet, P&N (a new import from Australia available from Lee Valley), and
the
"house brands" (available from Packard and Craft Supplies). Harbor
Freight
Tools has a set of HSS for under $40.00 that work well as a good starter
set. It has received good reviews from turners on this NG, and they are
the
basis for my tool set. You should look at the website or ask for
catalogs
for the following:

Packard Woodworks
Craft Supplies USA
Lee Valley Tools LTD
Harbor Freight Tools

These outlets will be able to supply you with information on the major
brands as well as some of the more exotic tools such as the powered
metal
metallurgies and specialized tools for hollowing, deep vessels, bowl
coring
systems, etc.
Good luck.

Ken Moon
Webberville, TX
================================================== =====================

"Darren" wrote in message
...
I am looking at buying some extra lathe tools (bowl gouges etc) and I
was
wondering what brands people go with? I see some have had problems
with
Marples (some say they are good), but other than that, I haven't seen
many
posts on the brands of tools. I figure the two things of interest
would
be
how long they hold an edge and overall "quality" of the handle (how it
feels, balance, sturdiness etc).

Currently, I just have a "starter" type set so I don't really have
much
to
compare it to so I would appreciate any opinions or suggestions.

Thanks
Darren