Better Chisels: Buck Brothers or Craftsman?

Samson,

I would far and away recommend Buck Brothers. I have both (as well as some ot the more pricy steels). I think the quality of Buck Brothers is far superior to Craftsman.

Larry

I've used the Crafsman tools for over 10 years and find their High Speed Steel (HSS) tools to compare well with the British tools. I don't particularly care for the shape of the crafsman spindle gouges, but their scrapers are very good. Check Ebay I've fond them there several times. Another good inexpensive choice is the $37 set sold by Harbor Freight. If any tools in the set duplicate a tool I already have I regrind these into special purpose tools. It's cheaper than buying HSS blanks.

I know for certain the older Buck brothers tools were carbon steel and wiil not hold an edge as long as HSS. Generally Carbon Steel will give you a sharper edge but will NOT hold it as long as HSS.

When I was giving lessons for a while, it seemed like everyone that came to me had those Sears HSS tools. They seem to work surprisingly well, but I hated the short steel as I lay my hand on the metal shaft when I turn and this robbed me of my handspace. But the steel seemed pretty good.

My major complaint as voiced above was the actual tool design. They were cut in strange profiles, and even with proper grinding they were still not the best. The gullets or flutes were too high or too low, or too narrow or too wide, or any combination of all.

I have only goofed a little with the Buck Bros, and it was with old carbon steel tools. I had forgotten how fast medium grade carbon tools dull on the lathe. At any rate it wasn't any kind of comparison as I would be comparing carbon steel to HSS.

Robert

I use P&N/Boral chisels and many home made ones from HSS blanks

Alan, in Gosnells, Western Oz. VK6 YAB VKS 737 - W 6174

I started turning a LOT later than most of these guys and I may have taken a different route. As I am an IT Engineer by trade, I spend 90% of my shopping time online comparing specs and prices. While looking for my turning tools, I looked at SH*T load and tried a bunch. I ended up with a set of Pinnacle Micro tools for pens (pure garbage) but I was very lucky in that my first buy in full size tools was Penn Industries and were the Benjamin's Best brand of HSS. I bought an 8 piece set, then went back and bought a couple more scrappers, a nice big rough gouge, and a bigger bowl gouge and soon I will be getting a hook scrapper.

I am also a carver, and as much as I love the English and Swiss tools, for the price and a little sacrifice, you can do well with other tools.

Neil Larson

Never seen a Craftsman turning tool, but I do have a couple of sets of their black handled chisels for flat work, and I think they're top notch. Nice and heavy, and they take a very good edge that sticks around for a while.

I used some old Buck Bros. chisels in a class about a week before I got my midi lathe, and was not impressed- but, I also did not know how to turn at all, so it hardly qualifies as an informed opinion.

Hi S?????

Why restrict yourself to just those 2 brands, and are we comparing apples to Oranges ??, like HSS to Carbon steel ???

I might like a carbon steel skew, but wouldn't trade a HSS roughing gouge for a carbon steel one, for instance.

Never used them, but most reports are positive on the craftsman tools for the money they cost, so am I on the BusyBee HSS turning tool set and there are similar sets for sale at other places, like Canadian Tire etc.

Have fun and take care Leo Van Der Loo