Thread: Hamlet...V.. P and N Tools

I have some of both and I believe that P&N hold an edge longer than Hamlet. However both are very good.
As to what you buy there are better people than me on this BB to advise on a basic set of turning tools.

Macca

P&N get good remarks, Woodcut are very good as well.

There's few people who say the Hamlets are overpriced?

im no expert, but i have been reading a lot about the types. and i might be buying something like this next time they get good reviews several places.
http://www.thompsonlathetools.com/tooltype.asp?TYPE=BV

P&N, Woodturning tools are fine as good as most of the overpriced overseas stuff that you pay 50% for the name, I have been using them for years, for business as well as home use I have two friends in Scotland who import them from Aus,

G'day Steve,
My recommendation for spindle turning tools,
Primary tools
25mm roughing gouge
25mm skew chisel
12mm spindle gouge

Face plate work
12mm bowl gouge
25mm round nose scraper

These will get you started. Later on the following will be very helpful
12mm skew
10mm spindle gouge
6mm parting tool for sizing
a variety of scrapers for different bowl/box jobs.

I have and use P&N tools, Hamlet tools and Robert Sorby tools, all high speed steel. They are all good, but will recommend P&N becuse they are Australian made. My only reservation with P&N is that the flute of the gouges was very rough and needed considerable hoing, they may be better now. As a matter of interest, I have been turning for about 50 years and taught woodturning at the local TAFE College for about 15 years.
Jim

I am getting a good run out of the Hamlet 2060 gouge I have. This is the top of the range. It seems to have the edge on P&N.

i've got 2 p&n and one hamlet. i like my hamlet better

G`day i have a couple of P&N Gouges and they are fine all my straight chisels Skew scrapers etc are Mcjing steel except for a record 1" Skew and a Richard Raffen Box scraper.Hacksaw blade for parting. The Mcjing steel seems to be pretty good steel. I like the P&Ns Beecause they are aus made ?and work fine.
Mick

Get smart, tell the kids you have to have one of each brand so you can judge for yourself.

PS Try to look serious.

I have Crown, Pinnacle, Doug Thompson, gouges and skews, etc... I like the Thompson tools best because I don't have to sharpen nearly as much.
Hollowing tools, I have some Olands that I've made, and a Hughie MacKay. I like the Hughie MacKay best.
Nice thing your young-uns recognise talent, huh? Or are they just butterin' you up?

Of the major players who have a range of tools, I've mostly used Taylor, Sorby and P&N over about 25 years. All are good, IMHO, although my old father in law, who is, I trust propping up a bar in another universe, had a similar forgiving view about beers, "all are good but some are better than others".

What I can say is that P&N take longer than any of them to "break in". By this I mean getting the business end shaped and ready to go. This is, on the face of it, a good thing - the steel is damned hard. Furthermore my spies tell me that the Sheffield makes are going down hill a bit in quality to meet the East Asian onslaught. Are there still steel mills in Sheffield? Dunno, but I'm sure someone does. If not where are they sourcing their HSS?

Truth probably is that the Chinese can make stuff equal to the best in the world but we aren't prepared yet to pay top dollar for anything "Made in China" so the stuff out of there Made In China is questionable.

For a starter set which is really only 6 tools max I recommend P&N for Roughers, Skews, Bowl, Spindle/Detail gouges and standard scrapers and look to Sheffield if you want a diamond section parter or a 10mm thick scraper.

Thompson Tools are the best by far that Ive got.
They beat my Crown, Henry Taylor, and other brands that Ive got by a long way.
The edge holding and the quality of cut and finish they give is just amazing .
Ive now got several of them which were bought throughout this year and I enjoy using every one of them. Still only a newcomer to turning mind you.
Fantastic quality at very good prices.
Doug Thompson by the way is a genuine and very nice guy to deal with.
regards,
Beejay1

Does Beejay know whether there are still steel mills in Sheffield or thereabouts making HSS? I should disclose an interest I sell Stubai HSS Turning tools which are made in Austria from Udderhom and or Bohler HSS
Mike Jefferys www.thewoodworks.com.au

Originally Posted by Mike Jefferys

Does Beejay know whether there are still steel mills in Sheffield or thereabouts making HSS? I should disclose an interest I sell Stubai HSS Turning tools which are made in Austria from Udderhom and or Bohler HSS
Mike Jefferys www.thewoodworks.com.au

Hi Mike,
Yes there is still a very large Steel mill in Sheffied, I think its now part of a multi national org. I also beleive there are still some tool producers there as well as there seems to plenty of brands still claiming to use Sheffield Steel. Sheffield is not the steel centre it used to be however.
Maybe a 'Google' on Sheffield steel would yield more information for you Mike?
Regards,
beejay1