First fishtail recommendation
Quote from Barbara Fletcher on April 29, 2019, 5:59 pmHi All, I have no fishtails 🙁 and am wondering which size and sweep would be the most useful/versatile, since it may be my only one for a while. I'm a woodworker and want to carve some simple designs and features on the things I make. I've dabbled a bit with carving tools and have a basic set of about 10, but no fishtails. Thanks for any thoughts. Barb
Hi All, I have no fishtails 🙁 and am wondering which size and sweep would be the most useful/versatile, since it may be my only one for a while. I'm a woodworker and want to carve some simple designs and features on the things I make. I've dabbled a bit with carving tools and have a basic set of about 10, but no fishtails. Thanks for any thoughts. Barb
Quote from Michael Evans on April 29, 2019, 8:05 pmHi Barb,
Mary has a list of basic starter tools under the Getting Starting section of the web site. She has a strong preference for fishtails so I would assume that profiles available in the fishtail configuration would be preferable. She has also stated that if you can't find the exact profile/size that a close sweep/width would suffice.
Basic Starter Set: 5 or 6mm v-chisel, #3, 6mm , #3, 14mm, #5, 14mm, #7, 6mm, #7, 14mm.
Have fun.
Hi Barb,
Mary has a list of basic starter tools under the Getting Starting section of the web site. She has a strong preference for fishtails so I would assume that profiles available in the fishtail configuration would be preferable. She has also stated that if you can't find the exact profile/size that a close sweep/width would suffice.
Basic Starter Set: 5 or 6mm v-chisel, #3, 6mm , #3, 14mm, #5, 14mm, #7, 6mm, #7, 14mm.
Have fun.
Quote from Barbara Fletcher on April 29, 2019, 8:30 pmThanks, Michael. I've seen Mary's list and my set is pretty close to hers. I want to buy just one fishtail, for now, but want the sweep and size that will be most useful . Don't know if that would be larger or smaller, flatter or deeper. Maybe that's an impossible question.
Thanks,
Barb
Thanks, Michael. I've seen Mary's list and my set is pretty close to hers. I want to buy just one fishtail, for now, but want the sweep and size that will be most useful . Don't know if that would be larger or smaller, flatter or deeper. Maybe that's an impossible question.
Thanks,
Barb
Quote from Michael Evans on April 30, 2019, 7:41 pmAsk ten different carvers this and you will probably get ten different answers. For most carving (IMHO) fishtails are more useful in the flatter sweeps. I would go with the #3 or #5 14mm, or the 6mm if your carvings are small. In case you are interested and/or are on a tight tool budget, the folks at Schaaf Tools (Amazon) have announced that they intend to offer a small set of fishtails soon (not sure how long we have to wait though). I have some of their tools that I bought some months ago and if the tools I have are any indication of the quality and price of their future offerings I would definitely pick some of those up when they become available. I have a BUNCH of tools from different manufacturers and these are definitely some of the best I own. Have fun.
Ask ten different carvers this and you will probably get ten different answers. For most carving (IMHO) fishtails are more useful in the flatter sweeps. I would go with the #3 or #5 14mm, or the 6mm if your carvings are small. In case you are interested and/or are on a tight tool budget, the folks at Schaaf Tools (Amazon) have announced that they intend to offer a small set of fishtails soon (not sure how long we have to wait though). I have some of their tools that I bought some months ago and if the tools I have are any indication of the quality and price of their future offerings I would definitely pick some of those up when they become available. I have a BUNCH of tools from different manufacturers and these are definitely some of the best I own. Have fun.
Quote from JIm Geisert on May 3, 2019, 1:20 pmI have a few fishtails but the one I use constantly is a 6mm 3 sweep. It's great for detail work and cleaning out hard to reach areas. For removing larger areas of wood I will often use a 14mm 3 sweep.
I have a few fishtails but the one I use constantly is a 6mm 3 sweep. It's great for detail work and cleaning out hard to reach areas. For removing larger areas of wood I will often use a 14mm 3 sweep.
Quote from MaryMay on May 8, 2019, 11:28 amHi Barb, Welcome to the wonderful world of fishtails!!
I second Michael's and Jim's suggestion that flatter fishtails are recommended more than the more curved ones. So #3's and #5's are preferred. As they go past #7 sweeps, fishtails vs straight don't make a huge amount of difference. My #3, 6mm is my favorite, and then the #3, 14mm. Next would be a #5, 14mm, and then a #5, 6mm (as you realize how wonderful they are and you need to keep adding to your collection 🙂
Hi Barb, Welcome to the wonderful world of fishtails!!
I second Michael's and Jim's suggestion that flatter fishtails are recommended more than the more curved ones. So #3's and #5's are preferred. As they go past #7 sweeps, fishtails vs straight don't make a huge amount of difference. My #3, 6mm is my favorite, and then the #3, 14mm. Next would be a #5, 14mm, and then a #5, 6mm (as you realize how wonderful they are and you need to keep adding to your collection 🙂
Quote from Barbara Fletcher on May 9, 2019, 11:15 amThanks, everyone. Like everybody who works wood, I can't resist tools, so I just took the plunge and bought Mary's basic set of Pfeil tools from Chipping Away. I'm hooked on fishtails and on Pfeil tools! All of the tools I had until now were Ashley Iles. They feel too thick and heavy compared to the Pfeils. Just found out they're intended more for oak and other heavy hardwoods. As I now live in New Mexico, I'm working mainly with Ponderosa pine. May try to sell them and replace with Pfeils.
Mary, your videos are fantastic! Thank you so much!
Thanks, everyone. Like everybody who works wood, I can't resist tools, so I just took the plunge and bought Mary's basic set of Pfeil tools from Chipping Away. I'm hooked on fishtails and on Pfeil tools! All of the tools I had until now were Ashley Iles. They feel too thick and heavy compared to the Pfeils. Just found out they're intended more for oak and other heavy hardwoods. As I now live in New Mexico, I'm working mainly with Ponderosa pine. May try to sell them and replace with Pfeils.
Mary, your videos are fantastic! Thank you so much!
Quote from JIm Geisert on May 10, 2019, 11:09 amI have mostly Pfeil tools but I've got two Ashley Isles fishtails, a 3 sweep and a 5 sweep both about 12-14mm. They are certainly heavy duty but I really like them. To each his own I guess.
I have mostly Pfeil tools but I've got two Ashley Isles fishtails, a 3 sweep and a 5 sweep both about 12-14mm. They are certainly heavy duty but I really like them. To each his own I guess.