4 replies to this topic

[Berl Mendenhall]

I've talked about Addis carving tools before. I just wanted to mention this. There are tons and tons of junk out there. Stuff just meant to sell and make a profit. Things by supposedly well known manufactures. Things like the German peg shaver that sells for almost $300.00. (One of the biggest pieces of junk I've ever seen) When I run across tools that I feel are exceptional I want to share the news.
I have some Addis gouges and every one is a great tool. I was carving out the inside of a violin back, probably the most difficult job in violin making. By difficult I mean hard carving. I thought I'd try some different gouges to see if one worked particularly well. I have a couple of gouges the proper shape that are German and an English Buck Bros. cast steel. The German one doesn't say cast steel. They sharpened up OK and cut OK. I tried a Addis cast steel I had and it was amazing how much better it cut. The Addis cut better, sharpen better, and hold their edge better. There's no comparison to the other tools I have. The Japanese tools I'm sure are fine tools and may work as well or even better. I don't know, I don't own any. I just know the Addis's are a joy to use (if you can say hoggin out the inside of a back is a joy job). You can still find them on Ebay and through antique dealers. They're not cheep but are cheaper than new Japanese tools.

Berl

[Addie]

No relation.

If they say Cast Steel, they must be mid-19th c.? English tools from this period tend to be very good.

[Berl Mendenhall]

I'd like to mention I have a knife I classify with the English cast steel gouges. It's a CMP-3V knife John Schmidt made for me. I love it, it's a great knife. Every time I use it I think "dang that's a hell of a knife". It doesn't sharpen easy because it's such tough steel, but a great knife none the less.

Berl

[Dave Slight]

Addis gouges are very good, but it can now be hard to find ones in good condition, these things are pretty old now and have often been in grandpas shed for years etc.

The London made ones are the earliest, but the most common ones you see have the Ward and Payne anvils when they were later made in Sheffield. I have quite a few that I've collected up over the years, but I don't use any of them now, I prefer new ones made by Ashley Iles.
Just as good, but you don't have to spend hours and hours on the sharpening stones with some pitted thing that has a cracked handle

[Jose Catoira]

I have at least 2 of every single size a violin maker could possibly need and wouldnt trade them for the world.

They are just superb in every single way.