Great starter set
I have used this set for 9 months. It comes with many of the tools you need to start turning. A great set to start with and build on. As you learn your style of turning, you can add to or replace the tools as needed. If you want to turn bowls, I would recommend adding a bowl gouge to your order.
Another good buy from PSI !
At half the price of a SIX piece set of woodturning chisels from my local store, this EIGHT piece set seemed like another no brainer for a beginning turner. Other reviews had mentioned that the storage box that comes with the tools would likely be destroyed in the shipping process, but mine arrived in first class condition. I took the set to a tool sharpening class and everyone there, including the instructor, was very impressed with both the quality and the price. Several people said they were going to order a set!
Quality Set For The Price
Let me first say that I am new to woodturning and that this is my first set of chisels. After using them about a dozen times already, I would have to say that they are really great. I've had no trouble with them at all and the tips seem to be just as sharp as when they were new. The length of the chisels plus their weight makes them relatively easy to control. The box that they came with is not the best in world but it is alright for the money. I would suggest these to anyone getting started in woodturning or even an experienced woodturner who would like to save save money.
Not bad but not great either
For what it's worth, I have a set of Rockwell lathe tools that I bought new in 1973 but needed some specialty tools so I bought a set of Benjamin's Best HSS tools from Amazon for them. I am also selling my old Rockwell lathe and thought I'd get new general purpose tools to go with the new lathe and include the old tools with the old lathe. So I bought a set of Windsor Design HSS tools so I could compare the old and the new before I parted with the old ones.
There is very little cosmetic difference between Benjamin's Best HSS and Windsor Design HSS - same size, and the same wood handles. Finish was not as good on the WD and the labeling was painted on the blades rather than etched into the blades as they are on the BB chisels. ... Read More
losing the handle
After using several of the tools from this selection three of the tools began to loosen from the handles. I have been turning some seasoned stock and maybe these tools can't handle hardwoods. They seemed to work fine with green stock. Other than the loosening of the handles they perform fine. I solved the problem by shimming the tool stock back into the receiving end of the handle.
