P & N Turning Tools No More

[Kidbee]

Had an email from Jim Carroll this afternoon saying that P&N are closing down their woodturning tool manufacturing. Very sad, as I have been a great fan and luckily I have a supply that will see me to the end of my woodturning days.

Seeing that Jim is a sponsor he may care to elaborate more to forum members.

[bueller]

Shame to hear. Hadn’t had a chance to try any of their tools yet either [emoji52]

[Skew ChiDAMN!!]

I'm very sorry to hear this!

They may not be the 'best' tools available, but IMO they're among the best value for money and my preferred gotos. :sigh:

[orraloon]

Sad for sure. I only have one P&N scraper but I do like it and had in mind that any new turning tools would be P&N. Just something about that matt finish lack of bling look that says that's how a tool should be.
Regards
John

[Kidbee]

Deleted by me.

[brendan stemp]

Like a lot of things in life, we appreciate them when they're gone.

[NeilS]

I'm very sorry to hear this!

They may not be the 'best' tools available, but IMO they're among the best value for money and my preferred gotos. :sigh:They certainly have/had the best spindle roughing gouge, IMO.

Grab one now before they are all gone!

The next best is going to be the Thompson 1-1/4" SRG, but that is going to put a hole in your wallet after the exchange rate and postage are applied.

Sent from my ZTE T84 using Tapatalk

[NeilS]

The next best is going to be the Thompson 1-1/4" SRG, but that is going to put a hole in your wallet after the exchange rate and postage are applied.



Carter & Son Toolworks in US also has a rougher (in M42 steel) with a hefty tang like the P&Ns for a little less than the Thompsons (also available un-handled) but I haven't used their tools so can't vouch for their quality.

https://carterandsontoolworks.com/collections/gouges/products/1-1-4-spindle-roughing-gouge

https://carterandsontoolworks.com/collections/gouges/products/copy-of-7-8-spindle-roughing-gouge

[bueller]

So say I wanted to try and snag some of these before they disappear where would I look? I don’t think I’ve ever seen them in Perth, I’m pretty sure Carbatec and a Timbecon don’t sell them and they’re about my only options for quality tooling locally.

[NeilS]

So say I wanted to try and snag some of these before they disappear where would I look? I don’t think I’ve ever seen them in Perth, I’m pretty sure Carbatec and a Timbecon don’t sell them and they’re about my only options for quality tooling locally.

Here are a few places that used to sell them, but you would have to check to see what they still have in stock.

https://www.cwsonline.com.au/shop/category/271287

Hand Tools Wood Turning Tools P&N Turning Tools (http://www.timberbits.com/hand-tools/wood-turning-tools/p-n-turning-tools/)

http://www.tymba.com/pdf/pricelist.pdf

It may seem a bit absurd, but if there is no stock left here in Australia you may have to look overseas.

P&N Professional Turning Tools - Lee Valley Tools (http://www.leevalley.com/us/HARDWARE/page.aspx?p=49138&cat=1,49233&ap=1)

They would have to be called boomerangs!

[artful bodger]

Here are a few places that used to sell them, but you would have to check to see what they still have in stock.

https://www.cwsonline.com.au/shop/category/271287

Hand Tools Wood Turning Tools P&N Turning Tools (http://www.timberbits.com/hand-tools/wood-turning-tools/p-n-turning-tools/)

http://www.tymba.com/pdf/pricelist.pdf

It may seem a bit absurd, but if there is no stock left here in Australia you may have to look overseas.

P&N Professional Turning Tools - Lee Valley Tools (http://www.leevalley.com/us/HARDWARE/page.aspx?p=49138&cat=1,49233&ap=1)

They would have to be called boomerangs!


Good tip Neil.
Just bought 2 x 16mm bowl gouges from Lee Valley. No dearer than buying them here.

[Kidbee]

In the absence of any comment from Jim, here is part of his original email:


"Carroll's Chronicle March 2018
It is with great sadness that we let everyone know about a great tragedy here in Australia.
We have lost Holden, Ford and now P&N Woodturning tools. Yes it is true one of our local icons has called it a day due to the ever diminishing market they represented.
P&N were some of the best tools available here in Australia and also around the world. But with the ever increasing influx of asian tools at cheap prices and quality their market strangle hold has been loosened to the point where they have decided to shut down that part of their operation.
So what are we left with but a range of English tools which are not bad but not in the same league as our P&N tools and some american tools and the asian imports.
We have seen the list of tools still available but it is the more uncommon sizes that are still available till they run out, We have limited stock left and running out quickly since the panic set in."

[Ozkaban]

Very much saddened by them disappearing. Was tempted to rush out and buy a few chisels but A) of they were already sold and B) the ones I've got are built too well and will last me quite a few years...

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[Colin62]

It may seem a bit absurd, but if there is no stock left here in Australia you may have to look overseas.

P&N Professional Turning Tools - Lee Valley Tools (http://www.leevalley.com/us/HARDWARE/page.aspx?p=49138&cat=1,49233&ap=1)

They would have to be called boomerangs!

I’ve not used P&N chisels before (not being in Aus, shipping is a killer), but based on this thread and their reputation in general, I ordered a couple of gouges from Lee Valley. Shipped them to my daughter in the US and I’ll collect them later this year when I go for a visit. :)

[Phil Hansen]

Good move.
Still have to send you my shopping list.:D
Phil

[truckjohn]

They look like they are available at Lee Valley if any North American woodworkers want to try them out.... Or perhaps if anybody down under wants to re-import them.. They look very good...

[Colin62]

I’ve not used P&N chisels before (not being in Aus, shipping is a killer), but based on this thread and their reputation in general, I ordered a couple of gouges from Lee Valley. Shipped them to my daughter in the US and I’ll collect them later this year when I go for a visit. :)

Well, I brought the gouges home and I am happy with them. I’ve made a couple of handles (one more to go), and they’re looking quite good, and it’s a pity that they’ll be the only ones I ever get.

[Skew ChiDAMN!!]

Well, I brought the gouges home and I am happy with them. I’ve made a couple of handles (one more to go), and they’re looking quite good, and it’s a pity that they’ll be the only ones I ever get.

One thing I'd suggest is to very carefully inspect the flutes for ridges and grooves.

The main reason P&N's are/were so popular here in OZ is they're locally made, of good quality steel suitable for our timbers and are amongst the cheapest chisels of good steel on our market. Esp. compared to imports which were often made of steels to suit overseas timbers.

While P&N skew chisels, scrapers, etc are good straight off the grinder, it's a different story with their fluted tools. It would appear that one of the ways P&N kept costs down was by using rather shoddy milling in the flutes; most have grooves & ridges. As the working edge is the intersection of the flute with the bevel, this can result in a freshly sharpened edge already having "predefined" nicks or teeth, corresponding to those nicks/grooves.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying ALL of P&N gouges are that way. But it's definitely a non-zero factor.

Being a local product, many of us had the luxury of actually handling the tools when buying, choosing the best before heading to the sales counter. Unfortunately you can't do the same when buying online.

Some turners either don't care or aren't aware of this problem; they're quite content to use the gouges as are. However, if you're a 'finesse' turner or are in production, you'll find it worth your while to get a suitably profiled slipstone and dress the flute to remove these defects, if present.

I only dress the last 2 or 3 inches, not worrying about the rest until I've worn the tool back that far; it still takes me an hour or two of boring work, but I believe the results are definitely worth the effort.

They are a lovely tool, I'm sorry to hear they're gone, but they do tend to need that little bit more attention to get spot on before serious use.

May you happily make many, many curlies with them! :2tsup:

[Colin62]

Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying ALL of P&N gouges are that way. But it's definitely a non-zero factor.

Thanks for the heads-up. The spindle gouges seem OK, but the one bowl gouge I’ve re-shaped and sharpened did look a little rougher. It’s hard to tell visually, partly because my eyesight isn’t what it used to be and partly because of the black coating on the blades. I’ve left the coating on for now, but will probably clean up at least the last couple of inches so that I can see what the metal looks like underneath. Finding something the right shape to clean the flutes might be a mission, but I’m all in favour of a cleaner finish off the chisel and less sanding if possible, so I’ll make the effort.

[Paul39]

Thanks for the heads-up. The spindle gouges seem OK, but the one bowl gouge I’ve re-shaped and sharpened did look a little rougher. It’s hard to tell visually, partly because my eyesight isn’t what it used to be and partly because of the black coating on the blades. I’ve left the coating on for now, but will probably clean up at least the last couple of inches so that I can see what the metal looks like underneath. Finding something the right shape to clean the flutes might be a mission, but I’m all in favour of a cleaner finish off the chisel and less sanding if possible, so I’ll make the effort.

I have had good luck honing the inside of bowl and spindle gouges by rolling up 220 grit sandpaper loosely enough so that it conforms to the inside curve. One could do the same starting with 80 grit if there are deeper scratches and then work up to your taste.

The honed inside really makes a difference in having a smooth cut.