[Billy]

Hi everybody.

I was wondering if anyone could tell me the best place to buy some netsuke tools, chisels, gravers, scrappers? I noticed on one of Natasha's posts that she had a little set of tools. Are these readily available? I'm in NZ so maybe somewhere online.

Thanks in anticipation, Billy.

[Janel]

Hi Billy,

We have had discussions in past topics about tools and purchasing them. The archives are a good resource if you figure out the key words.

Many of us make our own tools, and that process has been discussed as well.

That said, my first set of tools came from Dockyard, which many wood working stores may carry. They are available on line through various dealers.

Dental tools may or may not end up being useful to you. Almost every dental tool that I use with each carving has been adapted, the original functioning tip has been removed.

I have posted images of my favorite tools in the past, as have others done so. Netsuke carving tools are not available as that by name. We make things work somehow.

The main things to remember are to keep the cutting edges very sharp and to cut away from your flesh with what ever tool you use. Working on such small pieces keeps the holding hand perilously close to the cutting tool. Gouges and chisels work for a while, then the carving shifts to scraping and planing. Learn about the Stephan Myhre tools. The three edged tools are an indispensable type of tool on my bench, from tiny to big, for scraping, graving, undercutting, if rounded for scooping.

Did you find the little video in the Getting Started and Resources area of the forum? That will show you a little about how I use some of my tools.

Read a bit from the archives and then ask us some questions about those tools (perhaps with a reference link to the items in mind). Others will be happy to learn and learn more about tools. Good luck on your quest.

Janel

[Billy]

Wonderful, Janel. Thanks very much.

[Janel]

I do hope that you find some good clues for tools to begin carving with. Experience will guide you when you discover that what you have for tools is jut not enough for that certain sort of cut you want to make. Then you can make it and others too.

Janel

[Yuri]

Billy, coming from Maori traditions you need to realise one thing. Knives are far more important in Japanese-type carving than what you'd be familiar with. I found in fact, when carving the few netsukes that I did that I hardly used chisels at all. (Well, not at all as such, I still did, but really it was mostly knives of different shapes and sizes.) I made my ones from better-quality needle files, with wooden handles rather on the slender side. Basically the kind you'll find in Steve Myhre's book. Some curved blades have been made by using an ordinary gas torch. It's hot enough to heat up such small sections of steel, you just grab it by pliers once the steel is red, and bend it into shape. Then heat again, quench in water, and sharpen.
Hope it helps.

[Billy]

Thanks Yuri.

I'm afraid I'm not too confident on making my own tools. I have a nice set of gravers from a carver in NZ who based his design on Stephen's. I also have a couple of gravers from Owen Mapp, one of which I use quite frequently. I had a go at buying some cobolt steel drill bits, drilling them into wooden handles and gluing, then sharpening the other end. I had moderate success but still prefer my bought gravers.

I guess what I wanted to do is see what other tools the netsuke carvers were using so I might be able to add another dimension to my carving. I like to do traditional stuff, but also want to explore other areas and other techniques and develop my skills.

I'd love to see your favourite tools, Yuri. I think I'm still at a stage were I'm trying all sorts of different tool shape and burr shapes. I guess the more experience I get, the less tools I'll end up using.

Thanks for your comments Yuri, Billy.

[Janel]

Hi,

Look at Ko Bass's tools on his web site. He has quite a few handsome tools that he has made, and he does good work with them.

I am late with my departure for somewhere, so I cannot look for more resources. Okay, I admit it is difficult to pull the needle from the haystack on the archives, but there are numerous posts with images and photos in them of tools the members use, somewhere...

When I get the time, I will compile links and pin it at the top like the rotary tool topic has been done.

Janel

[Billy]

Thanks Janel.

I'll keep looking, but any help would be appreciated. It's good to see the tools. But it'll be great to see the tools and know what purpose they are used for.

I'm in contact with a local carver called Craig Macintosh. We're trying to key up a time for me to come and sit with him. He is apparently a well established and respected netsuke carver. I think a session with him will do me the world of good.

Thanks again Janel. I appreciate you taking the time for me.

Is the house a little quieter these days?

[Janel]

I've landed at a high speed internet house and everyone is in bed , so I have just taken a quick look at Tools and Technical for tool related topics, with just a quick look at the content. This search was not meant to be the complete scouring of the whole archive collection, but from these links there will be found some helpful discussions and some photos. I apologize for not tying the links to their titles, so you all will have to just click and read, then return to this message and click again on another topic.

Billy, it will be great to have a chance to sit with an experienced carver.

And, yes the house is very quiet now that our son is away for college. Also, now I am finding days and nights to spend carving again! No one is in the house and the cats are lonely when we return from working at the studio all day. There are a couple of decades to catch up on...

Workbenches with tools and activity on them:

http://www.thecarvingpath.net/forum/index....=1063&st=40
http://www.thecarvin...?showtopic=1724


A variety of tool related topics:

http://www.thecarvin...p?showtopic=940
http://www.thecarvin...p?showtopic=860
http://www.thecarvin...?showtopic=1329
http://www.thecarvin...?showtopic=1713
http://www.thecarvin...p?showtopic=446
http://www.thecarvin...p?showtopic=481
http://www.thecarvin...p?showtopic=806
http://www.thecarvin...p?showtopic=238
http://www.thecarvin...?showtopic=1494
http://www.thecarvin...?showtopic=1626
http://www.thecarvin...?showtopic=1654
http://www.thecarvin...?showtopic=1680
http://www.thecarvin...?showtopic=1392
http://www.thecarvin...?showtopic=1657
http://www.thecarvin...hp?showtopic=68
http://www.thecarvin...hp?showtopic=15
http://www.thecarvin...p?showtopic=237
http://www.thecarvin...p?showtopic=355
http://www.thecarvin...p?showtopic=478
http://www.thecarvin...p?showtopic=630
http://www.thecarvin...p?showtopic=526
http://www.thecarvin...?showtopic=1717

Janel

[Billy]

Fantastic, Janel!

I really appreciate it.

Billy.

[Phil White]

Billy,

I assume you were interested in working with bone? However, if you are interested in wood, there are some very fine tools that are made by Kirschen in Germany under the Two Cherries and Hirsch label. I have about a dozen of these, in both labels, and they are about the best tools available under 2mm for carving fine details that you can get.

The Hirsch tools can be purchased here: Lee Valley link and the Two Cherries, which are identical, can be purchased through the nearest dealer of Kirschen tools.

I also have a number of Pfeil palm tools, which are outstanding, but slightly different in use.

Phil

[Billy]

Thanks Phil. I'll look into it.

You're right though, I am interested in bone at the mo, but wood is also a medium I'd love to explore more.

Thanks for your time, Billy.

[DDE-f]

Billy, on Aug 12 2009, 03:11 AM, said:

Hi everybody.

I was wondering if anyone could tell me the best place to buy some netsuke tools, chisels, gravers, scrappers? I noticed on one of Natasha's posts that she had a little set of tools. Are these readily available? I'm in NZ so maybe somewhere online.

Thanks in anticipation, Billy.

Probably You will be wish create some tools yourself? In this case I can recommend to You use a needles that use in diesel motors (in atomizers). It is excellent steel !!! His hardness around 62-67 HRC (as at a good metalwork file or higher), but with good elastic properties (any other steel will not allow to create a direct chisel with the size of a cutting part 0,1 millimeter for work with a hardness material) self-hardening steel (you don't need to hardening tools after sharpening). Long time I am made tools for me from this needles and not wish see any another steel !!! May be You will try to make it? It is not so hard create of tools how You can think ! But in this case You will have that tool that is necessary to You !!! I am assured that creating of tools will be pleasant to You !!!
Please forgive me very bad English...
P.S. at foto my personal tools as sample ;-) some ideas for create micro-tools (drafts, photos of tools and case storage, etc.) You could find at  http://artmini.narod...glish/tools.htm - all it is FULL free for Colleagues!!!

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[Jim Kelso]

Thanks for the tip Dmitry. Very interesting! Your tools are beautiful too.

Jim

[DDE-f]

Dear Jim!
Thank You very much for your reply! Oh, it is work tools and it not so beautiful how I made early(10 years back I haved trauma that kill business for create and sale tools). But tools create it is not so hard process and I think any can try it! And this steel it is fantastic!!!

[Billy]

Thanks for you input DDE-f.

What name can I call you ?

[DDE-f]

Billy, on Sep 11 2009, 12:01 AM, said:

Thanks for you input DDE-f.

What name can I call you ?

 My name is Dmitry