new old tools?

[jimmyduded]

does anyone have some old gouges or planes and such they would like to sell me? I used some of my bosses old tools yesterday(belonged to his father) and they were awesome, so if anyone has any let me know asap due to the fact I use my own tools for work

[Matthew Tucker]

ebay. lots to choose from.

[jimmyduded]

any specific brands that are especially good?

[Matthew Tucker]

Old stuff can be good, depends what you need. I bought a new large Pfeil gouge online and fitted a new handle, that worked well, then I found an old gouge, much bigger, fitted new handle - works better! My home made planes work better than the small luthiers planes I was lent. Also Jimmy, depends a lot on what your budget is. There are some great brands, but I'll wager you can't afford them.

my favourite indispensible tools I use all the time are

large gouge 30mm #9 sweep or bigger
large.long flat paring chisel 30mm blade
japanese saw
#4 stanley plane
#6 stanley plane
sanding sticks
small wooden luthier planes (20mm blades)
sharp knives
cordless drill/driver

[jimmyduded]

my parents are giving me about 400 to get new tools, for sharp knives, any type of knife? or are there certian carving knives

[Darren Molnar]

You're kinda at the point where you need everything, aren't you?
I think the first place I'd start is to make a list of things you will use every day, or every week, and another list of things you will need in the future. Then a third list of things you would like to have, but can get by with out. might make it easier. If you try to get every thing at once, you'll end up with cheap tools. And replace them with better ones sooner than you think. But if you just get the things off of the first list,things you absolutely need, you narrow the feild a bit, and can buy great quality stuff right away.

And it helps to narrow things even further. You want knives? You have to ask what the knives will be used for, and thatwill tell you what kind to buy. For example, the knife you use to trim sound posts will be different than the knife you use to carve a bridge, etc.

Good stores to look at are ones like Japan Woodworker, Lee Valley, Lie-nelson (sp)A lot of the luthier specific stores like international violin and luthiers merchantile are fine also, they all tend to sell the same stuff and even the same brands. Things like finger planes, reamers, fret files, etc.

I'd look at the stuff you're boss uses, also, and if you like them, look for similar items using google to start. But first ask you're boss "do you like this tool? Do you use it all the time? Would you buy a better quality one if you could? Would you like this tool better if it was shaped different? things like that.

And don't forget the sharpening stones! Tool shoping is fun, man!

Start that first list. And post it hear to see what we all think.

[jimmyduded]

needs every day:finger plane(convex)the kind my boss uses has a little handle sticking out of the back of the plane, some sort of wooden hammer(not sure what its called), a set of chisels and a large quantity of razors
needs every week: gouges and larger planes

future:ban saw

im pretty bare bones

[Bob Branstetter]

In addition to the good advice you've received already from Darren and Matthew, another possible source for good used tools is to go to your local woodworking tool store and ask about local clubs and organizations for wood workers and wood carvers. Many of these local organizations publish newsletters to their members and it is not unusual to see notices of tools for sale by elderly members who are no longer physically able to participate, or tools for sale by the family of members who have died. I've acquired some fine old hand and power tools that are no longer available new from these sources.

[jimmyduded]

great idea! thanks

[Darren Molnar]

Looking into the wood worker's clubs in you're area is great lead.

Some suggestion for you're list, Jimmy;
Finger plane, not sure how big you want, but look at Luthier's Mercantile website for a few different brands, one of them has the handle built into it.Then check e-bay to see if you can get cheaper used ones.

Wooden hammers ( carvers mallet ) Check out Lee Valley, three or four types there.

Chisel sets, lot to choose from there, you might only need three or four different sizes, so you could buy a few good quality ones instead of a whole set of so-so ones. the chisels on my own dream list are in the Japan woodworker's catalogue.

Things like razors and exacto knives and the like, check out you're local hobby store, the kind that sells remote control planes and kits and such.

Gouges, Lots use the brand Pfeil, as Matthew said. They work well, but are a bit mushy, soft. But they are easier to sharpen, if you're just learning to do that. Lots of woodworking stores sell those, probably locally.

Hope this helps

[jimmyduded]

thank you, ill post pictures when my toolbox is finished(for now)

[Darren Molnar]

Don't know why I'm so full of advice today, must be a case of early Christmas spirit or something.

Any way, regarding the chisels and gouges, I've found that I use two or three of them most of the time, and the other six or seven I use hardly ever. The ones I use most often are the biggest widest ones. I usually pick a tool that almost looks too big for the job, and it's just about right. I wouldn't bother with, for example, the small carving gouges that are like two mm or something. You see those carving kits at the stores that have five or six baby gouges in different shapes. You'll probably never use them. 3/8 inch is probably the smallest I use on a day to day basis.

[jimmyduded]

darren i just clicked on your link, im amazed, you make some beautiful violins

[Darren Molnar]

Thanks Jimmy,

in another week or two I should have a bunch of pictures of completed instruments in the instrument gallery. I'm just waiting for my photographer/website guy to get off of his bottom.

[jimmyduded]

they really are gorgeous, I dont even want to know what one costs, even if i could play violin haha

[Darren Molnar]

They are cheaper than most handmade fiddles. I don't have a pedigree from a school.
But I think its probably breaking the rules to be advertizing prices on here. So I won't say.

Do you have any sharpening stones yet? I think I'd add that to you're "use every day list", also.

[jimmyduded]

oh yes i do haha, along with many many many old planes from my grandfather, too big to work on instruments however

[Darren Molnar]

very cool. Tools from you're Grandfather, can't beat that. Hang on to them. Use them on big instruments

[jimmyduded]

it would have to be a 26/26(i know it simplifies) bass, they are norrmal bench planes i think

[Matthew Tucker]

normal bench planes are useful as. Sharpen them all and keep them that way.

You know, if I were you I'd just buy the tools as you need them. That way you won't buy something that looks nice in the shop and ends up on the shelf. And things like a band saw are really useful but a borrowed jigsaw will do you for the first bass.

Someone lent me a whole bag of violinmaking chisels and gouges when i started. MOST of them are still wrapped up in the bag, as only a few were really useful.

If you buy a finger plane instead of making one, get a big one with at least 20mm blade. The smaller ones are useful every now and again, but I wouldn't go out of my way to buy any.

Check this link. http://dunwellguitar.com/FingerPlanes/MyDesign.htm

that's how I made my planes. Its a good test of woodworking skills, not too hard and you'll end up with a whole set.