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Woodturning (rec.crafts.woodturning) To discuss tools, techniques, styles, materials, shows and competitions, education and educational materials related to woodturning. All skill levels are welcome, from art turners to production turners, beginners to masters. |
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#1
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Benjamin's Best tools anyone?
Has anyone ever tried buying those chisels/gauges from "Penn State
Industries"? They are pretty cheap and I wonder about their quality (after some grinding obviously) Thanks |
#2
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Benjamin's Best tools anyone?
I have been using tool sold by Addis, Crown, Taylor, Sorby and Hamlets for
about 3 years. Last year I purchased a Benjamin's Best tools, 3/4 Diamond side cutting scrapper Benjamin's Best tools from Jacques Coulombre in Canada. I have used this tool since. So far the quality of the HSS appears to be the same as my other tools. The grinding sparks are identical and it keeps it hedge as long as the other tools. The Benjamin's wood handles are not as husky as the other I have. When I look at my other tools all of them have the logo or stamp England. None of them are marked "Made In England". This along with the fact that I buy HSS tool bit its stamped made in China gives me food for thought. The best proof is to use it and find out by yourself. I do not think that the quality of HSS use to produce Benjamin's best is number one plus but it is fair to midland. "Moshe Eshel" wrote in message oups.com... Has anyone ever tried buying those chisels/gauges from "Penn State Industries"? They are pretty cheap and I wonder about their quality (after some grinding obviously) Thanks |
#3
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Benjamin's Best tools anyone?
Moshe Eshel wrote: Has anyone ever tried buying those chisels/gauges from "Penn State Industries"? They are pretty cheap and I wonder about their quality (after some grinding obviously) Thanks I have mostly Sorby lathe tools,needed a parting tool so I took a chance on the Benjamins best. Very satisfied with it. I bought a set for my grandson, tried all six chisels and gouges,work as well as the Sorby's,sharpen the same.Go for it, I usually don't buy inexpensive tools,you get what you pay for. But in this case I do reccomend the Bengamins Best tools. mike |
#4
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Benjamin's Best tools anyone?
About 3 months ago, I purchased the 1/2" and 5/8" "bowl" gouges. They were
a pretty good buy and seemed to be well made for the money, and after regrinding to a fingernail shape they did take and hold a good edge. BUT they were too shallow fluted for bowl work. Worked fine as spindle gouges. I complained to PSI customer service and apparently others did too. They informed me that the problem would be corrected when the new shipment arrived around the middle of November. They called this week to verify shipment of the new gouges and said I did not need to return the originals. They do stand behind their products. "Moshe Eshel" wrote in message oups.com... Has anyone ever tried buying those chisels/gauges from "Penn State Industries"? They are pretty cheap and I wonder about their quality (after some grinding obviously) Thanks |
#5
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Benjamin's Best tools anyone?
Moshe wrote:
Has anyone ever tried buying those chisels/gauges from "Penn State Industries"? Sadly, yes. I hate them. I have a ton of $$ in tools about , all from England. These do 95% as well (or AS well) as my Sorby, Crown, Hamlet, and Taylors, and they are 25% or so of the cost. Sometimes about 30%. They only reason I wouldn't go 100% as well is that they put the same damn handle on just about everything. The handle are fine for the smaller tools, but they are not near enough meat for the larger ones. That should make the "I handle my own anyway" crowd happy, but I am spoiled with my Taylor tools as they all have great handles on them. The finish and polish is as good as the new Sorbys and Crown tools I see at Woodcraft. The handles are kiln dried white ash, lacquer dipped. I agree with Dave W's comment that they are tool shallow to make a great bowl gouge, especially for someone like me that is used to the "super flute" type gouges. They are a really solid tools, even without a price price consideration. But at those prices you can't go wrong. I now have several of their tools and like them all. Robert |
#6
Posted to rec.crafts.woodturning
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Benjamin's Best tools anyone?
I recognize that some of the handles on the Benjamin's best tools are not
all that great. When I am pleased with the cutting performance of a tool and do not like the handle I make one to suit. They do not cost me much and can be made in a short time. I like to use ash. Then I power sand to 600 grit. Raise the grain with water and sand again. Most of the time I apply Danish oil or waterborne varnish. |
#7
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Benjamin's Best tools anyone?
Tom:
I think all the stuff on the site is BB tools. These are the pages I ordered from: http://www.pennstateind.com/store/lcind.html and http://www.pennstateind.com/store/lcset.html I don't know how they will do up there in the long run, and they don't have the really nice catalogue that Craft Supplies or Packard has, but they have been great to work with and shipped quick with no problems. They seem to have a full compliment of the tools in stock which is a huge surprise since the almost always seem to be out. Let us know how you like them if you bite. Robert |
#8
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Benjamin's Best tools anyone?
Robert,
Thanks. Your second link was the one I spoke of with only one item titled Benjamin's Best. Am trying to find an economical set(s) for the wife and friends to use "and sharpen".. In fact, I'm thinking of buying a couple minis to teach from as well. Have to study on that a bit more. Have to get more of this house finished for the holidays before more projects Missed finishing the fireplace for Thanksgiving. Of course, the wife didn't mind (LOL or is that crying). TomNie wrote in message oups.com... Tom: I think all the stuff on the site is BB tools. These are the pages I ordered from: http://www.pennstateind.com/store/lcind.html and http://www.pennstateind.com/store/lcset.html I don't know how they will do up there in the long run, and they don't have the really nice catalogue that Craft Supplies or Packard has, but they have been great to work with and shipped quick with no problems. They seem to have a full compliment of the tools in stock which is a huge surprise since the almost always seem to be out. Let us know how you like them if you bite. Robert |
#9
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Benjamin's Best tools anyone?
The problem with PSI, Benj's bowl gouges, is they are really spindle
gouges. At least that's been my experience. When I called to complain, of course, the grouchy females that answer the phones, didn't know what I was talking about. So, they put me thru to their "Turning Tech Guru" (forgot his name), but, I may just as well have kept speaking with the grouchy females. At least they admitted they didn't know what I was talking about. This guy told me, like they told you, that the problem would be corrected with the next shipment. That was a couple of years ago. So, I see now, that was bull. At PSI, they don't know a bowl gouge from a skew chisel. My first experience with the "Benji Best" was the 6 piece set, at least 4 years ago. I liked them well enough that I thought I'd try another set. Well, the quality wasn't nearly as good as the first set. And, the bowl gouge, was a shallow gouge (read spindle gouge), not a deep fluted (bowl gouge). What they did was reduce the price, along with the quality, which is to be expected. Still, for the money, for a first set, it is still worth the money. I did buy 6 of their scrapers recently, & I think they are also a good buy. HTH, |
#10
Posted to rec.crafts.woodturning
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Benjamin's Best tools anyone?
I think they have corrected the bowl gouge issue, because I purchased the
bowl turning set last month and the two gouges were deep fluted bowl gouges. I have used them sparingly so far but they seem to be of good quality for the price. Like someone mentioned earlier, they might be sold on the Windsor Design name because they look very similar to the Windsor Design set I got from Harbor Freight. John wrote in message ps.com... The problem with PSI, Benj's bowl gouges, is they are really spindle gouges. At least that's been my experience. When I called to complain, of course, the grouchy females that answer the phones, didn't know what I was talking about. So, they put me thru to their "Turning Tech Guru" (forgot his name), but, I may just as well have kept speaking with the grouchy females. At least they admitted they didn't know what I was talking about. This guy told me, like they told you, that the problem would be corrected with the next shipment. That was a couple of years ago. So, I see now, that was bull. At PSI, they don't know a bowl gouge from a skew chisel. My first experience with the "Benji Best" was the 6 piece set, at least 4 years ago. I liked them well enough that I thought I'd try another set. Well, the quality wasn't nearly as good as the first set. And, the bowl gouge, was a shallow gouge (read spindle gouge), not a deep fluted (bowl gouge). What they did was reduce the price, along with the quality, which is to be expected. Still, for the money, for a first set, it is still worth the money. I did buy 6 of their scrapers recently, & I think they are also a good buy. HTH, |
#11
Posted to rec.crafts.woodturning
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Benjamin's Best tools anyone?
I sent an email complaining the "bowl gouges" I had received were actually
spindle gouges, not deep fluted bowl gouges. They said they were aware of the problem and would replace them as soon as the new ones came in. They did so and I received them this week. They had a good fingernail grind and I just touched them up on the Tormek before turning couple of box elder bowls. I am very satisfied with them. They work as well as my more expensive ones. They may or may not last as long, only time will tell, but I can buy several of them for the price of a Sorby. By the way, PSI told me I could keep the spindle gouges. Dave gouges. wrote in message ps.com... The problem with PSI, Benj's bowl gouges, is they are really spindle gouges. At least that's been my experience. When I called to complain, of course, the grouchy females that answer the phones, didn't know what I was talking about. So, they put me thru to their "Turning Tech Guru" (forgot his name), but, I may just as well have kept speaking with the grouchy females. At least they admitted they didn't know what I was talking about. This guy told me, like they told you, that the problem would be corrected with the next shipment. That was a couple of years ago. So, I see now, that was bull. At PSI, they don't know a bowl gouge from a skew chisel. My first experience with the "Benji Best" was the 6 piece set, at least 4 years ago. I liked them well enough that I thought I'd try another set. Well, the quality wasn't nearly as good as the first set. And, the bowl gouge, was a shallow gouge (read spindle gouge), not a deep fluted (bowl gouge). What they did was reduce the price, along with the quality, which is to be expected. Still, for the money, for a first set, it is still worth the money. I did buy 6 of their scrapers recently, & I think they are also a good buy. HTH, |
#12
Posted to rec.crafts.woodturning
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Benjamin's Best tools anyone?
Went to Penn State page but could find only one Benjamin...
Rest are what?? Robert, is Benjamin... critical or Penn State any OK?? TomNie "Moshe Eshel" wrote in message oups.com... Has anyone ever tried buying those chisels/gauges from "Penn State Industries"? They are pretty cheap and I wonder about their quality (after some grinding obviously) Thanks |
#13
Posted to rec.crafts.woodturning
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Benjamin's Best tools anyone?
On 27 Nov 2005 05:56:38 -0800, "Moshe Eshel" wrote:
Has anyone ever tried buying those chisels/gauges from "Penn State Industries"? They are pretty cheap and I wonder about their quality (after some grinding obviously) Thanks I've added several of their tools and been happy with them... Their scrapers seem very nice for the price... as a basically cheap person, I've never used a "big name" scraper, but wonder why I would do better with one at 3 times the price? Their bowl gouge set is a great way to get the feel of bowl gouges and I've been very happy with them... lots of steel to sharpen away over the years and they seem to hold an edge well... I bought their oval skew and wasn't happy with the way it was ground, but other than that it's a good value.. (more of a knife edge than a shew edge) If I was going to sum it up, I'd say that they were inexpensive tools, not cheap tools... IMO, there's a big difference.. mac Please remove splinters before emailing |
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