How to Determine Crappy Vs Quality Tools

[@monikasturm2575]

I'm loving my beaver craft they come sharp right out the box they even give you Band-Aids. While they are sharp at first they get even better after with a few strops and hold up against yellow pine and some miserably hard poplar I got from the hardware store. I actually did Doug's penguin out of the yellow pine then forgot to strop my knife and finished his tiny comfort birds out of basswood with no problem.

[@AlecLaCasseArt]

Thanks for sharing the review!

[@RuneCarverLLC]

Nice video! I have purchased/used both Beaver Craft and Flexcut (as well as several others) and must say that Beaver Craft has often let me down and is rarely sharp, and seems to have an inferior steel that doesn't sharpen well, not hold an edge well either. I have purchased them directly from Ukraine as well as from several vendors in the USA, and these purchases cover many years worth of manufacturing, so it's not just the recent wartime stuff. 🤨🥲💁 I'm certainly not a Flexcut fanboy, however I do have many kits and singles i have purchased and use more often than the Beaver Craft. Flexcut has always arrived quite sharp and ready to go. The steel is easier to sharpen and holds an edge longer... this also covers many years of manufacturing. Flexcut is also from Ukraine, but seems to have a better QA pieces in place... again many years before the recent war, and correctly. I have also bought many carving tools from private parties that are Ukrainian blacksmiths and custom carving knife/tool markers and their procedures are definitely superior to both, so I know Ukraine can produce quality tools if they want to.

[@jerrystark3587]

I am familiar with Beavercraft's Sloyd-type knives (straight and hooked) and with Beavercraft's smaller carving knives. They are affordable, they come sharp, and they are well constructed. They take a polished edge well, and, when sharp, they cut smoothly and comfortably. However, in my experience they do not hold an edge as well as Mora knives or Flex Cut knives. I make these observations based on carving with all three brands in both white pine and poplar. To me, this suggests differences in Rockwell hardness between these brands, but I have no way of testing this speculation. That said, my Beavercraft knives are easily sharpened by hand with diamond stones and strops, which is my preferred method, but I do have to sharpen them more often. This is not a deal breaker for me. I like and use Beavercraft knives. I feel comfortable suggesting that others try them, as well. Nonetheless, I consider this a relevant observation in this context. I have not yet compared these brands for carving basswood. Perhaps when carving basswood the differences I have noted will be less apparent. Because Basswood is softer than both pine and poplar (usually), each of these brand's blades should carve better and longer in that wood. I will keep testing all three brands to see if this is the case. Thanks to Alex for another good video. 👍👍 BTW: I wholeheartedly endorse Alex's recommendation that carver's wear safety gloves. I wear a safety glove on my left hand and a leather guard on my right thumb when I carve. Had I not worn my safety glove, I would have injured myself severely a half dozen times in the last few months alone. Call me a klutz if you must, but I am damned glad I had that glove on. Just saying...

[@AlecLaCasseArt]

Thanks for sharing this in depth review!

[@timbumgarner1207]

I have several different brands, Flexcut, Beavercraft, and another brand. I like them, just different blands for a different use.

[@docinparadise]

Thanks for mentioning Beavercraft. I’m a big fan! They come sharper than my flex cuts and were half the price. They also have a bit of a bulge in the handle that prevents it from turning in my grip. It reduces fatigue for me. Of course, if you have huge, beefy man hands it probably won’t matter for you. Plus I am extremely impressed with their customer service, which is something I really never thought I’d say🤷🏼‍♀️

[@AlecLaCasseArt]

Glad to hear!

[@buckbeans1]

The hooked skew knife was first introduced to western carving by Ray Gonzales out of England.. Rockwell testing indicates hardness..not edge retention. Equally importantly is the heat treatment used. You are right about the New buck brothers tools poor quality. The original gouges with the wooden handles are much better than most of the tools made from the stamped steel blades. The buck gouges were individually cast from molten steel, a very expensive process they cannot afford to do..I will buy an older buck gouge over a Pfeil any time.. The older buck now command higher prices as collector items.

[@AlecLaCasseArt]

Gotta love old tools! Thanks for sharing your knowledge!

[@timbuffington5717]

As much as I hate to admit this I was wearing a glove and with that skewed flexcut knife I turned it over without noticing because of the shape of the handle I press my thumb down really hard on it to make a stop cut and the blade went right through my glove and cut my thumb really really good I haven't been able to carve for a week. Super bummed. Anyway I still love flexcut and I decided to shape the handle like the other flexcut knives that way I know if it flips over in my hand I was just so into the carving carving pretty quick and I didn't realize it flipped in my hand and with the glove on, it went right through, I have the textured gloves as well. Lesson learned. It was my fault not flexcut I absolutely love their knives. Also love your work and the videos 👍

[@AlecLaCasseArt]

Oh dang! Good reminder that the glove can't save us from everything! Hope your recovery is going quickly !

[@wattsnex2725]

Beavercraft are decent starter knives. Only thing is that those knives have pretty thick blades. So it doesn’t exactly glide through the wood. For about $10 more you can get an OCCT knife which are great knives and much thinner.

[@AlecLaCasseArt]

Thanks for sharing that!

[@futuristicbear9040]

I bought Beaver Craft knife when I first started to carve it is not good. I then bought Flexcut a really big difference. Flexcut was very good compared to Beaver.

[@AlecLaCasseArt]

There you go!

[@docinparadise]

That’s funny, I had the opposite experience. Maybe it’s all a matter of preference, but my flex cut knives weren’t sharp from the box and I’ve never really been able to get a good edge on them. Maybe I just got a dud set🤷🏼‍♀️ Beavercraft on the other hand we’re razor sharp and they strop back to factory edge quickly for me. It’s good there are different brands to suit different preferences.👍🏻💕

[@truenorthcarver]

I like flex cut tools but not the handle finish. I sand them right down, wipe them with a tack cloth and then apply tru oil (for gun stocks). Once dry, buff with a soft cloth followed by a brush..smooth, soft finish.

[@AlecLaCasseArt]

Good idea!

[@docinparadise]

Hook knives carve concave shapes well. I like Beavercraft because I can afford them and they’re good, but there are many brands out there. Search “bowl and spoon” carving knives. I imagine you will have a tough time scooping out a sink bowl with a knife. I got a set of big Beavercraft mallet type gouges and a flex craft spoon gouge for Christmas and I love them. They would take out the bulk of your project, but you’ll need something like a hook knife to get a smooth concave shape I think. It’s my understanding that the hook knife shapes concave areas horizontally and the spoon gouge does the same vertically. It seems you would want both for a smooth finish. I could be wrong, as I’m just beginning to try spoons and bowls. Now you have me wanting to make a sink! I had a redwood fall in a storm. Anyone know if you can carve redwood?

[@phillipjackson2877]

I actually have a set of HarborFreight palm tools. They require a lot of work out of the box but once I got them sharp they aren’t bad, not the best but not bad

[@AlecLaCasseArt]

Good to know

[@johnjude2685]

I'm beginning and build some knives from Sawzall blade and they seem great took a fine edge but didn't cut popular from Home Depot so I'm interested in this leason I'm a hobbyists BlackSmith and would you recommend 1095 or M1 typt of carbon steel for my next set of carving knives.

[@AlecLaCasseArt]

Far be it from me to suggest a steel! I never became much of a blacksmith!

[@WIZ-IN-PA]

Great video Alec! I have to get back to your sharpening video. Sharpening the curve on a gouge is still quite perplexing for me. I know you like the Worksharp 3000 so I am looking into getting one. Just missed out on one on eBay for like $120 bucks. Dag-nabbit! Son of a snake herder! 🤣

[@AlecLaCasseArt]

Good luck finding one!!

[@wireman81]

I would like to see you review harbor freight

[@tomevans4402]

I have a few of all these knive but not the R murghy, might have to get one😂 I got some O1 steel and made a knife, works good. But you can buy some good knives for not much money

[@AlecLaCasseArt]

Very cool! True!

[@garychancey9143]

Check out Harbour freight carving tools. I recently bought a set. Never carved before.

[@AlecLaCasseArt]

Will do thanks

[@retireddac]

Good video! Since you asked, I would like the to see testing of cheaper carving tools. That would be great. I’m just getting into smaller wood carving. I live on an offgrid homestead that we built, we sharpen and maintain our tools too. But our knives were more on the other end of the size range like draw knives and branch trimming blades. I have recently purchased a beaver craft gouge and a Morakniv (not sure which one but it’s small and works great). My first carving projects is a bathroom sink from 1/2 a log. I’d love to know a recommendation of carving knife shapes that are most functional. Not to collect but ones that actually get used. Lol Thanks for the info. I appreciate it

[@AlecLaCasseArt]

Love that you're doing offgrid living! I would invest in a 2-3" #7-#9 spoon gouge for the sink and a good mallet!

[@michaelbond142]

The only thing I don’t like about flexcut is the handle shape

[@chrisb.4496]

Sandpaper is your friend...

[@michaelbond142]

@@chrisb.4496 I’ll have take it to the belt sander and reshape it l

[@docinparadise]

@@michaelbond142are you by chance left handed? I’m ambidextrous and find the bulge comfortable enough with my right hand but impossible with my left. With either hand, though, I can’t seem to “choke up” on the handle (pool cue jargon😜) and hold it close to the knife like I see a lot of carvers do. I’m thinking a straight, or even palm handle might be worth looking into.